Child and Family Counselor
NYC
Child and Family Counselor
Full Time • NYC
Benefits:
- Bonus based on performance
- Competitive salary
- Opportunity for advancement
- Training & development
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Child & Family Counselor (Full-time)
Harlem Family Services (HFS) – Harlem, NY
In-person • Community Mental Health • Article 31 Clinic
Be part of something Harlem has been waiting for.
Harlem is getting a new kind of mental health center—built for steadiness, dignity, and real access—and we’re hiring the team that will open the doors.
Harlem Family Services is launching The Margaret Morgan Lawrence Center for Family and Child Development, a brand-new, trauma-focused, trauma-informed, culturally responsive community mental health center on East 110th Street in Spring 2026. This is a rare, ground-floor opportunity to help shape how a neighborhood anchor feels and functions from day one: welcoming, well-run, reliable, and rooted in the lived realities of Central and East Harlem.
Our model pairs consistent, relationship-based care with innovative, evidence-informed supports—including neurofeedback, esketamine and healing-centered design elements—along with revolving community art installations, and storytelling, so the environment itself helps people feel safe, seen, and supported.
Whether your strengths are client-facing or behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a mission that’s clear and urgent: making it easier for children, adults, and families to get support before challenges turn into crises. If you want work with purpose, a team that values every role, and a place you’ll be proud to say you helped build, we’d love to meet you.
In-person • Community Mental Health • Article 31 Clinic
Be part of something Harlem has been waiting for.
Harlem is getting a new kind of mental health center—built for steadiness, dignity, and real access—and we’re hiring the team that will open the doors.
Harlem Family Services is launching The Margaret Morgan Lawrence Center for Family and Child Development, a brand-new, trauma-focused, trauma-informed, culturally responsive community mental health center on East 110th Street in Spring 2026. This is a rare, ground-floor opportunity to help shape how a neighborhood anchor feels and functions from day one: welcoming, well-run, reliable, and rooted in the lived realities of Central and East Harlem.
Our model pairs consistent, relationship-based care with innovative, evidence-informed supports—including neurofeedback, esketamine and healing-centered design elements—along with revolving community art installations, and storytelling, so the environment itself helps people feel safe, seen, and supported.
Whether your strengths are client-facing or behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a mission that’s clear and urgent: making it easier for children, adults, and families to get support before challenges turn into crises. If you want work with purpose, a team that values every role, and a place you’ll be proud to say you helped build, we’d love to meet you.
Harlem Family Services (HFS) is a non-profit, NYS-licensed Article 31 community mental health clinic providing innovative, low-cost, high-quality psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Our team is community-minded, compassionate, flexible, and culturally responsive.
HFS is seeking seasoned, senior clinicians, including LCSWs, LMHCs, LMFTs, and related licensed professionals for full-time positions. This position interfaces with and supports clinic leadership.
Clinicians provide culturally competent, individualized services that integrate race, ethnicity, culture, language, immigration status, developmental status, criminal justice involvement, sexuality, age, and gender.
Qualifications:
- Provide individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy for clients ages 5–21, adults, and families
- Conduct initial assessments and accommodate Same-Day-Access intakes for walk-ins
- Document assessments, screens, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge summaries, and risk assessments in the EHR within required timeframes
- Complete collaborative/concurrent documentation for all sessions
- Develop innovative group therapy curriculum and facilitate groups
- Support clients with medication adherence and provide psychoeducation on psychotropic medications
- Conduct risk assessments, report incidents promptly, and follow all safety protocols
- Implement treatment plans using psychotherapy interventions, crisis intervention, complex care management, and referrals to community resources
- Develop person-centered, recovery-oriented treatment plans using evidence-based practices
- Ensure all documentation meets OMH and clinic timelines
- Collaborate with collaterals and external providers (with client consent)
- Manage caseload independently, including outreach and follow-up for missed appointments
- Maintain a safe, HIPAA-compliant workspace, secure PHI daily
- Collaborate with community partners (schools, housing programs, legal providers, social services, healthcare teams)
- Demonstrate commitment to social justice, cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and HFS’s DEIB values
- Consult with the treatment team, including the clinic director, psychiatrist, psychiatric NP, and supervisors
- Plan and coordinate client discharge, aftercare referrals, and warm hand-offs
- Participate in trauma-informed and evidence-based practice initiatives (TF- CBT, CBT, DBT, ACT, FIT, Motivational Interviewing)
- Attend weekly supervision (with agenda) and weekly interdisciplinary team meetings
- Participate in ongoing training and professional development
Required Skills & Competencies
- Knowledge of OMH Part 599 Regulations and Article 31 Standards of Care
- Adherence to HFS policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines
- Ability to provide psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and case management
- Strong organizational skills: ability to work independently and meet deadlines
- Ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to interact professionally with staff, clients, and external partners
Schedules
- At least 2 evening shifts and/or Saturday shifts
- Children and adolescents must be seen in person
- Shifts encompass after school hours such as 11 Am- 7PM or 12 PM – 8 PM
HFS promotes work-life balance, equity, and a supportive work environment.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Valid NYS license: LCSW, LMFT, LMHC)
- Minimum 3-5 years of outpatient mental health experience preferred
- Supervisory experience/SIFI certification a plus
- Experience with evidence-based interventions (TF-CBT, DBT, MI, ACT, trauma-informed care), family therapy,psychotherapy
- Bilingual (English/Spanish /French or other languages) preferred
- Strong computer literacy and experience with EHR systems
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
- Ability to sit/stand for extended periods
- Occasional light lifting or travel as needed
- Regular computer and technology use
- Work occurs in a community-based clinic, office setting, and telehealth environment
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience ($90,000- $100,000 annually)
- Benefits include:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Commuter benefits
- Life insurance
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- Professional development budget
Professional Development & Growth
- In-house training and continuing education opportunities
- Stipends for external workshops and certifications
- Clear pathways for advancement (senior clinician, supervisor, clinical director)
Health & Safety
- HFS follows all NYC and NYS guidelines for communicable disease safety
- PPE, sanitation, and distancing protocols implemented as required
How to Apply
- Submit resume and cover letter to Joanna Fahey, LCSW-R at Joanna.fahey@harlemfamilyservices.org
- Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled
- Expected start date: June/July 2026
Compensation: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Harlem Family Services & Harlem Family Institute:
Transforming Mental Health, Empowering Communities
Harlem Family Services (HFS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health services to Harlem and neighboring communities. As a subsidiary of the Harlem Family Institute (HFI), HFS operates The Margaret Morgan Lawrence Center for Family and Child Development, a licensed NYS OMH Article 31 Mental Health Clinic. HFS ensures that underserved, uninsured, and marginalized populations have access to high-quality in-person and virtual care, addressing critical mental health needs with compassion and cultural responsiveness.
HFS plays a pivotal role in delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed services, focusing on empowering individuals, families, and communities to heal and thrive.
Who is Margaret Morgan Lawrence?
Who is Margaret Morgan Lawrence?
Dr. Margaret Morgan Lawrence was a pioneer in the child psychiatry and mental health field, who faced challanges of racism and sexism throughout her career. Through her resilience and determination, Margaret became the first African American to complete residency at the New York Psychiatric Institute in 1948 and the first Black trainee certified in psychoanalysis at Columbia University.
After earning her degree from Cornell University, Margaret was denied entry into Cornell Medical School due to her race, but overcame that barrier when she became the third Black woman to attend Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons. She founded the Rockland County Center for Mental Health and served as chief of the Developmental Psychiatry Service at Harlem Hospital for over two decades. Recognized with the J.R. Bernstein Mental Health Award in 1975, her work emphasized the integration of psychoanalysis with community health approaches.
Vision Statement
After earning her degree from Cornell University, Margaret was denied entry into Cornell Medical School due to her race, but overcame that barrier when she became the third Black woman to attend Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons. She founded the Rockland County Center for Mental Health and served as chief of the Developmental Psychiatry Service at Harlem Hospital for over two decades. Recognized with the J.R. Bernstein Mental Health Award in 1975, her work emphasized the integration of psychoanalysis with community health approaches.
Vision Statement
We envision a future where cycles of trauma and systemic inequality are broken through the power of community-driven care. By fostering mental wellness, equity, and collective healing, we aim to uplift all families and create a world where justice and compassion thrive. Together, we seek to become a national model for culturally informed, equitable mental health services in underserved neighborhoods, inspiring transformative change for generational healing.
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
We empower marginalized communities by providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health care that prioritizes healing, resilience, and social justice. Through accessible therapy, advocacy, and support for children, families, individuals, and schools, we strive to create spaces of safety and belonging. Rooted in the heart of Harlem, the Bronx, and Washington Heights, we are committed to offering low-cost, affordable services that meet the needs of those often overlooked.
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