Behavioral Health Counselor

About Glide
GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization

Position Summary
The Behavioral Health Counselor (BHC) for The Shop is a core member of an innovative, multidisciplinary team operating within a barbershop setting. The direct focus is to provide proactive, low-threshold clinical support, counseling, and case management services to older Black/African American men experiencing mental health issues, substance use disorders, and/or social isolation. The BHC will work alongside Barber Health Advocates and a Certified Peer SUD Specialist to provide immediate triage, culturally responsive therapy, and facilitate therapeutic groups within this trusted, community-based space. The role is central to providing linkages to GLIDE’s continuum of care, with a specialized focus on overdose prevention, Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) navigation, and supporting holistic recovery. This position will require a flexible schedule to meet community needs, including some evening and weekend hours.

This is a grant‐funded position and therefore, is contingent on the agency's continued support at a full level of funding.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Other duties can be assigned, and the duties and responsibilities of the job are subject to change without notice.
• Provide immediate, low-threshold triage, assessment, and direct counseling services to participants of The Shop who are struggling with mental health, emotional wellness, and substance use issues. Conduct services in a flexible manner, including brief interventions in the barbershop setting and scheduled sessions.
• Develop and facilitate a minimum of 2 one-hour therapeutic groups or health education workshops daily, as part of the program's 40 hours of weekly programming. Groups will include wellness check-ins, recovery groups (e.g., harm reduction, 12-step alternatives), and workshops on topics pertinent to our focal population, such as overdose prevention, mental health, and trauma. Ensure groups are inclusive, culturally resonant, and promote a peer-led model.
• Coordinate and manage a caseload of participants from The Shop, completing initial intakes, brief assessments, individualized service plans, and timely progress notes. Enter all documentation into required database systems (ex: Salesforce) within two (2) business days.
• Serve as the primary clinical liaison for warm hand-offs from the Barber Health Advocates and Peer SUD Specialist. Provide rapid clinical consultation and accept referrals for participants identified during grooming sessions as needing behavioral health or substance use treatment support.
• In collaboration with the Peer SUD Specialist, provide focused navigation and advocacy support to connect participants to GLIDE’s internal services, including MOUD navigation, contingency management, HIV/HepC/STI testing, and housing stability programs, as well as external community partners.
• Participate in The Shop’s mobile outreach events, providing pop-up behavioral health support and engagement in community settings across the City.
• Cultivate and maintain supportive, therapeutic relationships with participants to provide continuous recovery and stabilization support, utilizing a trauma-informed, healing-centered, and harm reduction framework.
• Adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, and all laws regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, and contractual agreements.
• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits, collaboration, and active participation in staff meetings, case conferences, in-service trainings, and individual/group supervision.
• In collaboration with your direct Supervisor, complete a minimum of 15 assigned hours of professional or skill development each year; First Aid/CPR is required, but not included in the minimum hours required.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or pre-licensed associate (AMFT, ASW, APCC) strongly preferred. Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor (SUDC II or higher) also accepted.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience providing therapeutic case management and counseling services to high-risk, multiply diagnosed populations, preferably within the Black/African American community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing.
• Ability to develop and facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups.
• Strong knowledge of substance use treatment, overdose prevention, and MOUD.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a unique, integrated team including barbers and peer specialists.
• Excellent interpersonal with an ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with participants and staff in a fast-paced, community-based environment.
• Demonstrates cultural humility and a deep understanding of the psychosocial and historical factors impacting Black/African American men, particularly older adults.
• Strong knowledge of San Francisco's community resources and benefits programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with electronic health records (EHR). Experience with Salesforce is preferred.

Education and/or Experience:
• Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an LMFT, LCSW strongly preferred; OR prelicensed interns, and/or graduate students providing treatment services to adults preferred; OR a bachelor's degree in social work/psychology or other related field, with two (2) years of experience working with socially and/or economically marginalized, and dual-diagnosed populations
• Minimum of three (2) years of therapeutic case management activities with high-risk populations.
• Experience working with Medi-Cal and related documentation requirements.
• Individual counseling and group facilitation skills are essential for this role.
• Lived experience is highly valued.
• Experience working in a community-based setting with chronically homeless, unhoused, and economically marginalized populations is essential.

Mathematical Skills:
• Proficiency and accuracy in math required for reporting data collected, eligibility screening and application assistance for benefits, entitlements, emergency rental assistance, and housing programs.

Computer Skills:
• Competence in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel) and internet research.
• Experience entering and accessing information from databases; Salesforce preferred.

Physical Requirements:
• Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Ability to work on a computer and see details of objects at close range.
• Ability to hear within normal range, and communicate effectively (in person, telephone or Zoom).
• Finger dexterity and the ability to use all standard office equipment.
• Sit or stand comfortably; and the ability to navigate throughout office spaces (via elevator or stairs).

Work Environment
GLIDE’s buildings are located in the Tenderloin neighborhood.  GLIDE maintains an "open door" policy to the community and its clients, who frequently enter and leave the building.

This role is covered by the collective bargaining agreement.