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Career Opportunities
Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Programs (CFWTP) is an innovative adolescent treatment program. We offer a licensed, clinically focused dual-diagnosis program based on three-week backpacking expeditions. Our program operates year-round in a wide variety of beautiful wilderness area settings throughout the Northwest. Clients typically have behavioral and substance abuse problems, however they are usually not delinquent. CFWTP is looking for full-time and seasonal staff who are responsible, self-motivated and comfortable working with adolescents in a wilderness setting. Locations vary by season and may include snow camps, raft trips, desert and mountain wilderness.
CFWTP is employee owned and operated. We go to great lengths to hire and retain quality staff. Our weekly trainings, flexible scheduling, and open-management style enable our employees to stay abreast of the latest industry information, enjoy quality personal time, and to have a voice in business operations. This creates a healthy work environment that permeates the company, contributing to career satisfaction.
Career Opportunities:
Wilderness Guides
Lead Guide Responsibilities/Qualifications
The lead wilderness guide provides wilderness leadership for a group of 6-8 adolescents on three-week therapeutic backpacking expeditions with two other staff members (a therapist and a guide.) The lead guide manages outdoor logistics and mitigates health, safety and behavioral issues; provides skill training, socialization and case management services; may assist with group therapy when qualified therapist is present and supervising; conduct psycho-educational groups; write and maintain client notes and clinical paperwork; active member of the treatment team; plan and implement activities and programming; Train and teach other staff.
Required: Strong wilderness and backcountry skills (100 days of expedition leadership experience); Experience working with adolescents; WFR or WEMT, and CPR training; the ability to maintain a positive mental attitude and demonstrate an ability to work in a stressful and unstructured environment; demonstrated ability to make mature judgments under stressful conditions; have solid orienteering, map and compass skills; be organized, self-starting and self-managing; capable of hiking 12-20 miles on and off trail over varied terrain in all weather conditions with a 40-65lb pack; be comfortable living outside for up to a month at a time; possess a current driver's license with an acceptable driving record; a willingness and interest in learning more about therapeutic interventions and an increased working knowledge of behavior management, child and adolescent growth and development, family systems, chemical dependency and chemical dependency treatment, mental and nervous conditions of childhood and adolescence and group dynamics.
Prefer: BA/BS degree; experience working with troubled adolescents; applicants possessing whitewater guiding and solid climbing skills in addition to above requirements are encouraged to apply.
Salary and Benefits
Year round salaried work in various remote areas around the Pacific Northwest; Monthly salary, health insurance and performance bonuses for all 1/2-time to full-time employees; Employer contributions into Employee Stock Ownership Program and 401(k) after 6 months of employment; Full-time work schedule consisting of 195 days per year; a minimum of 3 weeks off between expeditions; minimum monthly salary ranges from $1900 (probationary level) to $2632 (Master level) for wilderness guides. In-house paid trainings and out-of-house cross training stipend for all employees; Professional supervision provided; Opportunity to work for a small, innovative, employee owned company with vibrant colleagues offering genuinely challenging and rewarding work.
Wilderness Therapists
Lead Therapist Responsibilities/Qualifications
The wilderness therapist provides leadership on mental health and addiction treatment issues for a group of 6-8 adolescents on three-week therapeutic backpacking expeditions, accompanied by two other staff members. Responsibilities include; individual treatment planning, daily group and individual counseling with clients, client assessment and placement recommendations, discharge planning. Our therapists also provide clinical supervision and training of other field staff, both less experienced therapists and the wilderness guides.
Required: Graduate degree in social work, therapy, counseling, addictions, a related mental health field and/or a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (Meets Oregon standards as a Qualified Mental Health Professional.); working knowledge of chemical dependency issues, individual and group psychotherapy and family systems theory as well as skills in assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning; a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with youth, families, referral sources, and co-workers; a current drivers license and acceptable driving record.
Prefer: outdoor experience in an expedition environment; adolescent treatment experience; must be willing and able to learn to live on three-week expedition trips in remote settings; capable of hiking 12-20 miles over varied terrain in all weather conditions with a 40-65lb. backpack. Whitewater guiding and solid climbing skills are a strong plus.
Salary and Benefits
After a probationary period, Freer offers year round salaried work in various remote areas around the Pacific Northwest, a monthly salary, health insurance, employer contributions into Employee Stock Ownership Program and 401(k) after 6 months of employment; Full-time work schedule consisting of 175 days per year; In-house paid CADC trainings and out-of-house cross training stipend for all employees; Professional supervision provided; Opportunity to work for a small, innovative, employee owned company with vibrant colleagues offering genuinely challenging and rewarding work.
Seasonal Wilderness Guides
Seasonal Guide Responsibilities/Qualifications
The wilderness guide provides wilderness support for a group of 6-8 adolescents on three-week therapeutic backpacking expeditions with two other staff members (a Lead Guide and a Lead Therapist). The wilderness guide assists in the management of outdoor logistics and mitigates health, safety and behavioral issues; helps provide skill training, socialization and case management services; may assist with group therapy when qualified therapist is present and supervising; conduct psycho-educational groups; write and maintain client notes and clinical paperwork; active member of the treatment team.
Required: Experience backpacking and being comfortable living and working outdoors for up to a month at a time. Experience working with adolescents (preferably with troubled adolescents); First aid and CPR training; the ability to maintain a positive mental attitude and demonstrate an ability to work in a stressful and unstructured environment; demonstrated ability to make mature judgments under stressful conditions; capable of hiking 12-20 miles on and off trail over varied terrain in all weather conditions with a 40-65lb pack; possess a current drivers license with an acceptable driving record; be organized, self-starting and self-managing.
Prefer: BA/BS degree; good orienteering, map and compass skills; a willingness and interest in learning more about therapeutic interventions and an increased working knowledge of behavior management, child and adolescent growth and development, family systems, chemical dependency and chemical dependency treatment, mental and nervous conditions of childhood and adolescence and group dynamics.
Salary and Benefits
Seasonal opportunities are generally available between May and August; work in various remote areas around the Pacific Northwest; salaries ranging from $2700 - $3300 per trip depending upon qualifications/experience; In-house paid trainings; Professional supervision provided; Opportunity to work for a small, innovative, employee owned company with vibrant colleagues offering genuinely challenging and rewarding work.