Social Worker-LCSW- Child​/Adolescent Identity Supportive Therapist

Social Worker‑LCSW – Child/Adolescent Identity Supportive Therapist

Join the Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago as an LCSW‑Child/Adolescent Identity Supportive Therapist.

BSD PSY – Clinical Social Work. We are committed to providing evidence‑based psychiatric and mental health services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults to promote research, training, and serve our patients. We honor our promise to always put our patients first and to be ever mindful of each patient’s dignity and individuality, while leading transformative discovery and innovation in psychiatric care.

Licensed clinical social workers help people recover from an array of mental, behavioral, and emotional challenges. The LCSW‑Child/Adolescent Identity Supportive Therapist provides psychosocial support and clinical services to children, adolescents, and families navigating complex identity development, mental health needs, and systemic barriers to medical care. Working directly with clients, or in collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other medical providers, duties include psychosocial assessments;

care coordination; consultation to team; individual, family, couples or group psychotherapeutic treatment; liaison with community agencies/systems including education, social services, and legal documentation; treatment plan documentation; and disposition planning and advocacy. Requires excellent skills in interpersonal communication and documentation. The ideal candidate will bring a trauma‑informed, culturally responsive, and strengths‑based approach to care within an interdisciplinary medical and behavioral health setting.

• Provides individual as well as family and group psychotherapeutic treatment for children, adolescents, and families presenting with complex psychosocial needs related to identity development, medical treatment, emotional well‑being, and family support.
• Provides developmentally‑appropriate, identity‑affirming individual and family therapy addressing identity exploration, adjustment challenges, and mood or anxiety symptoms.
• Serves as a resource for culturally‑responsive, equity‑focused, identity‑supportive care for diverse patient populations.
• Develops comprehensive, individualized treatment plans and goals for the patient and provides psychotherapy, group and family therapy when applicable.
• Collaborates with other members of the multidisciplinary team to develop treatment goals for the patient.
• Performs comprehensive diagnostic assessments of patients’ needs and psychosocial status.
• Completes necessary documentation and reporting in accordance with departmental standards and Federal and State regulations.
• Interprets, monitors, and records client progress according to measurable goals described in the treatment and care plan.
• Has moderate authority to refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery and provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
• Plans own resources to combat social problems, prevent substance abuse, or improve community health and counseling services.
• Analyzes potential problems in home or work environments of clients.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum college or university degree in a related field.

2–5 years of relevant work experience; knowledge and skills developed through that experience.

• Working for a large complex healthcare organization.
• Experience in a fast‑paced outpatient, community, or clinical setting.
• Mental health psychotherapy (individual, family, and group) with children and adolescents.
• Experience conducting biopsychosocial assessments and providing feedback to interdisciplinary medical teams.
• Experience working with youth across the spectrum of gender and sexuality.

• LCSW Illinois licensure or license‑eligible.

• Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, regulations, code of ethics, policies, and procedures as related to social work.

• Experience working with youth with a…