Mental Health Therapist (Specialist)

This Part-Time (0.5 FTE) - 20 hours clinical position based at Harborview Medical Center will be a core member of the Behavioral Health team at the Max Clinic, a low-barrier clinic providing comprehensive services to people living with HIV who face complex barriers to care.

The MAX Clinic provides low-barrier, walk-in HIV care for people who have had difficulty staying connected to regular medical services. Designed for those facing complex challenges—such as unstable housing, substance use, or mental health conditions—the clinic offers a flexible, supportive environment focused on re-engagement in care and long-term health.

Patients receive rapid access to HIV providers, social workers, and a dedicated support team who help coordinate medical care, connect individuals to housing and community resources, and maintain regular communication. The clinic operates on a walk-in basis with a goal of at least one visit every two months, while allowing more frequent visits as needed.

To reduce barriers and support engagement, the MAX Clinic offers practical incentives such as food gift cards, snacks, transportation assistance, and rewards for completing lab work and achieving viral suppression. The care model emphasizes harm reduction, personalized support, and strong partnerships with community services—including housing, mental health care, and the justice system.

Ultimately, the MAX Clinic serves as a bridge—helping patients stabilize their health and reconnect with ongoing, traditional HIV care when they are ready.

This position will work closely with the Max Clinic Behavioral Health Team to execute their contract deliverables as part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Ryan White Part A Care Services, in fulfillment of the contract between the University of Washington School of Medicine and PHSKC (Public Health – Seattle & King County)

Temporary Opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions are “at will” positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last Feb 2028. One factor that could affect the end date of the position is an unanticipated change in funding.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. Special Duty Assignments are open to Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Monday-Wednesday - 20 hours/ week (flexibility available) 

Work Location 

Harborview Medical Center - Ninth & Jefferson Building (908 Jefferson St. Seattle, WA 98104).

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

• Mental Health Assessments: The therapist will meet with Max patients who are on the Behavioral Health Team’s caseload to obtain relevant clinical information to inform the patient's mental health treatment plan.
• Clinical therapy services: The therapist will provide therapy services to Max patients. Clinical services will align with the evidence-based treatments that are provided by the behavioral health team at the Madison clinic and will be offered on both a walk-in basis and as scheduled appointments.
  
  

• Care coordination: The therapist will serve as the primary liaison between the Max clinic team and specialty behavioral health providers at Harborview and in the community, facilitating appropriate referrals to behavioral health organizations and promoting efficient sharing of information related to treatment planning.
• Weekly case review meetings: The therapist will join the weekly team meeting of the Max Behavioral Health Team to participate in case review and treatment planning for the caseload of Max patients with serious mental illness.
  

Minium:

• 3 or more years providing clinical psychotherapy services for adults.
• Specialized Mental Health Counselor Certification 
• Experience working with people living with HIV who also have serious mental illness is required.
• Experience with mental health treatment planning is required.

Desired:

• Experience with Case Management is preferred.
• Master’s degree in social work or related field (e.g., MSW, MHC)

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Alexis Owens at Recruiter.

Who May Apply

Anyone who is eligible

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application?(The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions?(The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

(Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation and Pre-Employment Physical, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CLA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Union Membership

Non-Represented