Employment Opportunity: Trauma Therapist (Full-time, 1-year term)
Designation Status
Avalon is committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. This opportunity is designated for applicants who identify as members of equity-deserving groups, including Mi’kmaq and Indigenous peoples, African Nova Scotian/Black communities, People of Colour, newcomers and immigrants, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. Ability to communicate in more than one language is an asset. Please self-identify in your cover letter.
About Avalon
Avalon Sexual Assault Centre provides a continuum of supports and services to individuals of all genders affected by sexualized violence in Halifax and across Nova Scotia. Since 1983, we have advocated for survivors and worked to provide a safe space through a variety of services. We are deeply committed to trauma-informed, feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practices that centre equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. We are a proudly unionized workplace dedicated to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and trauma-informed staff environment.
About the Role
Avalon’s Trauma Therapists provide individual and group therapeutic counselling services to individuals of all genders, ages 15 years and up, who have experienced sexualized violence. Therapy services are offered in-person, online, and via phone.
Responsibilities
- Direct Counselling: Provide trauma-informed counselling sessions for clients through one-on-one and group sessions. This work is grounded in strong clinical support, including individual and peer supervision.
- Administrative Duties: Record and maintain up-to-date client records in accordance with professional college requirements.
- Community Collaboration: Work closely with team members and community partners to create wraparound and coordinated care for clients.
- Training: Engage in ongoing professional development to support trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and survivor-centered therapeutic practice.
- Team culture: Participate in staff meetings, committees, and working groups.
The right person will bring:
- Educational background: Graduate level degree in Social Work, Counselling Psychotherapy, or Psychology and registered with associated regulatory body (NSCSW, NSCCT, NSBEP).
- Counselling experience: 3+ overall years of experience in providing individual counselling, crisis support, and advocacy.
- Trauma-informed practice: A supportive, non-judgmental lens in all interactions, and experience working with diverse and marginalized populations.
- Collaboration and advocacy: Demonstrated experience networking, advocating, and collaborating to improve access to services for marginalized populations, including strong knowledge of local community organizations and systems to support referrals and partnerships.
- Values alignment: Commitment to feminist, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and intersectional values. Specialized experience related to sexualized violence is considered an asset.
- Relational teamwork and self-reflection: Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team grounded in relational values, consult with supervisors on complex client situations, and actively monitor and address vicarious trauma.
Why Work for Avalon?
Avalon recognizes and values the complexity and skill required in providing support to historical and acute traumas. As a proudly unionized and anti-oppressive workplace we are committed to fostering an organizational culture that actively promotes healthy work-life balance and invests in the support and growth of staff. This includes:
- 20 paid vacation days & 18 paid wellness days
- Employer shared extended health benefits and RSP contribution
- Employer paid professional development
- Supportive and responsive team regarding work-life balance, burnout, and vicarious trauma
Working Conditions
- Hours: 35 hours per week. Avalon office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30pm or 9:00am to 5:00pm with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break.
- Location: This position is located in Halifax and works out of our downtown office, with the possibility of working in community and partner organizations.
- Compensation: $72,828 – $81,984.62 per annum based on years of experience
- Union: Avalon is a unionized workplace. The successful candidate for this position will be a bargaining unit member with SEIU Local 2.
How To Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter in a single file to [email protected]. Applications submitted through Indeed or without a cover letter will not be considered.
In your cover letter, please share why you are interested in working in a feminist non-profit focused on sexualized violence. We want to hear from the real you, so please refrain from using AI to create your cover letter.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on July 3, 2026.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: $72,828.00-$81,984.62 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Wellness program
Work Location: In person
