Counsellor, Psychosocial Oncology
BC Cancer
Vancouver, BC
The Counsellor reports to the Clinical Coordinator, Patient and Family Counselling Services and works as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide treatment and case management services that are both inclusionary and flexible for the client population served. Working in collaboration with the clinical team, the Counsellor provides individual, couples, and group counselling services alone and as a co-facilitator. The position carries out intake, assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention and supports clients’ access to other services. The Counsellor consults with a variety of health care providers, hospital and community-based, on a wide range of clinical issues pertaining to illness and treatment; participates in case consultation with the interdisciplinary team; and refers out to other agencies and programs as necessary. The position plans, develops, delivers and evaluates client-based and community-based education concerning the illness and treatment; participates in aspects of training for students within a variety of related professions; and is involved in research projects where appropriate.
What you'll do
Perform key duties such as, intake, mental health assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, consultations, individual and couples counselling, group therapy, and psychoeducation.
Plan, design, and deliver individual and family services to clients, using psychotherapeutic interventions that are evidence-based for use with the client population.
Identifiy clients’ goals and expectations; reviews clients’ learning needs and assists with understanding of health issues; teaches strategies for managing and changing symptoms; consults with colleagues regularly; supports clients.
Plan, design, and delivervarious modalities of group services to clients, such as group psychoeducational sessions, psychotherapeutic process groups and support groups.
Aid client access to other resources at PHSA or in the community by providing information and referrals and contacting relevant programs and services.
Maintain confidential client files by methods such as documenting telephone and in-person contacts with clients, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, and documenting for future reference.
Consult with a variety of health care, social services and other providers, both hospital and community-based, on a wide range of clinical issues pertaining to the management of complex chronic disease client and service delivery issues including providing information based upon theory/practice, discussing client care issues and developing linkages/partnerships with other facilities, agencies, and support groups.
Ensure that appropriate educational and informational resources are developed for the clinical area by supporting in initiating the planning, coordination, and evaluation of resources, reviewing resources to make sure they are in line with the goals and objectives of the program, and problem solving any aspect of the process through being conversant in using a variety of teaching modalities including videoconferencing.
Engage in program evaluation and quality improvement by methods such as participating in establishing program goals and objectives, collaborating to develop quality indicators and measurement tools, identifying opportunities for change, assessing available resources, analyzing outcomes, and formulating recommendations for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance client service.
Provide education/training to health care providers including residents, medical students, allied health and nursing students through methods such as leading small group sessions, teaching counselling skills, and providing information and guidance and the opportunity to observe and take an active role in the counselling of suitable clients.
What you bring
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in a related allied health discipline such as, Clinical Counselling or Clinical Social Work from a recognized program.
- Eligible for registration with the applicable designated professional body.
- Two (2) years’ of recent related experience in community and/or hospital organizations providing treatment services to population served including experience in planning, coordinating and evaluating within an interdisciplinary team setting or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Ability to preformed evidence-based therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapies (MBCT, MiCBT).
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Cancer contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.
Core Competencies
- Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
- Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).
You have:
- Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to support populations experiencing grief and loss.
- Thorough knowledge working with clients experiencing psychosocial symptoms relevant to the client population served
- Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology indications and side-effects.
- Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case management process.
- Demonstrated ability to engage in individual, couples, and group therapy sessions, alone and as a co-facilitator.
- Thorough knowledge in adult education principles, methods, and tools.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct psychological assessments, and to provide treatment planning and crisis intervention to adults.
- Ability to develop, coordinate, facilitate, and evaluate education/training or discussion groups on a wide range of health topics for this client population.
- Demonstrated ability to design and develop health-care resources for a variety of audiences.
- Ability to understand the provincial context as it pertains to service delivery and policy issues.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.
What we bring
Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.
- Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
- Access to professional development opportunities through our 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
- Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
- Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
- PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
- Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.
Job Type: Regular, Part-Time (0.50 FTE)
Wage: $44.85 to $56.02 per hour.
Location: 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, V5Z 4E6
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of work: Monday – Wesnesday; 0830-1630, rotating Wednesdays
Requisition Number: 201739E
** Please note: Support for nomination with the BC Provincial Nominee Program is not a guarantee, entitlement or an employee benefit after receiving a full-time job offer with PHSA**
What we do
BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia.
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.
One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected].
Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.
Attention current employees of PHSA:
You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.
The internal job posting expires on July 30, 2026, and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.
If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail [email protected] with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.
If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at [email protected].
