Harborview’s Specialized Treatment for Early Psychosis program (STEP) is a specialized community mental health program that is a part of the greater Washington New Journey’s first episode psychosis program. STEP provides comprehensive services to young adults (ages 15-40) who are experiencing their first psychotic episode and their families. Services provided include specialized therapies for psychosis (IRT, CBTp), nursing services, psychiatry services, supportive employment and education services, peer support services, and family education services. All of our services emphasize the recovery model of care and are based on evidence-based treatments for psychosis. STEP provides services to medically, economically, ethnically, racially diverse individuals and their families. STEP is also proud to provide services to our LGBTQIAA community

This placement is technically demanding. The position is ideal for an advanced MSW student seeking an intensive learning experience with an emphasis on evidence-based treatments and creative interventions. We recommend that applicants be familiar with young adult culture and or open to learning about young adult culture.

The practicum student will work under the supervision of a seasoned mental health professional who specializes in providing services to individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis. At the start of this practicum, there will be a primary emphasis on education about first episode psychosis, specific therapies used to treat first episode psychosis, and how the various roles on the STEP team are utilized to support and treat clients. Students will be provided opportunities to shadow each STEP team member and attend consultation groups and trainings for first episode psychosis. Students will be invited to provide specialized therapies to clients as well as intakes, group facilitation, outreaches, and other tasks under the supervision of STEP staff and as deemed appropriate and of interest to the student. The student will develop specialized expertise in areas related to psychosis diagnosis, assessment, and treatment as well as a practical understanding of the systems for provision of public mental health, state and federal health care and life supports (e.g. SSI; SSDI; DSHS; HUD; SHA; Medicaid; Medicare; etc.) and the unique challenges that individuals with first episode psychosis and their families face. Students will also have the opportunity to gain training and practice of specific evidence based brief therapies such as Individual Resiliency Training (IRT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-P), Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Harm Reduction approaches, etc.

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This placement is technically demanding. The position is ideal for an advanced MSW student seeking an intensive learning experience with an emphasis on evidence-based treatments and creative interventions. We recommend that applicants be familiar with young adult culture and or open to learning about young adult culture.

Interview Process: Students meeting placement requirements should submit a cover letter and resume to Rachelle White at raden@uw.edu. If you are seeking to start your placement in the summer, please include this information in your cover letter. If you have questions prior to submitting your resume, please contact Rachelle at 206.744.2658. Interviews will be completed, selections made, and students notified by the UW SSW deadline.

Field Instructor: Ryan Juhre, MSW, LICSW