Contract Summary

Dalton Associates is seeking a compassionate and experienced Child Therapist to join our team as an independent contractor, providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed mental health services to children and youth in remote First Nations communities across Northern Ontario.

This role focuses primarily on school-based and community-based therapeutic support, with strong preference for clinicians experienced in play therapy and/or art therapy modalities. Services may include in-community visits (fly-in) and virtual care, depending on community direction and program needs.

The successful candidate will approach the work with humility, flexibility, and a strong commitment to walking alongside communities in support of children’s wellness.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strengths-based, developmentally appropriate therapeutic support to children and youth using play therapy, art therapy, and other expressive modalities.
• Support children experiencing emotional, behavioural, grief, trauma-related, and mental health concerns.
• Deliver services within school and community settings in ways that are culturally safe, respectful, and responsive to community context.
• Collaborate closely with caregivers, Elders (where appropriate), educators, and community supports to promote wraparound care.
• Support skill-building and regulation strategies that can be carried over in classroom and home environments.
• Provide virtual follow-up sessions and consultation between community visits, as appropriate.
• Maintain timely, respectful, and accurate clinical documentation in alignment with program standards.
• Participate in case consultation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Uphold trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-based care practices.
• Travel to fly-in communities as required (travel coordinated by DA).

Key Characteristics

• Child-centred and developmentally attuned: Engages children with warmth, patience, and play-based clinical skill.
• Trauma-informed and emotionally responsive: Demonstrates strong capacity to support children with complex emotional needs in a regulated and safe manner.
• Culturally humble and respectful: Practices with openness, humility, and deep respect for First Nations cultures, languages, and ways of knowing.
• Relationship-first approach: Prioritizes trust-building with children, families, schools, and community partners.
• Collaborative and community-minded: Works in partnership with local teams and honours community direction.
• Flexible and adaptable: Comfortable working in dynamic school environments and remote community contexts.
• Creative and play-oriented clinician: Skilled in expressive, play-based, and strengths-focused therapeutic approaches.
• Organized and accountable: Maintains strong documentation, follow-through, and professional reliability.
• Self-aware and reflective: Engages in ongoing learning and reflective practice related to cultural safety and trauma-informed care.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, or a related clinical field.
• Registered and in good standing with a relevant Ontario regulatory body (e.g., OCSWSSW, CRPO, CPO).
• Formal training and demonstrated experience in play therapy and/or art therapy strongly preferred.
• Experience providing therapy to children and youth in school and/or community settings.
• Demonstrated experience working in trauma-informed and culturally responsive ways.
• Ability to travel to remote fly-in communities, as required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic clinical documentation systems.
• Strong interpersonal, clinical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently while remaining connected to team processes.
• Personal and/or professional experience working with First Nations communities is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and wholistic approaches to wellness.
• Experience in remote or northern service delivery is an asset.
• Candidates from local First Nations communities are strongly encouraged to apply and will be considered an asset.
• Fluency in Cree, Ojibway, or Oji-Cree is considered a strong asset.

Dalton Associates is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Reasonable accommodations will be made available upon request for candidates taking part in any step of the recruitment and selection process.

Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Pay: $800.00 per day

Application question(s):

• Are you registered and in good standing with a relevant Ontario regulatory body (e.g., OCSWSSW, CRPO, CPO)?
• Do you have knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and wholistic approaches to wellness?

Education:

• Master's Degree (required)

Willingness to travel:

• 75% (required)

Work Location: On the road