| What You'll Be Doing |
 Confluence's central Vermont setting is the ideal launching pad for recreation and adventure experiences.
Field Mentors
Field Mentors facilitate a physically and emotionally safe therapeutic experience for each participant's growth through the implementation of individualized therapeutic treatment plans and a positive peer environment. Additionally, Mentors serve as guides and teachers for outdoor adventure (hiking, camping, xc skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, rock climbing, teambuilding) and farm-based activities (diet and nutrition, arts and crafts, therapeutic groups, community building, fun and games). Mentor's comprehensively guide participants through social, emotional and physical challenges with the goal of achieving greater emotional awareness, developing positive change and fostering growth.
 Mindfulness practice, yoga and meditation—opening the door to connection, creating calm and developing insight.
Responsibilities:
• Foster and maintain a safe emotional and physical atmosphere
• Implement individual and group treatment plans by conducting objective participant observation, group discussions, and interventions
• Objectively record the actions, behaviors and changes in participants by submitting a weekly written assessment
• Assess and meet participant attributes and needs while helping them realize their strengths
• Lead or co-lead adventure activities (camping, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, etc.)
• Participate in peer-to-peer developmental feedback, such as submitting peer evaluations and self-evaluations
• Effectively communicate with leadership, co-workers, clinicians/therapists, logistics staff and participants to efficiently integrate the multiple facets of the program
• Identify risks and adverse behavior and respond appropriately
 Why do we offer adventure experiences? Outdoor recreation is an avenue for positive, engaging and fun experiences that support and encourage growth and are available to participants of any skill and fitness level. The adventure experience is sought to not only disconnect and rejuvenate but to provide a venue where emotional awareness and healing can take hold. Through the inherent challenges in these activities, participants gain valuable confidence and build resilience that enhances the well-being of each individual.
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| Your New Work Environment |
 Agrarian living and therapeutic horticulture are woven into the participant experience and offers a visceral interface with these elements––amplifying their impact on the individual.
When you work at Confluence, you'll split your time between the farm and offsite adventure activities.
 Located in the Upper Valley, the farm is 120-acres sitting atop one of the area's highest hills. Long views of New Hampshire's White Mountains to the east are taken from the gazebo. The manor home is a turn-of-the-century country mansion with ample space for meeting, dining, exercise and sleeping accommodations.
Boots, bikes, boards, and boats are the vehicles for getting participants out into the natural world. Outdoor adventures deliver a variety of experiences, ranging from paddling, mountain biking, and backpacking to snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing. Many of the Northeast's designated wilderness areas are under two hours away, while extensive state park systems, national forests, a national seashore, and a national park are within a day's drive. These locations offer the least travelled areas in the Northeast and give Confluence participants the ability to discover places few venture to. Home and neighboring states offer ocean beaches, rugged mountains, picturesque lakes, and extensive river systems.
Our farm module provides a strong metaphor for the therapeutic work being done at Confluence. Just like plants, therapeutic work requires setting up a proper foundation, time, effort, patience, and resilience. Before the reward there must be labor. You plant before you harvest. You sow in tears before you reap joy. —Ralph Ransom |
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| Time Commitment |
A typical shift for a Field Mentor starts on Wednesday morning and ends the following Wednesday evening. Field Mentors work a continuous 8-day/7-night shift comprising off-site adventure programming and activities on the farm. The 8-day/7-night shift is followed by 6 days off. Work fewer than 200 days a year!
Confluence has given me the rare opportunity to do direct clinical work with people over a long period of time and actually see the growth. I've also grown my own skills in a variety of fields. —Lo, Field Mentor (2019-21) |
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| Compensation & Perks |
 Working at Confluence is an avenue to explore careers in therapeutic services, experiential education, mental health, social work and agrarian living.
Compensation starts at $44,000/year with benefits that include a relocation bonus, paid time off, health insurance, pro deals, and fully sponsored training opportunities (WFR, CPR, Lifeguard, Swift Water Rescue, Yoga Instructor, Motivational Interviewing, AEGIS, Mindfulness).
I like working for Confluence because it's small enough to be truly community-driven, adaptive and flexible, but big enough to enjoy amenities, resources, and outdoor opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be possible. —Winchell, Program Director (2020-22), Field Mentor (2018-20) |
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| The Essentials |
An Ideal Field Mentor…
• Has a Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, experiential education, or a related field
• Is an experienced outdoors person
• Is professional, punctual and trustworthy
• Is a team player, but also works well independently
• Is able to develop strong and appropriate rapport with other staff
• Seamlessly operates within a wide range of personalities, cultures and backgrounds
• Excels in their communication skills
• Has high emotional intelligence
• Is Wilderness First Responder certified
With my background in environmental psychology, this has been a really great opportunity for me to combine research with practical, hands-on skills. My plan is to go into the field of psychology and Confluence has given me hands on experience with leading groups and facilitating one-on-one conversations. I've learned a lot about myself and have been able to identify my strengths and practice areas of improvement. —Laura, Field Mentor (2020-21) |
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Your First Move & Connections |
 Field Mentors are an integral part in helping young adults heal, grow and change, and ultimately set the course to lead engaged, positive and fulfilling lives.
If you like helping people, love being outdoors, and being part of a supportive community dedicated to bettering the lives of young adults, fill out the online application (a cover letter and resume will be required). Applications accepted year-round.
Justin Chaffee-Standish
Field Director
Confluence Behavioral Health
1646 Gove Hill Rd.
Thetford, VT 05074
(802) 727-0019
justin@confluencevt.com
ConfluenceVT.com
  
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