Mental Health Therapist - Exempt

Position Details

Summary/Objective

The Mental Health Counselor is responsible for providing and coordinating mental health counseling, support, and education to individuals, couples, and families and the community under the direction of the Director of Behavioral Health. The mental health counselor educates patients about Behavioral Health issues, treatment, provides behavioral activation, evaluating their mental health needs and developing treatment plans to help them improve their mental health and well-being. The Mental Health Counselor works under the direction of the Director of Behavioral Health and clinical supervision through Senior Mental Health Therapists.

Essential Functions

• Conducts assessment of patients, including completion of instrumental scales to determine clients' level of need.
• Conducts initial visit including detailed behavioral health history.
• Provides education about the nature of behavioral health issues
• Develops and coordinates initiation of personalized treatment plans based on client needs and goals and expectation of treatment.
• Consults with patient and primary care provider about treatment options and preferences.
• Monitors patients closely (in-person or by phone) for changes in severity of symptoms and medication side effects; educates patients about medications as needed; and encourages treatment adherence.
• Uses behavioral health activation techniques with patients as an adjunct to other treatments.
• Conducts individual and/or group therapy that is evidence-based
• Create treatment plans with goals that are clear, concise, and measurable
• Maintain detailed records of client treatment plans, progress, and outcomes
• Monitor and track clients' progress throughout their treatment
• Coordinates and facilitates communication between patients, primary care physician and psychiatrist; provides recommendations for change in treatment plan according to evidence-based algorithm and expert supervision; supports implementation of new plan.
• Work closely with Health Care Providers or other referring partners to ensure quality delivery of services and promote a healing environment
• Documents all encounters in patient electronic health record according to organization policies and procedures which may include patient encounters, therapeutic interventions, development of treatment plans, reports, tracking progress of treatment, and responding to emails & calls/voicemails; monitors outcome measurements.
• Collaborating with clinical team and management on all clinical aspects of the program and ensuring the program design and fidelity to the treatment model according to the program's written clinical plan.
• Work with, guide, and direct interns assigned to your site.
• Performs crisis intervention techniques, such as conducting support sessions, making a safety plan, giving resources, supporting the client in getting the resources needed to keep them safe.
• Facilitates treatment referrals, as needed.
• Gives Primary Care Providers timely feedback about their patient's care, treatment recommendations, and progress via documentation in the patient EHR records and verbal feedback.
• Support the client in enhancing patient access to health care services through education & navigation in obtaining insurance, set up in house referrals to and/or help in navigating to outside agencies as needed such as inpatient stays, detox etc.
• Ability to identify high-risk clients and navigate the needs through providing or referring in-house to a case management service if available.
• Ability to problem solve solutions and/or seeks out to other team members regarding the psychosocial needs of the client and the impact of the psychosocial problem to health care needs, transferring of client, providing resources to implement into the treatment Plan
• Be able to observe the client's behavior to rule out possible indication of difficulty adapting or responding to treatment services and complete appropriate documentation
• *These essential functions are a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the position and are not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities. The position will include other duties as assigned and duties are subject to change at the management's discretion.

Competencies

• Planning and strategic foresight
• Responsible Decision Making
• Integrity and accountability
• Innovation and creativity
• Adaptive and flexible
• Leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution
• Professionalism and work ethic
• Empathy

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office environment. Involves frequent personal and telephone contact with patients, physicians, and other healthcare personnel. Work may be stressful at times. Interaction with others is constant and interruptive.

Travel

Travel outside of Northshore locations will be rare for this position.

Role Qualifications

• Respect and sensitivity for cultural differences promotes a harassment-free work environment and is capable of relating to people of diverse age, ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Attend meetings, team huddles and training sessions as required.
• Excellent working knowledge of behavioral medicine and Evidence Based Protocol for medical and mental health conditions.
• Knowledge of patient confidentiality (HIPAA) guidelines
• Ability to work through brief patient contacts as well as to make quick and accurate clinical assessment of mental and behavioral conditions.
• Should be comfortable with the pace of primary care, working with interdisciplinary teams and have strong communication skills.
• Good knowledge of psychopathology and psychopharmacology.
• Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of selected chronic conditions.
• Flexibility to work evenings and cover shifts as needed
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willing to adhere to additional training and monthly competencies through the agency
• Have acquired and continues to maintain all state licensures applicable to the role, including CEU's and/or specified training.
• Demonstrate professionalism through adherence to professional affiliation to the code of ethics (e.g., NASW, ACA, Etc.)
• Knowledge of community resources.

Preferred Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years' clinical experience in a relevant setting.

Minimum Education Requirements

• Master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field
• Licensed in the State of Indiana as a mental health counselor (LMHC), social worker (LCSW)(LSW), addictions counselor (LCAC) (LAC), or marriage and family therapist (LMFT) through the (PLA)
• Current CPR Certification

Preferred Education Requirement

• Master's degree in counseling, psychology, or social work
• Office of Inspector General: Ensures ability to bill through Medicaid and Medicare, and no history of fraud
• National Practitioner Data Bank: In good standing

Required Skills

• Ability to analyze situations and solve problems at strategic and tactical levels
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies
• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization's hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and the administrative practices related to those factors
• Practiced at organization and planning
• Employ Critical thinking and problem solving
• Maintains composure and operates with emotional intelligence
• Ethical reasoning and decision-making
• Strong attention to detail
• Receptive and responsive to feedback
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Time management, prioritization, and sense of urgency
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software

Physical Requirements

While performing this job's duties, the employee may be required to sit and/or stand for prolonged periods, work longer than eight (8) hour shifts, and work both day/evening/weekend shifts. Work may include hand dexterity as well as the need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the job's essential functions.