Behavioral Health Counselor

Position Summary: Working with Care Alliance Health Center patients as part of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team, the Behavioral Health Counselor addresses and reduces barriers to mental health and substance abuse care. Activities include diagnostic assessment, individual and group counseling, and patient advocacy for primary care patients who are experiencing significant emotional, behavioral, and substance abuse difficulties. The BH Counselor must be

comfortable working independently with minimal oversight with various populations.

Responsibilities

· Ensure the medically related emotional and social needs of patients are met and maintained on an individual basis in accordance with policies and procedures and current federal, state and local standards, guidelines and regulations.

· Complete client intake and diagnostic interviews, and provide relevant information to patients in a fair, accurate, and impartial manner.

· Clearly communicate activities and patient progress with the integrated care team both verbally and through comprehensive and timely documentation in the EMR.

· Deliver ongoing therapeutic intervention for various stress/life problems, coping with medical issues and chronic disease, pain management, substance use, risky behavior change, marriage and family concerns, and mental health concerns.

· Work in conjunction with the primary care teams to develop integrated care plans to help patients reach their goals.

· Exhibit familiarity with various behavioral health care models, including abstinence-only treatment, the disease model of addiction and stages of change.

· Skillful in assessing suicidal/homicidal risk and responding appropriately.

· Refer to relevant community resources and work collaboratively with community providers.

· Track clinical symptoms over time using established measures; and cue changes in treatment when the patient is not improving. Identify signs of exacerbation and decomposition of mental illness and substance use and develop a plan of management which will include other team members.

· Confer with integrated care team members in regard to appropriate interventions.

· Follow-up on client referrals to psychiatry/nurse practitioners, support groups or other mental health professionals.

· Complete clinical assessments, develop individual treatment plans, provide direct therapy services, complete documentation, as well as maintain progress notes.

· Support and participate in medication management.

· Understanding of standards of care established by Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Joint Commission, etc.

· Maintain ethical standards of practice set forth by licensing and professional standard of clinical practice.

· Complete other assignments as instructed.

Requirements:

· Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, or behavioral health-related field

· 3 or More years’ experience as a mental or behavioral health counselor

· Must have a valid LSW or LISW from the State of Ohio

· Experience with therapeutic interventions and treatment planning.

· Experience with Trauma and/or substance use treatment interventions.

· FQHC and/or clinical experience a plus