The Integrated Behavioral Health Counselor is responsible for providing evidence-based behavioral healthcare services to diverse populations, for a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems. As part of an integrated behavioral health and primary medical care practice, they provide initial patient screenings, assessments, crisis intervention, brief individual counseling, short-term group therapy, care coordination, case management, and follow-up. This professional provides a combination of brief, targeted interventions, and short-term outpatient counseling to individuals across the lifespan and shares responsibility for ensuring adequate coverage of intakes and crisis intervention within the primary care setting.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Deliver short-term individual, group, and family therapy; crisis assessment and intervention; case management; behavioral health psychoeducation; and referral services onsite, co-located with medical providers.
2. Complete risk assessments of individuals in crisis, including those experiencing suicidality and homicidality, using evidence-based tools to assist with safety planning
3. Provide crisis intervention, crisis management, and follow-up to maintain safety of patients and others.
4. Conduct patient-centered, strengths-based, culturally and linguistically sensitive mental health status examinations, DSM-IV-TR diagnostic screenings, and psychosocial assessments.
5. Use evidence-based tools to detect patients at high risk of specific issues and outcomes and use results to inform brief treatment that prevents further psychological deterioration.
6. Collaborate with patients to develop individualized treatment plans, based on measurable patient-centered goals, objectives, and intervention strategies.
7. Provide brief behavioral health interventions using evidence-based techniques and treatments, as appropriate to the individual patient achieve optimal wellness.
8. Determine ongoing behavioral healthcare services based on level of clinical ability, medical, and psychosocial complexity of patient needs, and when needed, refer those with complex needs to other behavioral health providers for longer-term treatment.
9. Assist in providing comprehensive team-based care to achieve the highest level of recovery and wellness possible for patients, including assisting the team, when requested, in recognizing and treating mental health disorders and the impact of these issues on patient readiness to change, motivation, and adherence to care.
10. As a member of the multidisciplinary team, participate in clinical meetings, consultation, team huddles, quality assurance, and pre-appointment planning activities.
11. Identify the need for and assist in development, implementation, and evaluation of issue-specific short-term treatment groups.
12. Complete documentation of all patient encounters in the Electronic Medical Record. (EMR) system in a timely manner, following best practices and agency policies.
13. Participate in a comprehensive quality improvement process, including peer review of other counselors’ documentation.
14. Provide case management and referrals to needed behavioral health resources and services external to the agency.
15. Maintain licensure and certifications, complying with all requirements of licensure boards and certifying bodies.
16. Other duties and/or special projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the concepts and principles of assessment and treatment in individual, group, and family counseling and short-term treatment, including evidence-based techniques, tools, and therapies.
• Knowledge of ethics, ethical obligations, laws, and legal duties in behavioral healthcare.
• Knowledge and skills regarding diversity, cultural competency, and cultural humility.
• Knowledge and skills regarding human development and behavior across the life span, family development and family life cycles, and stages of group development.
• Knowledge and skills regarding crises, crisis prevention, and crisis intervention, including crises involving harm or violence to self or others.
• Knowledge and skills of trauma-informed care for survivors of trauma or violence.
• Knowledge and skills regarding effective use of telehealth services in behavioral health.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with team members, other healthcare professionals, community stakeholders, and the public.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Software Access

            Microsoft Office                      eClinical Works (eCW)

• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
• Minimum 3 years employment in behavioral healthcare
• Ability to be credentialed by CMS and insurance providers
• Two (2) years work experience in a medical setting preferred
• Ability to speak Spanish preferred