Behavioral Health Counselor

About the role

FamilyCare Health Centers is seeking a Behavioral Health Counselor. The position is split between the Lee Street and Marmet locations. The counselor treats abnormal physical or mental behavior within the primary care setting and uses evidence‑based techniques to develop and implement therapeutic treatment plans in a medical setting.

Requirements

Physical requirements: The employee must regularly speak and hear sufficiently to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes; have adequate vision to read correspondence, computer screens, forms, etc.; possess good manual dexterity. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Qualifications

• Current West Virginia licensure as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
• Excellent working knowledge of behavioral medicine and evidence‑based treatments for medical and mental health conditions.
• Ability to make quick and accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions.
• High level of comfort working with primary care medical providers using a consultative style.
• Ability to work through brief patient contacts, including via telephone and teleconferencing.
• Good knowledge of psycho‑pharmacology.
• Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of selected mental and behavioral conditions.
• Ability to design effective psycho‑education curricula and lead effective psycho‑education classes.
• Ability to train and teach effective behavioral health interventions and the primary behavioral health model to medical practitioners and other behavioral health providers.
• Ability to work effectively as a team, interfacing with patients, primary care providers, consulting psychiatrist and mental health specialists, as well as with administrative and support staff.
• Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions, and to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent and equitable manner.
• Ability to effectively represent FamilyCare's interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among co‑workers, public, private and professional groups.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and government regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist primary health care providers in recognizing and treating psychological and/or emotional problems.
• Observe and evaluate patients to detect indications of abnormal physical or mental behavior and make diagnoses when appropriate (LGSWs must discuss each case with a clinical supervisor for the supervisor to ultimately make the diagnosis).
• Develop and implement therapeutic treatment plans in a medical setting (LGSWs work under supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional).
• Counsel individuals and groups regarding psychological or emotional problems such as stress, substance abuse, or family situations (LGSWs under supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional).
• Facilitate recovery groups for patients receiving medication‑assisted opioid treatment (LGSWs under supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional).
• Consult with primary care provider, social worker, or other specialists as part of a treatment team regarding treatment plans and amend plans as necessary.
• Refer clients elsewhere for supportive services to supplement treatment and counseling when medically necessary.
• Attend and participate in meetings and Quality Improvement activities as required.