Behavioral Health Counselor MS

Position Overview

The Behavioral Health Counselor will:

• Facilitate patient involvement in treatment and education within a supportive environment
• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions
• Perform all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning, ensuring safe and effective care transitions
• Collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to ensure timely delivery of services, resources, and education for patients and families
• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring and professional practices to other caregivers
• Assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial risk factors by evaluating prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping abilities
• Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of health conditions or disabilities
• Access and mobilize community and family resources to meet patient needs
• Serve as the point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence
• Act as a liaison between IU Health and local protective services (APS/CPS)
• Provide crisis intervention and support during acute situations, including de-escalation techniques
• Support complex discharge planning and care coordination
• Provide specialized mental health services, including crisis and addiction assessments, with appropriate referrals for psychiatric or community resources
• Lead interventions in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health placements

  Qualifications & Requirements

  • Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field from an accredited institution required.
  • Experience: 0-3 years relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.
  • Licensure: Candidates must be license-eligible in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC. A minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A is required upon hire.
  • Note: Candidates with a BSW must obtain an LBSW license. They can be considered if they acquire a 12-month temporary license prior to start date, which makes them compliant until passing the licensing exam. We recommend obtaining the temporary license within one week prior to employment.
  • Certifications: Crisis intervention certification may be required. BLS certification may be required.

  Skills & Knowledge

  • Evidence-based practices such as CBT, MI, DBT
  • Knowledge of the disease process, human behavior, and social needs
  • Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques
  • Legal mandates related to child and adult protective services (state and county)
  • Ability to create a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct daily activities and programming
  • Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Strong relationship-building skills with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and healthcare teams

  Core Competencies

  • Connecting to IU Health’s mission, vision, and values by demonstrating purpose, excellence, compassion, and teamwork
  • Building rapport and providing exemplary customer service
  • Clear, concise, and professional communication—both oral and written
  • Effectively addressing problems and delivering high-quality work on time
  • Adapting to changing priorities and organizational needs
  • Upholding confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, demonstrating ethical practice

  Benefits

  • Reimbursement up to $500 a year for Continuing Education Credits
  • Up to 5 days for Continuing Education Days (not PTO based)

  About the Role

  Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital is seeking a compassionate and skilled Master’s Level Counselor with experience in behavioral health to provide direct therapeutic services, discharge planning, and crisis intervention. This role involves face-to-face interactions with patients and families, collaboration with healthcare teams, and supporting patients through complex psychosocial challenges.