Behavioral Health Intake Therapist

About the role

Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you’ll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. The Behavioral Health Intake Therapist serves as the first point of contact for individuals seeking mental health services, completing assessments, identifying needs, and connecting patients with appropriate care and resources. This role is essential to ensuring timely access to support, helping patients begin their treatment journey with the right level of care and improving overall mental health outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide admissions and intake services to patients and potential patients.
• Respond to telephone inquiries from persons seeking mental health care or information about mental health‑related services.
• Facilitate admission of in‑patients and out‑patients based on physician orders.
• Coordinate transportation to another facility and/or referral to a lower level of care as indicated.
• Document calls and related admission information.
• May staff crisis hotline as needed.
• Review all paperwork accompanying patients to ensure adherence to hospital and regulatory policies.
• Perform insurance verification and prior‑authorization based on payor requirements.
• Work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in Behavioral Health or a related field.
• No prior experience required.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0‑25 lb.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Frequent use of vision and depth perception for near (≈20 in) and far (≈20 ft) distances; ability to identify and distinguish colors.
• Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication; ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Frequent keyboard use/data entry.
• Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25‑50 lb.
• Rare climbing.

Licensure / Certification

Illinois

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – IDFPR
• Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) – IDFPR

Missouri

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Missouri Division of Professional Registration
• Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) – Missouri Division of Professional Registration
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Missouri Division of Professional Registration

Oklahoma

• Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) – Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
• Licensed Behavioral Practitioner (LBP) – Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers
• Licensed Counselors and Drug Counselor – Mental Health (LADC‑MH) – Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
• Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) – Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health
• Licensed Master's Social Worker (LMSW) – Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health

Wisconsin

• Professional Counselor Training License (LPC‑IT) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Advanced Practice Social Worker (APSW) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Marriage and Family Therapist Training License (MFT‑TL) – Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

Schedule

PRN – as needed (minimum 2 shifts per month).