BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST

About the role

The Licensed Clinical Therapist (Behavioral Health Therapist) is responsible for providing psychological support for patients and families. They will provide supportive counseling, psychosocial assessment and diagnosis and ensure appropriate interventions for patients with complex psychiatric, social, medical, and financial needs in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting. The therapist coordinates the complex psycho-social needs of patients and families and assists the interdisciplinary team to help patients and families cope with illness, diagnoses, treatment, and other issues that present barriers to efficient patient care and quality outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Clinically assess and evaluate patients using currently accepted diagnostic classifications including the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), addressing mental, emotional, behavioral and associated distresses that interfere with social and occupational functioning
• Conduct patient biopsychosocial and other assessments, including completion of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression scale and/or other instruments
• Conduct assessments and evaluations within the scope of practice of the respective license for the purpose of treatment, establishing goals and objectives; plan, implement and evaluate counseling interventions
• Provide psychotherapy to individuals, groups and families by applying scientific principles and procedures in counseling and human development to assist in understanding and solving current or potential problems, mental health, substance use or other diagnoses
• Evaluate social and familial information and determine plan for social intervention and treatment
• Demonstrate the ability to obtain information in assessment and interpret information in terms of the patients' needs
• Provide consulting by applying scientific principles and procedures in counseling and human development to assist in understanding and solving current or potential problems that the client(s) may have in relation to an individual, a group or an organization
• Assist patients/families with anxiety and stress precipitated by illness and/or hospitalization, difficulty coping with life changes or long-standing psychiatric diagnosis, fears related to helplessness, changes in lifestyle, and death
• Provide counseling specific to the need for long term medical care, immediate crises, and discharge planning
• Give patients/families time and support needed to cope with present problems
• Provide education to patients and families around issues related to adaptation to the patient's diagnosis, illness, treatment, and discharge plan
• Document psychosocial assessment, treatment plan and referrals made on behalf of the patient
• Maintain awareness of billing and coding regulations for specialty and ensure alignment with compliance when billing for services
• Maintain professional continuing education and licensure requirements
• Attend to professional self-development by remaining current in knowledge of trends and developments in mental health, addictions or co-occurring disorders
• Increase knowledge base of health-related issues and growth and development of age and/or diagnostic specialty information to work with patients and their families
• Accept responsibility for clinical supervision of students or other team members as determined by teams and discussed with director
• Serve as a resource to members of the interdisciplinary team and patient/family regarding coverage issues, care coordination and community resources

Requirements

Experience

• 3-5 years preferred
• Knowledge of principles and practices of modern psychological case work, psychological assessment, personality theory, DSM V, psychotherapy and case work

Education

• Master's Degree required in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or other Master's level degree that leads to clinical licensure in the state of NJ

License/Certification

• Current NJ SW License – (NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)