Behavioral Health Therapist

About the Role

Provides direct clinical services to patients, families, and others, including mental health and chemical dependency evaluations, crisis intervention, and supportive counseling and referrals for additional services.

Offers supportive intervention for situational distress, illnesses, and trauma; intervention and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse, and neglect. Provides patient and family information and education regarding medical and mental health issues relevant to the setting.

Assists the Emergency Department medical and nursing staffs with the assessment of more difficult and/or complex patients by applying clinical techniques such as crisis intervention.

Facilitates the entry of patients into SJMHS Behavioral Services by providing patient evaluations, analyzing symptoms and history using DSM-V, and making level-of-care recommendations. Obtains appropriate informed consents and/or other legally required documents for admissions.

Collaborates with Patient Financial Services during business hours to ensure insurance verification and benefits determination. Responsible for pre-authorization for all payers for individuals being admitted for Behavioral Health Services within SJMHS.

Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships. Approaches conflict in a constructive manner. Helps to identify problems, offer solutions, and participate in their resolution.

Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patients, physicians, employees, and visitors. Discusses patient and hospital information only among appropriate personnel in appropriately private places.

Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.

Behaves in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System.

Responsibilities

• Provides mental health and chemical dependency evaluations, crisis intervention, and supportive counseling.
• Prepares documentation for all services provided, including maintaining contact records, clinical evaluations, supportive services, and disposition plans.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, psychiatric nursing, or counseling.
• Licensing appropriate to the profession.

Skills

• Clinical and analytical skills necessary to assess an individual’s needs for behavioral health services, including evaluation of risk for dangerousness to self or others.
• Knowledge of psychiatric diagnostic nosology and criteria.
• Demonstrated competence with verbal and written communication skills for concise, relevant, and timely clinical assessments.
• Ability to learn and utilize various software, database applications, and electronic health records.

Schedule

Part-time, night shift.