BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST

About the role

This position involves conducting therapeutic interventions for an outpatient caseload, emphasizing short-term cognitive-behavioral approaches to support social/emotional adjustment or address behavioral disorders. The role also includes providing emergency behavioral health services.

Responsibilities

• Completes patient assessments and interviews patients/families/significant others at initial presentation.
• Documents clinical activities within established time frames according to department, hospital, and regulatory agency standards.
• Assists in compliance with state, JCAHO, and other regulatory agencies.
• Participates in Performance Improvement Activities.
• Communicates effectively with patients/peers/families/treatment team.
• Provides peer/treatment team consultation when asked.
• Uses computer for E-mail, scheduling, authorizations, insurance tracking, etc.
• Provides and documents patient/family education.
• Makes recommendations for staff development.
• Serves on hospital committees and participates in related projects.
• Complies with requirements for credentialed status.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Delivers presentations to other agencies and groups.
• Serves as liaison between physicians and families/agencies/services.
• Attends at least 75% of staff meetings.
• Reads and signs off minutes of meetings not attended.
• Returns guest/family phone calls and documents.
• Provides peer/treatment team consultation when asked.
• Uses computer as required for email, scheduling, authorizations, insurance tracking.

Specialty Functions

• Processes psychiatric emergencies.
• Affirms severity of patient condition and collaborates with psychiatrist for crisis resolution.
• Processes commitments and refers patients to appropriate treatment facilities.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of Mental Health Procedures Act.
• Participates in Treatment Planning.
• Completes treatment plans and reviews according to department standards and regulatory agencies.
• Attends treatment team meetings.
• Functions as an interdisciplinary team member to identify and resolve patient needs.
• Utilizes skilled therapeutic modalities.
• Provides individual, group, and family therapy.
• Provides crisis intervention techniques and develops individualized safety contracts as necessary.
• Documents services provided according to department and regulatory agencies.
• Maintains productivity targets.
• Obtains authorizations/reauthorizations for treatment.
• Completes activity logs as requested.
• Participates in unit Performance Improvement activities.
• Communicates effectively with patients/peers/families/treatment team/agencies.
• Attends at least 75% of staff meetings.
• Reads and signs off minutes of those not attended.
• Returns guest/family phone calls and documents.
• Provides peer/treatment team consultation when asked.
• Uses computer as required for email, scheduling, authorizations, insurance tracking.
• Serves as liaison between physician and families and agencies/services.
• Provides and participates in educational activities.
• Provides and documents patient/family education.
• Participates in staff education, both as participant and presenter.
• Serves on hospital committees and participates in other related projects as directed.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related Human Service degree.
• One (1) or more years’ experience in clinical setting or equivalent work-related experience.
• Two (2) or more years prior experience in provision of individual and group psychotherapy in a clinical setting.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
• Knowledge of Payor/Insurance Benefits.
• Functional Skills on PC and Related Software (Microsoft Office).
• Knowledge of basic Office Equipment such as copier, fax machine, etc.
• Creativity in treatment in various settings including inpatient, skilled nursing, and outpatient clinics.
• Ability to transition smoothly between various treatment settings.
• Ability to understand and react effectively to the unique needs of the population served.

Skills

• Uses skilled therapeutic modalities.
• Provides individual, group, and family therapy.
• Provides crisis intervention techniques as needed and develops individualized safety contracts as necessary.
• Documents services provided according to department and regulatory agencies.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
• Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U