LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST, OUTPATIENT – BILINGUAL, CORE CENTER

This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the SEIU Union. Pursuant to the agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external candidates.

About the role

The Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist, Outpatient-Bilingual, will provide behavioral health assessment, determine safety, provide supportive psychotherapy, and recommend outpatient treatment under the direction of the ambulatory provider. This role includes providing initial psychiatric consultations, crisis management, therapeutic support, and psychotherapy for patients in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings across Cook County Health (CCH). This is a grant-funded position through August 28th, 2026, with potential renewal.

Responsibilities

• Supports and closely coordinates mental health care with the patients' provider and other treating mental health providers.
• Screens and assesses patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders.
• Monitors patients (in person or by telephone) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
• Supports psychotropic medication management prescribed by patient’s providers, focusing on treatment adherence, side effects, and effectiveness.
• Provides brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as Behavioral Activation, Problem-Solving Treatment, or Motivational Interviewing.
• Participates in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the Psychiatric Consultant and communicates resulting treatment recommendations to the patient's provider.
• Mentors staff on clinical cases and professional development.
• Facilitates treatment plan changes for patients not improving as expected, including medication adjustments or referrals for additional services.
• Assesses information, applies critical thinking, and relays this to patients, families, and clinical staff professionally and compassionately.
• Identifies professional goals and enhances job-related skills through staff development activities.
• Remains current on clinical theory, evidence-based practice, and policies/procedures related to crisis and behavioral health.
• Actively participates in team activities and maintains appropriate professional boundaries with staff, trainees, and patients.
• Documents in an EMR and applies CPT codes for billing clinical services.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university focusing on clinical mental health (official transcripts required at interview).
• License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in Illinois, or ability to obtain license two weeks prior to employment (official transcripts required at interview).
• Two years of experience performing individual therapy for individuals with mental illness in a mental health setting, including experience gained during training/internship.
• Experience using evidence-based counseling techniques (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Problem-Solving Therapy).
• Must be eligible to complete credentialing.
• Bilingual in Spanish (bilingual testing administered; passing score of 3-High Intermediate required).

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).
• Experience working with patients who have co-occurring mental health, substance abuse, and physical health problems.

Skills

• Knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders.
• Skill in directing and evaluating case management services and conducting bio-psychosocial interviews.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting and communicate verbally/written with diverse individuals.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient materials in compliance with HIPAA.
• Willingness to provide psychiatric consultations across Cook County Health sites.

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position functions within a healthcare environment. The incumbent must adhere to hospital and department-specific safety requirements, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and engineering/work practice controls.

Pay

Hourly pay range: $44.377 – $53.518. Salary is commensurate with documented years of experience at the time of application.

Schedule

Shift: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Basic term life insurance.
• Pension plan.
• Deferred compensation program.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Degrees awarded outside the U.S. (except those from U.S. territories or Canada) must be credentialed by an approved U.S. evaluation service (NACES or AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at the time of interview.