Marriage and Family Therapist - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

About the role

As a member of a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program team (BHIP}, the incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments, provide crisis intervention, clinical case management, and evidence-based (individual, group, couple} psychotherapy (e.g. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT}, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT}, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT}, Problem- Solving Therapy (PST}, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT}, etc.} as well as work with the Veteran to establish treatment plans.

Responsibilities

• Independently conducts assessments, evaluating the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their families to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying needs, strengths and coping skills in collaboration with the patient and family as appropriate.
• Provides triage assessment, crisis intervention, and counseling/psychotherapy (individual, couple, and group) for Veterans using evidence-based practice.
• Provides clinical case management services to Veterans. The incumbent coordinates care and assures that Veterans receive needed services to increase functionality, independence, and quality of life.
• Sets clinical care goals in collaboration with the patient, monitors progress toward goals, and works to achieve outcomes, including reduced hospitalizations.
• Serves collaboratively on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program team. Recognizes complex situations that impact patient care and intervenes, using sound judgment and appropriate resources.
• Establishes collaborative relationships with mental health providers particularly, as well as other team members and staff outside the department in order to more effectively coordinate.
• Assesses caregiver burden and makes plan to sensitively address caregiver burden.
• Establishes and maintains therapeutic relationships with Veterans and families from diverse backgrounds. Works while under appropriate supervision with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family therapy skills. Assists Veteran and family in long term planning as disease processes progress. Has specialized knowledge in mental health needs and disease processes in order to sensitively address needs.
• Has knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures. Includes acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.
• Makes appropriate referrals to programs in order to best meet Veteran's needs coordinate Veteran's care.
• Provides education and consultation to staff, students, patients, and families regarding programs and serves as a point of contact for the community for these programs. Remains current on VA policies and procedures relevant to program areas. Works with team to meet goals and performance measures within program, including Non-institutional Care measures.
• Utilizes electronic resources required for providing services and completing reports. These include, but are not limited to electronic medical record, Microsoft Word, workload reporting, and program referral procedures. Documents work appropriately and in a timely manner in the medical record.
• Participates in performance improvement activities and tracks and trends issues as part of performance improvement plan.

Requirements

• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
• Required to attend Ambulatory Care Center administrative and professional meetings as directed.
• Supervision of lower graded therapists required.

Qualifications

• Education: Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, or hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.
• Licensure: Full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State.
• Experience: One year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience).