Mental Health Therapist

Primary Function

Provide comprehensive clinical assessments and treatment services for patients with behavioral health and substance abuse disorders who are Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian (EBCI) and Indian Health Service (IHS) eligible. Provide clinical screening and comprehensive clinical assessment, treatment plan development, and provision of individual, group and family therapy using evidence-based models. Employee will also provide walk-in assessment, emergency, crisis intervention, consultation and education services as needed. Serve individuals in various locations in the community as assigned.

Direct Service Duties

• Provide direct clinical services to EBCI and other eligible persons in all approved locations, including the hospital, child outpatient office, Graham and Cherokee County offices, as well as other satellite locations.
  • Clinical services offered will include the following:
  • Comprehensive Clinical Assessment – The CCA is a term used to include a number of assessments and evaluations that are administered based on the patient's clinical presentation. Some of the elements of the CCA are general health and behavioral health history, bio-psycho-social history, description of current challenges, strengths, recommendations for services, clinical summary of information/data gathered about the patient, as well as other needed dimensions of the patient’s life.
  • Person Centered Treatment Planning – The Planning process will include the patient, and they should be the ones guiding the session. Additionally, it will include input from family members and community supports whenever possible. The planning process will be based on clearly defined problems and needs. The goals in the plan should be based on patients’ needs, strengths, and limitations. Additionally, goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-limited
  • Individual Therapy – Therapy sessions will utilize currently accepted models, theories, and/or approaches to therapy.
  • Family Therapy – Whenever possible, as much of the patient’s family will be involved in Family Therapy regularly as part of the patient’s treatment.
  • Group Therapy – When appropriate and available, the patient will attend group sessions. Group sessions can be accessed in conjunction with and/or replace Individual Therapy, dependent on the patient’s clinical needs.
  • Crisis Services – Crisis Services are offered through an On-call warm line. The patient will be informed of the number to the warm line. Therapist will share the responsibility of staffing the warm line.
  • Referral to clinical services outside of Analenisgi – If/when the patient has needs that are not offered or currently available at Analenisgi, the clinician will support the individual in receiving the needed service by referring them to an agency that offers the service.
  • Collaborate with treatment teams, medical staff, and other health professionals to determine the patients’ needs and resources (including both family and community).
  • Ensure interdisciplinary teams stay informed of changing therapeutic needs relating to their involvement with the client.
  • Ensure documentation of all treatment and clinically significant events in the Electronic Health Record as prescribed by CIHA policies and procedures and quality assurance standards.
  • Collaborate with other professionals and agencies to develop a viable therapeutic team network to facilitate patient care, discharge, and follow-up.
  • Adhere to all applicable confidentiality policies, procedures, and practices for the maintenance and release of patient records.
  • Responsible for completing intake forms, identification of community resources, patient assessment, provision and coordination of supportive services, and patient advocacy.
  • Follows the provisions contained in all applicable privacy/confidentiality policies, procedures, and practices, including EBCI, CIHA, IHS, DHHS, HIPAA, CFR 42, or other licensing bodies.
  • Responsible for attending clinical staffing as an integral component of a treatment team, facilitating the discussion of patient data, and formulating changes to the treatment plan.
  • Absists in division/program meetings to review and identify opportunities to improve the program and treatment provided, and recommends corrective action when problems are identified. This includes assisting with changes in policy and procedure, which would improve the care of service delivery.
  • Participates in the provision of periodic in-service training for non-health care practitioner members of the clinical and administrative staff on subjects pertaining to clinical and case management services. This shall include responsibility for developing and implementing psycho educational programs, community relations, and information and referral.
  • Participate in community planning and implementation of programs to help resolve such complex issues as improving the coordination of services.
  • Represents the CIHA Analenisgi at regular team meetings for progress review and during emergency meetings dealing with high-risk situations.
  • Provides written, telephone, and face-to-face consultation services to various persons and organizations that affect the patient. These include schools, courts, probation officers, physicians, hospitals, medical care providers, law enforcement officers, social services, and community agencies. Regular progress reports are required for communicating with the court and judicial supervisors.
  • Represents the Analenisgi Center at regular team meetings for progress review and during emergency meetings dealing with high-risk situations.

Education/Experience/Qualifications

• Required: Master’s Degree in the behavioral health field, such as Social Work, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, or Counseling, required. Degree must be obtained from an accredited university that is accepted by the appropriate licensing agencies in NC.
• NC license LCSW, LPP, LCMHC, or LMFT. A provisional or associate license may be accepted.
• Must be approved for and maintain medical credentialing, upon hire;
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Preferred

• Specific experience working with Native Americans.