Therapist

Overview

Provides provisional diagnosis and therapeutic outpatient services to adults and/or children under supervision of licensed behavioral health provider. Plans, organizes, and provides psychotherapeutic services to clients whose level of functioning indicates they can benefit from outpatient therapy.

Responsibilities

• Develop initial comprehensive assessment data including clients presenting problems, mental status, relevant psychiatric, medical and developmental histories to make decisions regarding diagnosis (per DSM-V), treatment objectives and ongoing treatment plans and/or to provide information and make appropriate referrals to other treatment resources in the community.
• Provide 25 hours of billable services per week to clients.
• Implement crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal, or severely disabled clients.
• Clarify priority problems, goals for change, and session limits according to agency policy to assist clients in developing appropriate expectations for treatment in relationship to the agency.
• Use a variety of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches and interventions to change targeted behaviors and stabilize adaptive behaviors with individuals, couples and families.
• Manage the termination process and discharge planning to enhance clients’ abilities to retain treatment changes and/or use other available support services.
• Organize, plan and participate in therapy groups for clients and/or their families, as assigned.
• Establish appropriate professional files, including: comprehensive assessments, progress notes, treatment objectives and plans, previous treatment records, clients' consent to current treatment and for exchange of information.
• Complete required administrative forms.
• Collect necessary information for billing and fee collection.
• Provide necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.
• Prepare necessary documents/reports for DCFS as needed.
• Engage in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to best professional judgment and agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.
• Develop cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.
• Communicate directly with supervisor for clarification of administrative policy, program evaluation to promote a professional working environment and effective service delivery system.
• Adhere to MHS/MBH Behavioral Standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum Master's in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling required, preferably in social services field.
• Licensure/Certification/Registry: Must have or obtain IM+CANS certification within 30 days of hire.
• Behavioral health experience preferred.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Computer and keyboarding skills required by position.
• Must pass required background checks and drug screen.

Training Activities/Professional Growth

• Supervisor and employee mutually identify professional goals that will enhance job related skills.
• Participate in ongoing agency meetings, committees and special projects to enhance professional expertise.
• Complete mandatory education requirements by specified deadlines.
• Participate in required staff meetings and in-services to keep abreast of agency policy and administrative procedures, meet requirements for continuing education, and upgrade professional knowledge.

Consultation/Networking

• Engage in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to best professional judgment and agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.
• Develop cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.

Job Relationships

• Demonstrate through initiative and apparent effort involvement in clinical supervision.
• Communicate directly with supervisor for clarification of administrative policy, program evaluation to promote a professional working environment and effective service delivery system.
• Adhere to MHS/MBH Behavioral Standards.

Other Job Responsibilities

• Ability to accommodate evening/weekend hours.
• Perform other duties as required by agency needs.