Therapist, Mental Health/Substance Abuse Outpatient

About the Role

Provides direct therapeutic treatment services to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, intellectually disabled, and substance-abusing individuals. Work is performed under general supervision and is guided by agency policies and procedures, quality assurance, public and private payor guidelines, diagnostic guidelines, and professional practices, including ethical standards related to client interactions, state and federal licensure, and accreditation regulations.

Responsibilities

• Conducts intake interviews, makes assessments, and develops diagnosis and treatment plans.
• Interviews individuals and provides problem-solving and supportive therapy.
• Provides crisis intervention services and risk assessments.
• Inputs psychological data to agency staff for individual placements, care, and treatment.
• Consults with agency treatment staff and representatives of other agencies or programs; makes referrals and provides and coordinates individual case management services.
• Conducts group, individual, and family therapy sessions, including substance abuse group therapy.
• Prepares lesson plans and training materials for educational/treatment programming.
• Prepares and maintains case documentation, including treatment plans, progress notes, and periodic assessments.
• Provides expert testimony in court and legal proceedings.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of individual, family, and group treatment relating to mentally ill, intellectually disabled, substance-abusive, and behavioral/emotional disordered populations, including counseling, therapeutic modalities, and techniques related to clinical casework.
• Thorough knowledge of medical providers, social services, and other agencies and community organizations providing services to the individual population.
• Considerable knowledge of individual management guidelines for Virginia.
• Considerable knowledge of the laws and legal procedures relating to hospital admission.
• Considerable knowledge of social casework management, including need assessment and supportive-level counseling.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with the individual population.
• Ability to conduct effective interviews, observe, assess, and record individual behaviors and functioning, and develop treatment and service plans.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff of other private and public agencies and organizations.
• Ability to confidently provide expert testimony in both oral and written formats.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to operate a vehicle.
• Ability to function calmly in stressful situations.
• Ability to prepare and maintain detailed records and prepare related reports.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in the Behavioral Sciences.
• Some clinical work experience in the treatment of the mentally ill or substance-abusing populations.
• Valid Virginia driver’s license.
• Virginia license as LCSW, LPC, or LCP.