Behavioral Health Counselor Chemical Dependency

Trinity Health•Waterloo, IA

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor provides therapeutic counseling to the behavioral health population and follows MercyOne’s performance expectations, mission, vision, and values. The role conducts patient assessments, develops and documents individualized treatment plans, provides individual and group therapy, and coordinates discharge planning and after-care. Counselors work with patients, families, concerned persons, and the interdisciplinary treatment team while maintaining confidentiality. The position is full-time on the day shift at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, scheduled for 80 hours biweekly.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, counseling, psychology, or a related field.
If working in chemical dependency, obtain CADC certification within one year of employment.
BLS certification.
Mandatory Reporter certification.
Complete Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training (NVCI) within six months of hire.
Ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Basic understanding of and ability to reference DSM-IV.
Ability to work with aggressive customers.
High language ability, basic math ability, and high reasoning ability.

Nice To Haves

A minimum of three years of experience with individual and group therapy is preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct assessments and interview patients individually to assess their needs.
Formulate and document individualized treatment plans.
Complete social histories by gathering information from patients, families, and concerned persons about past and present symptoms and behaviors.
Dictate social histories for patients’ charts.
Gather information from resources such as past inpatient charts and physician offices.
Provide therapy based on identified patient needs, including individual interviews using various therapy techniques and daily group sessions based on treatment plans.
Document patient participation and response to therapy, including identified issues.
Plan discharge and after-care with patients and families to individualize plans.
Communicate recommended follow-up treatment to the interdisciplinary treatment team.
Use knowledge of referral agencies to facilitate continued treatment or placement.
Involve families in all aspects of treatment through individual communication, education about the disease concept, and participation in discharge planning.
Maintain open communication within confidentiality guidelines.