Behavioral Health Counselor - MS Licensed

Indiana University-Bloomington•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

Behavioral Health MS - Counselor (Licensed) Location: Bloomington, IN Shift: Full-Time Days Position Overview: The Behavioral Health Counselor facilitates patient involvement in treatment and education within a supportive milieu. This role includes providing individual, group, and family counseling, conducting utilization review, discharge planning, and crisis intervention. The counselor collaborates effectively with the healthcare team to ensure patients receive timely, safe services, and families are connected with appropriate resources.

Requirements

Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field.
Current Indiana license in one of the following: LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP.
3-5 years of relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.
Certification in Crisis Intervention required within 90 days of hire.
BLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
Evidence-based psychosocial assessment, short-term counseling, and crisis intervention (CBT, MI, DBT).
Understanding of disease processes and human behavior related to social and mental health needs.
Complex discharge planning skills for safe patient transitions.
Knowledge of state and county protective legal mandates.
Principles of growth, development, and end-of-life care.
Ability to identify decision-makers and facilitate goals-of-care conversations.
Experience adapting services to diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic populations.
Strong relationships with community and healthcare agencies, law enforcement, schools, probation, and protective services.
Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Excellent communication and active listening skills.
Strong crisis management, de-escalation, and violence prevention skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Commitment to confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.
Cultural sensitivity and professionalism.

Responsibilities

Facilitate patient engagement in treatment and education through individual, group, and family counseling.
Perform functions related to utilization review and discharge planning to promote safe and effective patient transitions.
Communicate and collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to coordinate patient care episodes.
Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs; model caring and professional practices to other caregivers.
Assess psychosocial risk factors by evaluating prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping mechanisms.
Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness/disability.
Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet patient needs.
Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral.
Provide therapeutic interventions to support complex discharge planning and care coordination.
Serve as the primary point of contact for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
Act as liaison between Indiana University Health and local child and adult protective teams (APS/CPS).
Maintain principles and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation.
Provide intervention in guardianship (temporary/permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.
Offer specialized mental health services, including crisis intervention, addiction assessments, and community resource referrals.
Support individuals in dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, providing leadership in clinical interventions.
Utilize de-escalation techniques to support patients experiencing acute crises and prevent violence.
Conduct effective interviews with victims, perpetrators, families, and other stakeholders.
Provide intervention for end-of-life, guardianship, foster care, and adoption cases.