Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Senior Licensed

IU Health•Indianapolis, IN

18h

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Senior Licensed provides a broad range of clinical services, including individual, group, and family counseling, within a dynamic healthcare environment. This role involves performing utilization review, discharge planning, and crisis intervention, as well as acting as a liaison with community and protective agencies. The counselor assesses psychosocial risk factors, provides mental health evaluations, and leads clinical supervision of interns and licensed staff. The position emphasizes de-escalation, safety, and trauma-informed care, supporting patients through acute crises, complex discharge needs, and legal considerations related to abuse, neglect, guardianship, and mental health placements.

Requirements

Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related mental health field.
5-7 years of relevant post-Master’s experience in mental health, healthcare, or community-based settings.
Current Indiana license as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP.
Extensive experience in psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.
Knowledge of evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
Understanding of the disease process and human behavior in health and mental health contexts.
Familiarity with state and county legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
Ability to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment and manage de-escalation techniques.
Strong communication, leadership, and supervisory skills, including training and guiding interns.
Proficiency in electronic medical records and MS Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Certification in crisis intervention (e.g., CPI) may be required or preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct face-to-face counseling with patients and families across individual, group, and family modalities.
Perform utilization review and develop comprehensive discharge plans to ensure safe, effective patient transitions.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to facilitate timely and appropriate episodes of care.
Assess psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping abilities.
Provide mental health assessments based on physician referrals and clinical evaluations.
Lead crisis intervention efforts, including de-escalation techniques, for patients experiencing acute or potentially dangerous situations.
Serve as the primary contact for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence; coordinate with protective teams.
Offer specialized mental health services, including crisis intervention, addiction assessments, and psychiatric referral recommendations.
Provide clinical supervision to license-eligible staff (LSW, LMHC-A, LMFT-A) and supervise interns through practicum placements.
Support patients with guardianship, foster care, adoption, and end-of-life issues, ensuring compliance with legal and clinical standards.
Maintain thorough documentation in the electronic medical record system, ensuring compliance with all policies and standards.
Develop and nurture strong relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and other stakeholders to facilitate comprehensive care.