Behavioral Health Counselor (LPC or LCSW)

Neighborhood Health TN•Nashville, TN

19h

About The Position

Neighborhood Health seeks a Behavioral Health Counselor to provide integrated behavioral health care to medical and dental patients in Nashville. The counselor uses brief, short-term, solution-based interventions, often 15 or 20 minutes long, to support patients’ wellbeing and help them adhere to treatment plans. The role includes helping patients address depression, anxiety, and psychosocial stressors in collaboration with the care team. It does not involve traditional counseling or ongoing therapy; patients needing those services are referred to external providers. Neighborhood Health is a network of 10 community health centers in Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee, providing primary care, integrated behavioral health, and dental services to nearly 30,000 patients. The organization serves patients regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay and works to improve its Patient Centered Medical Home model. The counselor works collaboratively with primary care teams, conducts assessments, determines differential diagnoses and intervention plans, documents care, and refers patients for additional services as appropriate. The position also contributes to patient and family education, ethical decision-making, performance improvement, and the quality of services delivered. The role reports to the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health. The position has moderate decision-making and job impact, minimal physical requirements, and no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Master’s-prepared and licensed in Tennessee.
Clinical licensure as an LCSW or LPC-MHSP.
Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally with patients, care teams, families, and other staff.
Ability to function independently in most clinical decision-making.
Ability to relate well to patients.
Knowledge of evidence-based behavioral health assessment and treatment modalities.
Ability and willingness to apply evidence-based interventions using innovative delivery methods, including brief, time-limited interventions and telehealth.
Flexibility and motivation to work in a primary care setting.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of experience.
Proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, or Kurdish.
Certification in or demonstrated experience with trauma, co-occurring conditions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Solution Focused Intervention.
Prior experience working in an integrated health care setting.

Responsibilities

Understand and follow guidelines and regulations associated with Neighborhood Health’s Joint Commission and NCQA accreditation.
Work collaboratively with assigned primary care teams to provide comprehensive behavioral health services to patients.
Evaluate patients, determine differential diagnoses, and develop intervention plans.
Follow identified text and office practice standard protocols.
Address patient needs in an expedient, customer-oriented manner and involve families in care plans as appropriate.
Maintain confidentiality and patient privacy.
Document care in accordance with organizational standards.
Seek consultations as appropriate and act as a consultant when requested.
Facilitate ethical decision-making as appropriate.
Conduct comprehensive assessments and refer patients for further care and services within the organization or community.
Use teaching-learning theory with patients and families to influence patient outcomes.
Identify learning needs among populations and contribute to educational program development.
Identify system-specific problems requiring evaluation or change and work with appropriate staff to address them through performance improvement processes.
Contribute actively to improving the quality of services delivered.
Use brief, short-term, solution-based interventions to support patient wellbeing, treatment-plan adherence, and management of depression, anxiety, and psychosocial stressors.
Refer patients to external providers for traditional counseling or ongoing therapy when needed.