Behavioral Health Counselor - MS Licensed

Indiana University Health System

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor facilitates patient engagement in treatment and education within a therapeutic milieu. The role includes individual, group, and family counseling; utilization review; and discharge planning. The counselor works with the healthcare team to help ensure patients receive timely, safe, and resource-informed services. They interpret complex patient and family needs, model caring practices, and provide leadership in crisis intervention and safety management. The counselor assesses psychosocial risk factors, counsels patients and families about the emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability, and mobilizes family and community resources. The role also includes mental health assessments upon physician referral, therapeutic intervention for complex discharge planning, and serving as a primary contact and liaison in cases involving abuse, neglect, protective services, guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements. The position is full-time, day shift, in the Behavioral Health - Virtual department at Gateway Plaza.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health field such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related discipline.
3–5 years of relevant clinical or community-based experience.
Current Indiana licensure as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP.
Knowledge of disease processes and human behavior sufficient to perform psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.
Familiarity with evidence-based practices, including CBT, MI, and DBT.
Knowledge of state and county legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
Understanding of growth and development principles across the lifespan.
Ability to apply crisis intervention and de-escalation principles, practices, and techniques.
Ability to provide a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct patients in daily activities and programming.
Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and MS Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, medical teams, schools, probation, and protective services.

Nice To Haves

Certification in crisis intervention may be required.
BLS certification may be required.

Responsibilities

Facilitate patient involvement in treatment plans and educational activities.
Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
Perform utilization reviews and discharge planning to support optimal care transitions.
Collaborate with healthcare team members to deliver safe, timely, and effective services, and provide resources and education to patients and families.
Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring and professional practices to team members.
Assess psychosocial risk factors by evaluating prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping skills.
Counsel patients and families on the emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs.
Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral and provide therapeutic intervention for complex discharge planning.
Serve as the primary contact in cases involving child, adult/elderly, institutional, or domestic abuse or neglect.
Act as liaison between IU Health and state or county child and adult protective teams.
Provide intervention in temporary or permanent guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.
Provide leadership in crisis intervention and safety management.