Behavioral Health Counselor

GLIDE • San Francisco, CA

5d • $80,000 - $90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor’s (BHC) direct focus is to provide proactive, low-threshold clinical support, counseling, and case management services to participants experiencing mental health issues, substance use disorders, and/or social isolation. The BHC will work with a Certified Peer SUD Specialist to provide immediate triage, culturally responsive therapy, and facilitate therapeutic groups within this trusted, community-based space. The role is central to providing linkages to GLIDE’s continuum of care, with a specialized focus on overdose prevention, Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) navigation, Contingency Management, and supporting holistic recovery. This position will require a flexible schedule to meet community needs, including some evening and weekend hours. This is a grant-funded position and therefore is contingent on the agency's continued support at a full level of funding.

Requirements

• Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as a pre-licensed associate AMFT, ASW, APCC strongly preferred. Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor (SUDC II or higher) also accepted.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience providing therapeutic case management and counseling services to high-risk communities with co-morbidities, preferably within the Black/African American community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing.
• Ability to develop and facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups.
• Strong knowledge of substance use treatment, overdose prevention, Contingency Management, and MAT/MOUD.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a unique, integrated team including barbers and peer specialists.
• Excellent interpersonal with an ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with participants and staff in a fast-paced, community-based environment.
• Demonstrates cultural humility and a deep understanding of the psychosocial and historical factors impacting Black/African American men, particularly older adults.
• Strong knowledge of San Francisco's community resources and benefits programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with electronic health records (EHR). Experience with Salesforce is preferred.
• Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as a pre-licensed associate AMFT, ASW, APCC strongly preferred.; OR prelicensed interns, and/or graduate students providing treatment services to adults preferred; OR a bachelor's degree in social work/psychology or other related field, with two (2) years of experience working with socially and/or economically marginalized, and dual-diagnosed populations.
• Minimum of two (2) years of therapeutic case management activities with high-risk populations.
• Experience working with Medi-Cal and related documentation requirements.
• Individual counseling and group facilitation skills are essential for this role.
• Experience working in a community-based setting with chronically homeless, unhoused, and economically marginalized populations is essential.
• Proficiency and accuracy in math required for reporting data collected, eligibility screening and application assistance for benefits, entitlements, emergency rental assistance, and housing programs.
• Competence in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel) and internet research.
• Experience entering and accessing information from databases; Salesforce preferred.
• Ability to work on a computer and see details of objects at close range.
• Ability to hear within normal range, and communicate effectively (in person, telephone or Zoom).
• Finger dexterity and the ability to use all standard office equipment.
• Sit or stand comfortably; and the ability to navigate throughout office spaces (via elevator or stairs).

Nice To Haves

• Lived experience is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage a minimum of 20 active case management participants at any given time, within a professional, trauma-informed, and healing-centered lens, efficient, client-centered, and equitable framework to help clients achieve their best version of self, wellness, and autonomy.
• Identify participants’ strengths and barriers (risks and protective factors) to determine baseline functioning, to assist participant in reducing barriers or challenges, and connect to internal and external resources and services.
• In collaboration with the Peer SUD Specialist, provide focused navigation and advocacy support to connect participants to GLIDE’s internal services, including MOUD navigation, contingency management, HIV/HepC/STI testing, and housing stability programs, as well as external community partners.
• Complete initial intakes, brief assessments, individualized service plans, and timely progress notes. Enter all documentation into required database systems (ex: Salesforce) within two (2) business days.
• Develop and facilitate a minimum of one (1) one-hour therapeutic groups or health education workshops daily, as part of the program's 20 hours of weekly programming. Groups will include wellness check-ins, recovery groups (e.g., harm reduction, 12-step alternatives), and workshops on topics pertinent to our focal population, such as overdose prevention, mental health, and trauma. Ensure groups are inclusive, culturally resonant, and promote a peer-led model.
• Serve as the primary clinical liaison for warm hand-offs from GLIDE staff. Provide rapid clinical consultation and accept referrals for participants identified during intake as needing behavioral health or substance use treatment support.
• Participate in mobile outreach events, providing pop-up behavioral health support and engagement in community settings across the City.
• Cultivate and maintain supportive, therapeutic relationships with participants to provide continuous recovery and stabilization support, utilizing a trauma-informed, healing-centered, and harm reduction framework.
• Adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, and all laws regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, and contractual agreements.
• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits, collaboration, and active participation in staff meetings, case conferences, in-service trainings, and individual/group supervision.
• In collaboration with your direct Supervisor, complete a minimum of 15 assigned hours of professional or skill development each year; First Aid/CPR is required, but not included in the minimum hours required.

Benefits

• This role is covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level