Behavioral Health Counselor

Sanitas • Surprise, AZ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Behavioral Health Counselors are core members of the Sanitas medical team. They provide hope, empowerment, and psychoeducation to promote patient autonomy and self-management by arranging comprehensive mental health care in a primary care setting. The position includes providing behavioral health services via telehealth in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

The counselor develops care plans, assesses and supports patients with common mental health and substance abuse disorders, facilitates engagement and follow-up care, and coordinates continuity of care with medical professionals, mental health specialists, and community resources. The role also involves supporting prescribed psychotropic medication management by monitoring adherence, side effects, and treatment effectiveness, and helping resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.

This position has no supervisory, financial, or budget responsibilities. It is full-time, hybrid, based in the Phoenix Region—Maricopa—Surprise, Arizona, and requires travel within the assigned region.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in counseling or a related field, such as social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and couples’ therapy, from an accredited program.
• One year of relevant experience.
• BLS certification.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people with mental or emotional disabilities and their families.
• Flexible schedule, including weekdays and weekends.
• Good communication and listening skills.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion.
• English proficiency is required.
• Ability to travel within the assigned region.

Nice To Haves

• One year of experience providing CBT-based interventions to adults with depression and anxiety.
• Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern status.
• Spanish proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement care plans.
• Complete and maintain documentation accurately and promptly in accordance with federal, state, and center guidelines.
• Collaborate with primary care providers, care nurses, care coordinators, community health workers, psychiatrists, mental health professionals, specialists, and others in the patient’s circle of care.
• Ensure comprehensive continuity of care.
• Provide individual, family, or group educational interventions.
• Guide patients in developing skills and strategies for managing their diagnoses.
• Assist patients in adjusting to life and making changes.
• Participate in weekly caseload consultation and complex case review meetings.
• Facilitate care plan adjustments for patients who are not improving as expected, in consultation with medical providers.
• Facilitate clinically indicated referrals to appropriate providers or in-house intervention programs.
• Connect patients and family members with community and social resources.
• Guide clinical staff in managing common behavioral health situations.
• Screen and assess patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders.
• Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up care.
• Support psychotropic medication management prescribed by medical providers, focusing on adherence monitoring, side effects, and treatment effectiveness.
• Promote early detection, accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment, and ongoing support.
• Track treatment response and monitor changes in clinical symptoms, treatment side effects, or complications.
• Provide or facilitate clinically indicated in-clinic or outside referrals for evidence-based psychosocial interventions.
• Resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Provide behavioral health services via telehealth consistent with state and federal guidelines.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time