Behavioral Health Counselor MS-PRN

Indiana University Health System•Indianapolis, IN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor facilitates patient involvement in treatment and education within a multidisciplinary hospital environment. This role includes conducting individual, group, and family counseling, assisting with utilization review, discharge planning, and crisis intervention. The counselor collaborates closely with healthcare teams, community agencies, and protective services to ensure patients receive safe, timely, and resource-rich care. The position also involves managing complex cases such as abuse, neglect, guardianship, and high-risk crises, utilizing de-escalation and safety techniques as needed.

Requirements

Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field.
0-3 years of relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience.
License eligible in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC; must have a minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A upon hire.
Certification in crisis intervention (may be required).
BLS certification (may be required).
Knowledge of psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention techniques.
Understanding of disease processes and human behavior related to health and social needs.
Knowledge and application of evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
Familiarity with legal mandates for child and adult protective services at the state and county levels.
Understanding of growth and development principles across the lifespan.
Ability to maintain principles and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation.
Ability to create a safe and therapeutic environment, including instructing patients in daily activities and programming.
Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Ability to develop and sustain collaborative relationships with community, law enforcement, medical teams, schools, probation, and other agencies.

Responsibilities

Facilitate patient participation in treatment, education, and recovery through individual, group, and family counseling.
Conduct psychosocial assessments evaluating prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping strategies.
Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral and deliver therapeutic interventions, including crisis and community resource referrals.
Support complex discharge planning, including guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health placements.
Serve as the primary contact for cases involving child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
Act as a liaison between IU Health, protective teams, law enforcement, and community agencies.
Respond to dangerous or potentially dangerous situations with clinical intervention and de-escalation techniques.
Support patients in acute crises, utilizing de-escalation skills to prevent violence or injury.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with community organizations, law enforcement, schools, probation, and other agencies.
Document all assessments and interventions accurately within the electronic medical record system.