Behavioral Health Therapist

Cooper University Hospital•Camden, NJ

About The Position

The Licensed Clinical Therapist (Behavioral Health Therapist) provides psychological support to patients and families in inpatient and/or outpatient settings. The therapist provides supportive counseling, psychosocial assessment and diagnosis, and appropriate interventions for patients with complex psychiatric, social, medical, and financial needs. The role coordinates patients’ and families’ complex psychosocial needs and supports the interdisciplinary team in helping them cope with illness, diagnoses, treatment, and other issues that may impede efficient care and quality outcomes. The therapist conducts clinical assessments and evaluations using accepted diagnostic classifications, including the DSM, and assesses mental, emotional, behavioral, and related distress affecting social and occupational functioning. Responsibilities include biopsychosocial assessments, use of the PHQ-9 and other instruments, treatment planning, psychotherapy, counseling, consultation, and social intervention. The therapist supports individuals, groups, and families addressing mental health, substance use, and other diagnoses; helps patients and families cope with illness, hospitalization, life changes, and discharge planning; and provides education about diagnosis, illness, treatment, and discharge plans. The position documents psychosocial assessments, treatment plans, and referrals; follows applicable billing and coding regulations; maintains professional education and licensure; stays current on developments in mental health, addictions, and co-occurring disorders; and serves as a resource to the interdisciplinary team and patients and families on coverage, care coordination, and community resources. The therapist may provide clinical supervision to students or other team members as determined by the team and discussed with the director.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or another master’s-level degree leading to clinical licensure in New Jersey.
Current New Jersey license: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
3–5 years of experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide supportive counseling, psychosocial assessment and diagnosis, and appropriate interventions for patients with complex psychiatric, social, medical, and financial needs in inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
Coordinate the complex psychosocial needs of patients and families and assist the interdisciplinary team in addressing barriers to efficient care and quality outcomes.
Conduct clinical assessments and evaluations using accepted diagnostic classifications, including the DSM, to address mental, emotional, behavioral, and associated distress affecting social and occupational functioning.
Conduct patient biopsychosocial and other assessments, including the PHQ-9 depression scale and/or other instruments.
Conduct assessments and evaluations within the scope of the applicable license to establish treatment goals and objectives and to plan, implement, and evaluate counseling interventions.
Provide psychotherapy and counseling to individuals, groups, and families addressing current or potential problems, mental health, substance use, and other diagnoses.
Evaluate social and familial information and determine plans for social intervention and treatment.
Consult with clients, groups, or organizations to help them understand and address current or potential problems.
Help patients and families manage anxiety and stress related to illness or hospitalization, life changes, psychiatric diagnoses, fears, long-term medical care, immediate crises, and discharge planning.
Provide patients and families with time and support to cope with present problems.
Educate patients and families about adapting to diagnoses, illness, treatment, and discharge plans.
Document psychosocial assessments, treatment plans, and referrals made on behalf of patients.
Maintain awareness of billing and coding regulations and ensure compliance when billing for services.
Maintain professional continuing education and licensure requirements and remain current on trends and developments in mental health, addictions, and co-occurring disorders.
Increase knowledge of health-related issues and age- and/or diagnostic-specialty information to support work with patients and families.
Provide clinical supervision to students or other team members when determined by the team and discussed with the director.
Serve as a resource to the interdisciplinary team and patients and families regarding coverage issues, care coordination, and community resources.