Integrated Mental Health Therapist III

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•White Center, WA

19d•Onsite

About The Position

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is seeking an Integrated Mental Health Therapist III (IMHT III) to work within a medical setting. This role involves providing diagnostic assessments, referrals for psychiatric services, and case management in coordination with other treatment teams. The IMHT III is a key member of the Clinical Care Team, understanding how chronic conditions, substance use disorders, and behavioral health concerns impact medical needs, and vice versa. The position offers brief, strength-based, and solution-focused services to adults, children, and families, focusing on emotional and behavioral stabilization, suicide prevention, de-escalation, and crisis referrals. Additionally, the IMHT III provides motivational wellness coaching, assists patients in setting self-management goals, and educates staff on mental health referral processes and psychoeducational topics. Strong emphasis is placed on communication with the care team and maintaining documentation in patient charts within the medical clinic setting.

Requirements

Ability to provide diagnostic assessments for each patient in the program (including adults and children), document outcomes, justify diagnoses, and communicate with the primary Chemical Dependency Counselor and Clinical Care Team regarding outcomes and recommendations.
Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
Knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
Ability to identify and categorize each patient’s age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.
Ability to support medical staff regarding the management of patients’ mental health needs.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, encourage a positive and collaborative work environment by promoting healthy communication between staff and patients, and offer concrete ideas on handling challenging situations.
Experience working with underserved populations such, but not limited to, those who have limited English speaking skills, are homeless, or are migrant and seasonal workers.
Ability to work with an inter-disciplinary care team. Members of the team may include medical providers, nursing staff, care coordinators, behavioral health and support staff.
Working knowledge of chronic disease management interventions and evidence-based chronic care guidelines.
Working knowledge of mental health, substance abuse, employment, housing and other resources needed by the population being served.
Knowledge about brief intervention techniques such as Motivational Interviewing Skills.
Knowledge of evidence-based screening tools (PHQ 9, GAD 7, AUDIT, DAST, etc.) and ability to use these tools as part of a framework to make appropriate assessments and level of care referrals for patients.
Ability to maintain effective relationships and professional rapport with patients and members of the care team.
Knowledge of the Patient Centered Health Home Model of care.
Effective computer skills to be able to document patient visits in our electronic health record system and external registries.
Comfort with the pace of primary care and ability to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously, with excellent organizational skills.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Basic knowledge of computers and programs such as Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and electronic health care records.
Possess the ability to learn new programs as they may pertain to use of electronic health records.
Must have typing proficiency of at least 35 wpm.
The IMHT III must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient related information.
Must have and maintain a current Employee Health Screening.
Must pass a Washington State Patrol background check.
Must obtain a CPR certificate within 90 days of hire date and is required to maintain a current CPR certificate throughout employment.
Must hold a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, counseling, or social work, which includes course-work in psychological diagnostics, and have three (3) or more years of experience in the field. Experience could be obtained before or after completion of a Master’s degree.
Must hold and maintain an active Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor License (may be pending for up to 60 days if applied for within 7 days of being offered employment) or mental health Associate License (includes Marriage and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, and Clinical Social Worker).

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Actively participate in interdisciplinary team huddles to identify patients' social and behavioral health needs.
Identify patients’ needs and work with patients to create self-management goals utilizing Motivational Interviewing skills.
Develop treatment plans with patients, in consultation with other staff, to address identified emotional needs and behavioral problems.
Create self-management goals for no less than 90% of all patients within the first two visits.
Gather information regarding past mental health services for treatment plan development.
Conduct follow-up visits in-person or by telephone to determine progress of self-management goals.
Refer patients to psychiatric services as appropriate, gathering records and background information as needed.
Attend sessions with psychiatric service providers to ensure accuracy of presentation and that identified needs are addressed.
Provide monitoring regarding the effects of medications, and feedback to the psychiatrist regarding effects/side effects.
Provide brief individual counseling, in coordination with other systems, as needed.
Provide suicide risk assessment and develop treatment plans to address suicidal ideation or gestures.
Use case management and build community support for follow-through on suicide prevention plans.
Provide other crisis stabilization as needed.
Provide mental health service referrals to patients prior to or following admission, and exchange information with outside service providers.
Ensure that quality and performance requirements based on grants, contracts, and organizational priorities are met.
Conduct required assessment screenings and follow-up interventions as per protocol.
Perform additional screenings such as AUDIT/DAST for substance and alcohol use/abuse when indicated.
Monitor patient for medication adherence and relay findings to the medical provider and/or specialists.
Encourage patients to discuss issues regarding education adherence with their provider at their next visit.
Participate in weekly caseload consultation sessions with a BH Clinical Supervisor.
Facilitate treatment referrals to Behavioral Health sites as needed, assist in the step down or step up process to the appropriate level of care, and maintain active communication with other members of patient’s care team.
Actively coordinate with community providers and case managers on behalf of patients.
Coordinate/facilitate communication between patient, family/natural supports, primary care physician, consulting psychiatrist and members of the Clinical Care Team.
Document all encounters according to organizational policies and procedures utilizing appropriate electronic health records system.
Close encounters within 24 hours of service.
Gather and monitor outcome measures as part of quality improvement process.
Participate in the Health Home meeting and participate in all PDSA activities related to depression screening and medication management.
Participate in Patient Centered Medical Home recognition application process.
Attend all quarterly joint team meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned.