Mental Health Therapist II or III

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•Tumwater, WA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is seeking a Mental Health Therapist II to provide diagnostic assessments, referrals for psychiatric services, and case management. This role involves individual counseling, crisis stabilization, suicide risk assessment, and leading groups. The therapist will also assist the Director with program development, policy implementation, and ensuring compliance with state regulations. The position emphasizes a client-centered, culturally-aware approach, rooted in the belief that everyone deserves respectful treatment and enhanced self-worth. Sea Mar serves diverse communities, specializing in services for Latinos in Washington State, and welcomes all individuals regardless of background or ability to pay.

Requirements

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.
Up to three (3) years’ experience in the field.
Minority mental health therapist as required by WAC.
Must meet criteria of a Mental Health Professional (MHP).
Must hold and maintain an active Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor License (may be pending for up to 90 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).
An understanding of the Behavioral Health Organization requirements.
The ability to work effectively with all persons and groups with an open mind towards cultural differences and knowledge of cultures.
The ability to accurately diagnose mental health issues and develop treatment plans based upon diagnoses.
The ability to NOT diagnose behavioral problems as mental illnesses unless appropriate.
An understanding of chemical dependency treatment and an ability to coordinate mental health services with chemical dependency treatment providers.
Must complete an annual clinical competency test as a mental health therapist.
The Mental Health Therapist must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient related information.
Must pass a Washington Patrol background check.
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.
Must have and maintain a current TB test.

Nice To Haves

Additional evening/weekend hours may be required to fulfill the duties of this position.

Responsibilities

Provides diagnostic assessments for each patient, documents outcomes, justifies diagnoses, and communicates with chemical dependency counselors.
Demonstrates knowledge and skills to provide age-appropriate care and understands principles of growth and development.
Refers patients to psychiatric services as appropriate, gathers necessary information, and monitors medication effects.
Provides consultation to Sea Mar staff regarding mental health and behavioral issues and develops treatment plans.
Provides individual counseling in coordination with other systems as needed.
Provides suicide risk assessment and develops treatment plans for suicidal ideation or gestures.
Uses case management for follow-through and community support, and provides crisis stabilization.
Gathers information on past mental health services for treatment plan development.
Provides mental health services referrals and exchanges information with outside service providers.
Supports other staff regarding mental health needs of staff or patients, maintains confidentiality, and offers strategies for challenging situations.
Assists in ensuring agency compliance with WAC's, RCW's, and other regulations.
Assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures.
Educates staff on mental health service referrals and psycho-educational topics.
Maintains documentation of mental health services and patient charts.
Performs a minimum of 80 hours of face-to-face contact and 80 encounters each month.