Outpatient Therapist - Navigator Services

Sonora Behavioral Health•Tucson, AZ

About The Position

Sonora is a behavioral health provider in Tucson, Arizona, offering inpatient hospital, ECT, and outpatient therapy services for children, adolescents, and adults. The Therapist assesses and diagnoses behavioral health disorders and provides clinical services, including individual, group, or family sessions based on patient treatment plans. The role also supports continuity of care by helping eligible patients transition from inpatient or residential treatment to Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP), or other community-based services. The Outpatient Navigator maintains contact with patients during inpatient stays, supports their outpatient orientation and admissions documentation, and coordinates step-down transitions with clinical services, the business office, utilization review/management, business development and marketing, and outpatient services. The role tracks admissions and conversion trends, identifies barriers to patient engagement, and seeks opportunities to reduce readmissions. Services may be provided in inpatient or outpatient settings.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a Human Services field.
At least one year of experience working with a comparable patient population.
Requisite state or national licensure for professional therapy providers, or eligibility for state licensure as a professional therapy provider.
CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
First aid may be required depending on state or facility.

Responsibilities

Apply psychotherapeutic techniques and interventions to treat diagnosed emotional and behavioral disorders in individuals and families.
Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop initial discharge plans.
Conduct individual, group, or family sessions as appropriate to patient treatment plans.
Develop initial treatment plans based on assessments, coordinate additional services, and revise plans as needed.
Maintain documentation of therapy services in accordance with facility and professional standards.
Maintain an assigned caseload.
Participate in treatment team meetings and collaborate with staff to facilitate services consistent with patient treatment plans.
Perform case management, discharge planning, or aftercare planning as needed.
Maintain multiple in-person check-ins with patients during inpatient stays, including individual discussions, facilitating transition or discharge groups, and participating in treatment teams.
Support outpatient orientation and program introduction, complete required admission documentation and consent forms, and introduce patients to PHP/IOP leaders and therapists.
Coordinate step-down transitions with clinical services to confirm outpatient appropriateness and incorporate outpatient care into treatment plans.
Coordinate with the business office regarding benefits verification and copay clarifications.
Work with Utilization Review/Management to secure authorizations and support ongoing utilization management, including pre-certifications, renewal authorizations, denial appeals, and tracking remaining authorized days.
Coordinate with business development and marketing to communicate outpatient services and support patient engagement.
Coordinate with outpatient services regarding capacity, program compatibility, and discharge dates.
Track step-down admissions, conversion rates, and trends over time.
Identify barriers and opportunities to improve patient engagement and reduce readmissions.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude; acknowledge and work to resolve unmet patient needs and prioritize patient safety.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.