Professional Counselor (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut•Bridgeport, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Professional Counselor to join the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) within the Young Adult Services (YAS) unit in Bridgeport, CT. In this role, you will provide clinical counseling, care coordination, crisis intervention, and recovery-oriented support to young adults living with severe mental illness, co-occurring disorders, complex trauma histories, and medical comorbidities. This is a unique opportunity to support clients in stabilizing, developing essential life skills, and transitioning toward healthier, independent living. DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve. SWCMHS provides a broad range of mental health services across the southwest region of the state, with locations in Bridgeport and Stamford. SWCMHS offers inpatient, outpatient, ACT, and community support services for adults with serious behavioral health needs, as well as specialized services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The system also operates mobile crisis intervention, homeless outreach, and several housing support programs, including Shelter Plus Care. The Young Adult Services (YAS) program provides developmentally appropriate, recovery-focused clinical and community supports for young adults ages 18–25 with significant behavioral health needs. YAS helps clients build stability, independence, and long-term wellness through services such as therapy, residential supports, vocational and educational assistance, and psychiatric care.

Requirements

Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut.
Possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (aa-jj) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

Nice To Haves

Experience with abuse and neglect reporting, notification and follow-up to immediate protective service plans
Experience in a hospital or congregate care setting
Experience using Microsoft applications within healthcare setting, including Word and Outlook
Experience providing community based, recovery-oriented clinical services to young adults with severe and chronic mental illness, co-occurring disorders, complex medical comorbidities, histories of trauma, and histories of legal involvement.
Experience providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy
Experience with crisis intervention.
Experience with electronic health record (e.g., WITS)
Knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
Ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
Ability to travel.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical counseling, care coordination, crisis intervention, and recovery-oriented support to young adults living with severe mental illness, co-occurring disorders, complex trauma histories, and medical comorbidities.
Support clients in stabilizing, developing essential life skills, and transitioning toward healthier, independent living.
Provide case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs.
Develop, implement and maintain individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients.
Work with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability.
Develop psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews.
Provide clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning.
Make use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs.
Interpret and synthesize client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services.
Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records.
Complete reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies.
Consult and collaborate with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients.
Maintain counseling treatment and standards as required.