Senior Behavioral Health Clinician

UnitedHealth Group•New York, NY

3d•$72,800 - $130,000

About The Position

The Senior Behavioral Health Clinician provides comprehensive behavioral health services to individuals with varied mental health, trauma-related, substance use, and medical needs. The role conducts clinical assessments and diagnostic evaluations, develops individualized treatment plans, delivers evidence-based therapeutic interventions, and works with multidisciplinary care teams to support high-quality, patient-centered care. The clinician assesses clinical needs and appropriate levels of care, evaluates patient safety and risk, and provides crisis intervention and stabilization when needed. The role applies trauma-informed approaches and, when trained, modalities such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It also provides patient education, maintains timely and accurate EMR documentation, and communicates clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate care team members. The clinician practices independently within the scope of their New York State license while consulting and collaborating with other clinical disciplines as appropriate. Services and documentation must protect patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, applicable regulations, and organizational policies.

Requirements

Active and unrestricted New York State behavioral health license, including Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with Diagnostic privileges (D).
At least 5 years of clinical experience providing behavioral health services across diverse patient populations.
Demonstrated experience conducting comprehensive behavioral health assessments and diagnostic evaluations.
Experience delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including treatment for trauma-related conditions, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
For prescribing providers, active certification and authority to prescribe medications under New York State regulations and organizational credentialing requirements.
Solid clinical judgment, crisis intervention, and risk assessment skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary care team.
Proficiency with electronic medical records and standard computer applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to maintain compliance with HIPAA, federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, and Optum Serve policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Training and experience in trauma-focused, evidence-based therapies such as CPT, PE, or EMDR.
Experience working with patients who have complex or chronic medical conditions.
Prior experience in integrated or multidisciplinary care settings.
Familiarity with the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program or other federal or occupational health programs.
Managed care or utilization review experience.
Bilingual proficiency, such as Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments and diagnostic evaluations to identify clinical needs and appropriate levels of care.
Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans based on clinical findings, patient needs, and standards of care.
Provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions for depression, anxiety, trauma-related conditions, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health concerns.
Assess patient safety, identify potential risks, and provide crisis intervention and stabilization when needed.
Conduct ongoing risk assessments, including evaluating safety concerns and changes in behavioral health status.
Use trauma-informed approaches and, when trained, evidence-based modalities such as CPT, PE, and EMDR.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary care team members to coordinate treatment and support integrated patient care.
Work with patients who have complex behavioral health needs, chronic medical conditions, or co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns.
Provide patient education and support to encourage treatment engagement, coping strategies, and progress toward treatment goals.
Maintain timely, accurate, and complete clinical documentation in the EMR.
Communicate clinical findings, treatment recommendations, and relevant patient updates clearly and professionally to appropriate care team members.
Practice independently within the scope of the clinician's New York State license while seeking consultation and collaborating with other clinical disciplines as appropriate.
Maintain patient confidentiality and ensure services and documentation comply with HIPAA, applicable regulations, and organizational policies and procedures.