DESCRIPTION: Responsible for assisting one or more patients through the therapeutic relationship, using a combination of mental health and human developmental principles. This can include the use of psychotherapy to achieve the mental, emotional, physical, social, moral, educational and spiritual development of the client throughout the client's life.

SUPERVISION: Directly supervised by the Chief Behavioral Health Officer.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: May require prolonged sitting, stooping and standing. May be required to move up to 25 pounds.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Apply human development and counseling skills to understand clients, promote enhanced client self-understanding and help client interpret client concerns, opportunities and problems.
• Provides direct support to clinic medical staff and provides brief intervention and psychotherapy as needed.
• Plan, develop and implement a treatment plan.
• Assist client to identify course of action, including near-term and long-term plans and objectives.
• Help client implement plans and assess outcomes.
• Writes and maintains progress notes for therapy sessions; maintain and update client records and makes appropriate referrals.
• Conduct assessments and determines results. Advocate a team approach service delivery using Center's providers.
• Conduct telemedicine visits at health center locations or non-health center locations (from provider's home) for registered patients of the Center.
• Monitors patient closely for changes in severity of symptoms and medication side effects; educates patients about medications and medication side effects as needed; encourages treatment adherence.
• Coordinates ongoing assessment in order to monitor client change.
• Provides accurate and timely reports to supervisor to ensure compliance with funder requirements, expectations and outcomes.
• Ability to problem-solve.
• Ability to prioritize and allocate resources.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have a graduate degree or at least a Master's level in counseling or counseling related field.
• Must have at least 48 semester hours of counseling related courses including a counselor practicum of no less than 300 hours (100 of which must be direct client contact)
• Passing a state licensure examination for counselor or renewal of licensure requiring completion of 12 clock hours of continuing education annually, with 3 clock hours of counselor ethics every other year.
• Current licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor is required.
• Must have a current BLS Certificate.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress.
• Ability to evaluate progress of therapeutic programs and to make individual modifications.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge or routine computer hardware use and software program applications including word processing, spread sheet and simple database management.
• General knowledge of the Center's current operational protocols.
• Knowledge of basic principles of health promotion, prevention and motivation.

Sound judgment-making practices.