What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Counselor position at Emerson Health?
Make a difference in patients’ lives—every shift.
As a Mental Health Counselor on our inpatient Behavioral Health team, you will provide hands-on, compassionate care to individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. Working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining a safe, supportive environment and helping patients progress in their recovery.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you will support high-quality patient care by:
What You Bring
Education
As a Mental Health Counselor on our inpatient Behavioral Health team, you will provide hands-on, compassionate care to individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. Working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, you’ll play a vital role in maintaining a safe, supportive environment and helping patients progress in their recovery.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you will support high-quality patient care by:
- Providing direct patient care tailored to the age and needs of individuals on the behavioral health unit
- Supporting the safety, well-being, and therapeutic environment for all patients
- Observing, monitoring, and documenting patient behavior and interactions
- Assisting with daily activities, therapeutic programming, and patient engagement
- Collaborating with nurses and the interdisciplinary team to support individualized care plans
- Responding appropriately to behavioral health crises using de-escalation techniques
- Maintaining accurate and timely documentation in accordance with hospital and regulatory standards
- Upholding patient confidentiality and all safety protocols
What You Bring
Education
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Degree in a mental health-related field preferred
- Minimum of 1 year of experience in an inpatient psychiatric setting or psychiatric triage preferred
- BLS (Basic Life Support) – Healthcare Provider required
- CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) certification required within 30 days of hire
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to build rapport with patients in a therapeutic setting
- Critical thinking and sound judgment in dynamic situations
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Basic computer and documentation proficiency
- Ability to maintain strict patient confidentiality
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
- Be part of a compassionate, mission-driven behavioral health team
- Gain valuable experience in inpatient psychiatric care
- Work in a supportive, team-oriented environment
- Make a meaningful impact on patient safety and recovery