Counselor

Job Summary:

Provides behavioral health assessment, counseling, treatment planning, education, case management, and recovery support services to individuals receiving behavioral health treatment. Assists consumers in identifying treatment needs, achieving recovery goals, accessing community resources, and improving overall functioning and quality of life. Provides individual, group, and family counseling services while ensuring compliance with applicable licensing, certification, documentation, regulatory, and professional practice standards.

Essential Functions:

• Completes behavioral health assessments and participates in the development of individualized treatment plans.
• Assists consumers in identifying treatment needs, strengths, goals, and barriers to recovery.
• Provides individual, group, and family counseling services.
• Implements evidence-based and recovery-oriented treatment interventions.
• Monitors consumer progress toward treatment goals and modifies interventions as clinically appropriate.
• Assists in coordinating treatment planning, discharge planning, and continuity of care services.
• Provides psychoeducation regarding mental health conditions, coping skills, wellness, recovery principles, and available community resources.
• Provides crisis intervention services and risk assessment activities as assigned.
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and service planning activities.
• Coordinates referrals and access to behavioral healthcare, medical, educational, vocational, housing, and social services.
• Collaborates with community providers, families, support systems, and referral sources to ensure continuity of care.
• Maintains client confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA and applicable privacy requirements.
• Completes all required documentation accurately and within established timeframes.
• Maintains agency productivity standards and performance expectations.
• Maintains current knowledge of behavioral health treatment best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of behavioral health disorders, treatment approaches, recovery principles, and evidence-based practices.
• Knowledge of serious mental illness, emotional and behavioral disorders, co-occurring conditions, and treatment interventions.
• Knowledge of consumer rights and applicable agency, state, and federal regulations.
• Knowledge of community resources, healthcare systems, educational services, housing services, and social service programs.
• Knowledge of clinical documentation requirements, treatment planning, and case management principles.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and risk assessment practices.
• Knowledge of individual, family, and group counseling techniques.
• Knowledge of family dynamics and support systems.
• Ability to observe, document, and report consumer functioning and progress.
• Ability to interpret assessments, evaluations, and treatment recommendations.
• Ability to develop and implement treatment plans and clinical interventions.
• Ability to identify community resources and coordinate needed services.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with internal staff and external organizations.
• Ability to interact effectively with consumers and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision.
• Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal, counseling, and active listening skills.
• Ability to establish priorities and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Ability to coordinate care and facilitate collaboration among treatment providers and support systems.

Primary Responsibilities, but not limited to:

• Provides behavioral health assessments and counseling services.
• Develops and monitors individualized treatment plans.
• Facilitates individual, family, and group counseling sessions.
• Coordinates referrals and support services.
• Provides crisis intervention and case management services.
• Maintains required documentation and clinical records.
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning.
• Supports consumer recovery, wellness, resilience, and community integration.
• Provides education and resource coordination services.
• Promotes person-centered and recovery-oriented care.

Competencies:

• Communication
• Accountability/Responsibility
• Cooperation/Teamwork
• Creative Thinking
• Customer Service
• Dependability
• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Analytical Thinking
• Job Knowledge
• Judgment
• Professionalism
• Quality/Quantity of Work
• Leadership/Supervision

Required Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Human Services, Behavioral Health, or a related field.
• Professional licensure, associate licensure, certification, or eligibility for licensure/certification in accordance with state and program requirements preferred.
• Experience providing counseling, case management, treatment planning, crisis intervention, behavioral health services, or related human services preferred.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing behavioral health conditions, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders preferred.
• Valid Georgia Driver’s License preferred.

Upon appointment to the position, the employee assumes responsibility for meeting and maintaining all minimum qualification requirements, including applicable certifications, licenses, continuing education, competency validations, and mandatory annual or recurrent training. Failure to maintain such requirements may affect eligibility to perform assigned duties.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Work Environment:

This position operates in outpatient clinics, treatment facilities, community settings, residential programs, schools, and professional office environments. The role routinely uses computers, telephones, electronic health record systems, printers, scanners, photocopiers, and other office equipment. Occasional travel between Gateway locations and community service sites may be required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Frequently walks, sits, stands, and kneels.
• Occasionally climbs, balances, bends, and stoops.
• Frequently lifts and/or moves up to 15 pounds.
• Must have the ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer.
• Frequently utilizes fine hand-eye coordination, hearing, and visual acuity.
• Must be able to travel between Gateway sites and community locations.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Gateway CSB promotes a drug/alcohol-free work environment through mandatory pre-employment drug testing.

Terms & Conditions:

• Reports to work when scheduled and begins and ends work as expected.
• Reports anticipated tardiness or absence to the supervisor.
• Observes policies regarding meal and break periods.
• Uses work time appropriately and efficiently.
• Requests and utilizes leave appropriately.
• Maintains a professional appearance in accordance with site dress code requirements.
• Observes health, safety, and sanitation policies.
• Performs work according to all applicable rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines.
• Ensures licensure and certification are current and active without suspension or revocation throughout employment.
• Ensures compliance with required training, including new employee orientation.
• Does not engage in activities other than official business during work hours.
• Does not report to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Adheres to Gateway’s Standards of Conduct 3.13 and Employee Ethics 3.23.
• May be required to remain at or return to work during agency incidents or emergencies and may work non-traditional schedules as necessary to support agency operations.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee in this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Employee signature below constitutes employee’s understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position.