Behavioral Health Technician

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) provides compassionate, trauma-informed support to individuals receiving behavioral health services. The BHT works closely with the clinical treatment team to create a safe, structured, and supportive environment for clients who may have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, or other adverse life experiences.

The BHT builds therapeutic relationships while maintaining professional boundaries and recognizes that trauma can affect a person's emotions, behaviors, relationships, and ability to feel safe. The BHT uses a calm, respectful, and nonjudgmental approach to support clients throughout their treatment and recovery.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide direct care, supervision, and emotional support to clients in a trauma-informed environment.
• Establish trusting and respectful relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Promote physical and emotional safety and help clients feel respected, heard, and supported.
• Recognize potential trauma responses, including anxiety, withdrawal, hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, or changes in behavior, and report concerns to clinical staff.
• Use trauma-informed communication techniques that emphasize choice, collaboration, empowerment, and respect.
• Assist clients with developing and practicing healthy coping skills, emotional-regulation techniques, communication skills, and daily living skills.
• Support clients during periods of emotional distress while utilizing approved de-escalation and crisis-intervention techniques.
• Avoid unnecessary confrontation, intimidation, or practices that may unnecessarily trigger or re-traumatize clients.
• Assist with therapeutic, recreational, educational, and life-skills activities designed to promote confidence, independence, and recovery.
• Observe client behaviors and changes in mood or functioning and communicate relevant information to therapists, nurses, and other members of the treatment team.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation regarding client behaviors, interactions, activities, incidents, and interventions.
• Encourage clients to participate in treatment while respecting their individual pace, preferences, and personal boundaries.
• Help maintain a predictable, structured, and supportive daily environment.
• Respond appropriately to behavioral or emotional crises and follow established safety procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect client privacy in accordance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
• Participate in treatment-team meetings, staff meetings, supervision, and required training.
• Advocate for a respectful and trauma-sensitive environment for all clients.
• Perform other duties as assigned by clinical or program leadership.

Trauma-Informed Approach

The BHT understands that challenging behaviors may be connected to past trauma or current emotional distress. Rather than focusing solely on the behavior, the BHT seeks to understand what the client may be communicating through their behavior and responds with patience, consistency, and compassion.

The BHT promotes the principles of:

• Safety
• Trust and transparency
• Choice and control
• Collaboration
• Empowerment
• Peer and social support
• Cultural sensitivity
• Respect for individual experiences and boundaries

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous experience in behavioral health, trauma-informed care, mental health, residential treatment, or substance-use services preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to remain calm, patient, and supportive during emotionally challenging situations.
• Ability to recognize and appropriately respond to behavioral and emotional changes.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Willingness to learn and apply trauma-informed care principles.
• CPR/First Aid and crisis-intervention training may be required.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to work in a behavioral healthcare environment that may involve emotionally or behaviorally challenging situations.
• Ability to stand, walk, and remain active for extended periods.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and follow approved safety procedures.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, or overnight shifts as required.

Professional Expectations

The BHT is expected to consistently demonstrate compassion, patience, reliability, emotional maturity, cultural humility, and respect for each client's individual experience. The BHT serves as an important part of the treatment team by helping clients experience a safe and supportive environment where they can begin to build trust, develop healthy coping skills, and work toward recovery.

Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $22