Psychotherapist

JOB SUMMARY:

The Behavior Health Specialist as part of the integrated health model will provide primarily traditional behavioral health services to patients currently receiving primary care services at Health West, Inc. This includes treatments to address common mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis, substance use disorders, etc. At times, the Behavior Health Specialist will also need to provide brief and integrative services to patients receiving primary care services. The Behavior Health Specialist will conduct intakes with referred patients and provide follow up services including individual, group, family, and couples therapy as appropriate, as well as psychoeducation. As a licensed clinician, the Behavior Health Specialist will utilize the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Model for brief treatment and provide linkage and make referrals to other community and higher-level care providers for patients. Working from an interdisciplinary approach and in collaboration with the medical providers the Behavior Health Specialist also provides orientation, consultation, and ongoing training to pertinent primary care staff as needed in order to strengthen the relationship between primary care and behavioral health services at Health West.  The Behavior Health Specialist will work closely with the care manager, and the primary care provider to help patients work through psychotherapy using structured instruments to revise the treatment plan when patients are not improving, and offers a brief course of counseling to aid in creating new treatment plans as necessary.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
• Work with primary care providers to recognize, treat and manage mental disorders, psychosocial problems, and chronic emotional and/or health problems efficiently and effectively.
• Comply with established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental, and customer service standards.
• Participate in ongoing training in adult behavioral health issues and provide training to primary care clinic staff in mental health topics including counseling skills and confidentiality, medication use and misuse, substance abuse, wellness, rehabilitation, recovery and self-sufficiency.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences with Medical Providers as needed.
• Provide clinical assessments of behavioral health conditions including mental health and substance abuse disorders.
• Assist in the detection of “at risk” patients and development of plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.
• Assist in preventing relapse or morbidity in conditions that tend to recur over time.
• Maintain timely, accurate and appropriate records.
• Teach care, prevention, and treatment enhancement technique to patients, families, and staff.
• Design and implement clinical pathways through developing procedures and protocols for treatment of selected mental and behavioral conditions.
• Remain current with standards of mental and behavioral health care practice.
• Attend and participate in meetings and Quality Improvement activities as required.
• Represent Health West, Inc. in the community and maintain effective working relationships among co-workers, public, private, and professional groups.
• Serve as a member of site committees as requested.
• Participate in evaluation of peers and support staff.
• Some travel may be required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor;
• Ability to make accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions including substance use disorders;
• Ability to provide evidence-based psychotherapy and brief therapeutic interventions;
• Ability to work effectively as a team, interfacing with patients, primary care providers, consulting psychiatrist and mental health specialists, as well as with administrative and support staff;
• Will complete SBIRT training within 3 months of hire.

DESIRED:

• Licensed in the State of Idaho as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
• Experience in delivering services to medically underserved populations and cultural competency; and experience with depression and depression treatment plan, working with medically ill and/or older adults.
• Bi-lingual: Spanish/English.