Behavioral Health Therapist

Job Summary

Plans, organizes and conducts therapeutic interventions for assigned caseload in outpatient environment. Emphasizes short term cognitive/behavioral approaches to effect social/emotional adjustment or address behavioral disorders. Provides emergency behavioral health services.

Essential Job Functions

• Completes patient assessments.
  • Interviews patients/families/significant others at time of initial presentation to complete psychosocial history and assessment.
  • Documents clinical activities within established time frames according to department, hospital and regulatory agency standards.
• Assists the Department's compliance with state, JCAHO and other regulatory agencies.
  • Participates in preparation for inspections, surveys and audits.
  • Participates in ongoing unit Performance Improvement Activities.
• Communicates effectively with patients/peers/families/treatment team.
  • Returns patient/family phone calls and documents.
  • Provides peer/treatment team consultation when asked.
  • Uses computer as required for email, scheduling, authorizations, insurance tracking, etc.
• Provides and participates in Educational Activities.
  • Provides and documents patient/family education.
  • Participates in staff education both as participant and presenter.
  • Makes recommendations for staff development.
  • Serves on Hospital committees and participates in other related projects as directed.
• Complies with requirements for credentialed status as required.
  • Completes timely credentialing/re-credentialing.
  • Maintains active licensure.
• Completes C.E.U.'s required for continued licensure.
• Delivers presentations to other agencies and groups pertaining to the services provided by the PHP.
• Other duties as assigned.

Specialty Functions

• Processes psychiatric emergencies.
  • Assesses severity of patient condition.
  • Collaborates with psychiatrist to effect a crisis resolution.
  • Processes commitments.
  • Refers patients to appropriate treatment facilities.
  • Demonstrates working knowledge of Mental Health Procedures Act.
• Participates in Treatment Planning.
  • Completes treatment plans and treatment plan reviews according to department standards and regulatory agencies.
  • Attends treatment team meetings.
  • Functions as an interdisciplinary team member to actively identify and resolve patient needs.
• Uses skilled therapeutic modalities.
  • Provides individual, group and family therapy.
  • Provides crisis intervention techniques as needed and develops individualized safety contracts as necessary.
  • Documents services provided according to department and regulatory agencies.
  • Consistently meets productivity targets.
  • Obtains authorizations/reauthorizations for treatment.
  • Completes activity logs as requested.
• Assists the department's compliance with State, JCAHO and other regulatory agencies.
  • Participates in preparation for inspections, surveys and audits.
  • Participates in ongoing unit Performance Improvement activities.
• Communicates effectively with patients/peers/families/treatment team/agencies.
  • Attends at least 75% of staff meetings.
  • Reads and signs off minutes of those not attended.
  • Returns guest/family phone calls and documents.
  • Provides peer/treatment team consultation when asked.
  • Uses computer as required for email, scheduling, authorizations, insurance tracking, etc.
  • Serves as liaison between physician and families and agencies/services.
• Provides and participates in educational activities.
  • Provides and documents patient/family education.
  • Participates in staff education, both as participant and presenter.
  • Serves on hospital committees and participates in other related projects as directed.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or related Human Service degree.
• One (1) or more years’ experience in clinical setting or equivalent work-related experience.
• Two (2) or more years prior experience in provision of individual and group psychotherapy in a clinical setting.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
• Knowledge of Payor/Insurance…