Behavioral Health Intern

Under close supervision, the Behavioral Health Intern is a DORA-registered graduate student training to become a licensed counselor. The intern will serve adult and juvenile patients of the Adams County Health Department (ACHD) and will be supervised by a Licensed Addiction Counselor employed or contracted by ACHD.

• Screening, assessing, and treating each client’s symptoms and needs around substance use, mental health, life skills, self-esteem, and other behavioral health issues.
• Collaborating with ACHD Harm Reduction, home visiting, and care coordination programs to evaluate individual and family needs, including issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, child abuse, and child neglect. This includes accessing the caretaker’s capacity to parent, provide for, and protect children if parenting.
• Serving in acute harm reduction outreach/street settings or in‑home with nurses, or handling clients referred internally for formal individual brief therapy.
• Facilitating Cognitive Behavior Therapy, parenting, skills, emotional regulation, or other specialized therapeutic groups as assigned.

Must commit to a learning mindset and continuous improvement regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work within Adams County and the Adams County Health Department including management style, work style, training, and communication and evaluation. As well as continuous process improvement and innovation to align with the departmental strategic plan, values and purpose.

A resume and cover letter are required for consideration for this position.

• Adhering to the Colorado Mental Health Practice Art and the National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) Code of Ethics.
• Maintaining Client charts, progress notes, clinical documentation, and records consistent with departmental policies and local, state, and federal rules and regulations.
• Designing, implementing, and leading appropriate therapy groups or individual counseling for clients based on proven practices in the field, particularly substance use disorder groups.

Employee responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents, and events. Employee participates in all exercise preparedness, as required. Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.

Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy.

This is a mostly in person position with limited possibilities of remote work, at the South Platte Crossing building, 7190 Colorado Blvd, Suite 200.

• A commitment to justice, liberation, and equity principles/
• Awareness and experience with screenings such as the GAD-7, PHQ-9, and others, with the ability to critically evaluate risk, need, and protective factors.
• Ability to deliver evidence-based therapeutic services with fidelity to practices such as Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or Narrative Therapy, under supervision.
• Knowledge of Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles and practices.
• Proficiency in developing and implementing treatment plans to assist clients in achieving measurable objectives and goals.
• Understanding of addiction, co-occurring, and trauma-informed care treatment standards.
• Skill in exercising initiative, judgment, creativity, and decisiveness to facilitate problem-solving and achieve organizational goals
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team to achieve client goals.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and experience using web-based software and assessment products.
• Ability to quickly develop rapport with broad range of clients including adults, pregnant and parenting individuals, young adults, and families with children.
• Strong time management skills and flexibility in supporting peers.

• A Bachelor’s degree in one of the human behavioral science fields.
• Active enrollment in a Master’s degree program in one of the human behavioral science fields.
• One year of full-time (or…