Counselor

Job Title

Responsible for providing individual client and group therapy. This individual will provide services as a member of the inter-disciplinary treatment team, coordinating with the Director of Clinical Services, and other team members.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Conducts an initial assessment and establishes treatment goals for identified clients
• Provides individual psychotherapy three times each week to an assigned caseload of clients
• Works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to ensure team treatment and a therapeutic milieu
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with assigned clients to facilitate the treatment process
• Provides effective communication during the shift through activity such as:
  1. Participates in report and utilizes information to provide quality care;
  2. Communicates milieu and client issues to the treatment team members during the shift and problem solves effectively;
  3. Ensures compliance with confidentiality of client information.
• Takes lead as chief author, with the medical and nursing staffs, in writing the treatment plan for the implementation of care according to client program policies and procedures
• Completes all required documentation according to policies and procedures and ensures that daily clinical notes document the client's progress in meeting their treatment goals
• Supports the nursing staff and recovery specialists identifying the precursors of potential crisis and unsafe client behavior, and intervenes to de-escalate clients utilizing the least restrictive means of intervention
• Provides psycho-education groups to support the milieu treatment program
• Participates in community outreach and marketing activities as required for Washburn House and promotes exceptional customer service throughout the program
• Ensures active client and family participation in the treatment process
• Reviews client and staff satisfaction surveys and customer complaints and the results of monitoring standards. Initiates corrective action as indicated and monitors identified quality improvements
• Attends and participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings
• Takes an active role in quality improvement activities as assigned

Education and Experience

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered.

• Knowledge obtained through the completion of a Bachelor Degree curriculum from an accredited institution, or equivalent combination of knowledge and experience, Master's Degree Preferred
• Demonstrated skill in 12-Step and Family Systems Recovery Models.
• Demonstrated advanced level knowledge of group behavior and dynamics;
• Demonstrated advanced level knowledge of licensing and accreditation standards (JCAHO, Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Code, DHS)
• Highly skilled in communicating ideas and instructions, verbally and in writing, clearly and concisely

Supervisory Requirements

Of this position are generally as follows:

• Assists with occasional supervision of Recovery Specialists as needed

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Which may be representative, but not all inclusive, of those commonly associated with this position. To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; behavioral therapy methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral disorders;
• Knowledge of 12 Step Principles
• Knowledge of substance use disorders and other DSM-5 Diagnoses and demonstrates competency in providing and implementing resident care
• Knowledge of ASAM PPC
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics
• Knowledge of licensing and accreditation standards (Joint Commission, DPH)
• Clinical skills
• Must be detail oriented
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines as well as be flexible and dependable
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and analytical skills
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Principles and processes for providing client services. This includes client needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of client satisfaction
• Exceptional customer/client service with the ability to resolve service issues
• Knowledge of Joint Commission standards
• Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
• Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities with a sense of urgency
• Excellent interpersonal communication (verbal and written) and presentation skills
• Being aware of others' reactions, understanding why they react as they do, and adjusting one's own actions in relation to others
• Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through verbal and written words and sentences.
• Communicate information and ideas verbally and in writing so others will understand
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
• Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions; including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events
• Identify/recognize when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and know who to involve for resolution.
• Generate various ideas about a given topic