Fully Licensed Outpatient Therapist

Job Description Job Description Job Overview Mental Health Counseling with emphasis on prevention. Will work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. May help individuals deal with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; suicide; stress management; problems with self-esteem; and issues associated with aging and mental and emotional health etc. Licensed OPT Professional Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts Responsibilities and Duties * Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment. * Perform assessments and behavioral screening as assigned, and update as required. * Maintain a hourly billable caseload of minimum 25 per week. * Reviewing clinical records and documentation as assigned per credentials, to ensure medical necessity criteria as well as meeting Medicaid guidelines. * Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships. * Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems. Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports. * Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes. * Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, and tests. * Act as client advocates in order to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations. * Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge, and update as required. * Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments and develop treatment plans. * Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition based on review of client information. * Meet with families, probation officers, police, and other interested parties in order to exchange necessary information during the treatment process. * Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary. * Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients. Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives. * Plan, organize and lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation and social activities for clients. * Modify treatment activities and approaches as needed in order to comply with changes in clients' status. Learn about new developments in their field by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, and establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies. * Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment. * Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy. * Gather information about community mental health needs and resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy. * Monitor clients' use of medications. * Plan and conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health and counseling services. * Run workshops and courses about mental health issues. Provider Responsibilities * Responsible for ensuring services are provided in a manner, which meets all applicable regulatory licensure and accrediting regulations. * Participate in multi-disciplinary staffing. * Attends all appropriate in-services, workshops, or continuing education programs. * Responsible for keeping client medical record charts and their own personnel file information up to date in a timely manner. * Work to ensure mental health outreach, education, and prevention in the community. * Responsible for appropriate intake, assessments, and orientation. * Maintains strict confidentiality according to all Federal and State guidelines and requirements. * Exemplifies personal and professional conduct. * Upholds the Professional Code of Ethics. * Maintains a cooperative relationship with employees, medical staff and others. * Adheres to and supports facility policies, programs and activities. * Demonstrates tact, courtesy, and a positive approach to communication and interaction with other employees, visitors, physicians, etc. * Responsible for personal development to ensure current knowledge in the profession, Responsible for maintaining a safe, clean and drug free environment. * Willingness to work beyond what is required periodically and travel for continuing education hours. * Maintain service notation that meets agency notation standards, Medicaid standards, and/or any other auditing agency such as the LME. (For timeliness, quality, and completeness). This notation must include: I) the purpose of contact; 2) describes the provider's interventions; 3) effectiveness of the intervention; 4) the time spent performing the intervention; and 5) signature (degree/credentials or position) of person providing service. * Must be available in the on-call rotation for 24/7- 365 days per year first responder coverage. * Must maintain the flexibility to respond to client needs and crisis situations beyond the agencies normal working hours. * Deliver services in various environments, such as homes, schools, jails (for state funds only), homeless shelters, etc. * Perform any other job-related duties as specified by a supervisor. Education/Qualifications/Experience * Master's Degree in a human service field * Possess and maintain full or provisional licensure Status (LCSW, PLCSW, LCPC, LPCA, LCASA eligible or Ph. D.) (preferred) * Behavioral Screening Certification if required Training Requirements * Must complete all agency initial orientation training and state mandated trainings. * Must possess a valid driver's license. * Must complete training and successfully pass Illinois Medicaid Comprehensive Assessment of Needs and Strengths (IM+CANS) exam