Behavioral Health Specialist

OUR MISSION

Southern Pediatrics is a pioneering healthcare organization accelerating access to comprehensive care, so all children have the opportunity to thrive. Southern Pediatrics sees a future where every child has access to the best possible care from birth – a future where health disparities are nonexistent, and every community, no matter how limited, has access to the highest standards of pediatric care.

Founded in 2024 by veteran healthcare entrepreneurs Stephen Nash and Neil Herndon, Southern Pediatrics is committed to transforming pediatric healthcare, making quality care accessible and sustainable and nurturing a generation of children who grow up healthier, stronger, and empowered. Southern Pediatrics is focused on how best to deliver exceptional and integrated care centered around what is best for children and for those providers who care for them.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• As a Behavioral Health Counselor, you will provide accessible, compassionate mental and behavioral health support to children and families within our pediatric primary care setting. You’ll work closely with pediatric providers and care teams to identify behavioral health needs early, provide evidence-based interventions, and support the whole child. This is a full-time position.
• This is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly growing organization as we expand an integrated mental and behavioral health program across our network. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with patients and families while also helping us ensure that patients in our practice can access quality therapy services in our practice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide individual therapy to pediatric and adolescent patients.
• Complete behavioral health assessments and develop individualized treatment plans.
• Provide evidence-based interventions for concerns including anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral concerns, adjustment difficulties, OCD, trauma, and other common pediatric mental health needs.
• Communicate with parents/caregivers regarding treatment goals, progress, and recommendations as clinically appropriate.
• Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation and treatment records within the electronic medical record.
• Utilize appropriate screening and assessment tools to support clinical decision-making.
• Provide brief consultation and behavioral health support to pediatric providers when appropriate.

WITHIN 3 MONTHS, YOU HAVE:

• Completed onboarding and developed a strong understanding of our pediatric primary care model, clinical workflows, and approach to integrated behavioral health.
• Built relationships with pediatric providers, clinical teams, patients, and families and established yourself as a trusted behavioral health specialist.
• Begun seeing patients and families in clinic, supporting a growing patient panel.
• Participated in behavioral health screenings, referrals, and care coordination workflows.

WITHIN 6 MONTHS, YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT:

• Fully ramped your caseload and are providing consistent talk therapy to patients and families in your assigned clinics.
• Partnered with pediatric providers to identify patients who may benefit from behavioral health services and determine appropriate next steps.
• Provided evidence-based interventions and family support for common pediatric behavioral health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD).
• Built strong therapeutic relationships with patients and families while creating a welcoming, developmentally appropriate therapy experience
• Provided feedback based on your experience and examples from patients and care teams on any suggested improvements in our integrated services.

WITHIN 12 MONTHS, YOU ARE HELPING US GROW:

• Demonstrated consistent, high-quality patient care and strong collaboration with pediatric care teams.
• Helped identify opportunities to improve access, engagement, and the family experience based on patient and provider feedback.
• Participated in training, education, or coaching for clinical teams on topics such as behavioral health integration, trauma-informed care, mental health literacy, and appropriate referral pathways.
• Helped refine workflows and resources as the program grows, bringing a clinical perspective to what is working well and where we can improve.

WHAT LEADS TO SUCCESS

• Expertise. You have 2+ years experience providing behavioral health services to children, adolescents, and/or families. You have an active Tennessee license as an LCSW, LPC, or LMFT. You have experience with common pediatric mental health concerns and evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Experience working with Medicaid populations and in a healthcare or pediatric setting is preferred.
• Compassion and Empathy. You build trusting relationships with children and families and approach every interaction with patience, empathy, and respect.
• Collaboration. You thrive in a team-based clinical environment and enjoy partnering with pediatricians and other healthcare professionals to support the whole child.
• Organization and Independence. You bring strong organizational and documentation skills and can work independently while functioning effectively as part of a multidisciplinary pediatric primary care team.
• Adaptability. You are comfortable working in an evolving environment and can adjust your approach as our integrated behavioral health model continues to develop.
• Bias to Action. You are proactive, practical, and willing to jump in to solve problems, support families, and improve the way we deliver care.
• Patient & Family Focus. You understand that meaningful behavioral health care extends beyond the individual patient and often includes parents, caregivers, schools, and other members of a child's support system.
• Growth Mindset. You are excited to learn, contribute ideas, and help shape a growing program while remaining focused on providing excellent clinical care.
• Comfortable with Travel. Some local travel may be expected as services expand across our clinics and you build relationships with teams throughout the organization.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

• At Southern Pediatrics, we believe mental health is an essential part of a child's overall health and well-being. By bringing behavioral health support into the pediatric primary care setting, we can identify concerns earlier, reduce barriers to care, and help children and families get the support they need to thrive.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Options
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with an Employer Match
• Life Insurance, LTD, STD, and other Voluntary Options
• Paid time off
• Parental Leave

Work Location: In person