Behavioral Health Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Our Core Values:

The culture at Prism Health North Texas is built on our shared Core Values. We make hiring, firing, promotion, and performance review decisions based on these values and behaviors, so it is important that you also share these Core Values:

• We are solution seekers. 
• We have a can-do attitude. 
• We are mission-driven. 
• We care about people. 

General Description:

The behavioral health counselor (BHC) provides onsite or remote behavioral health care as an integrated component of HIV medical care within PHNTX clinic locations. The BHC assesses mental health and substance misuse disorders, makes the appropriate diagnosis based on assessment, provides evidence based on therapeutic treatment and refers to outside specialty behavioral health care, if needed. The BHC works closely with internal/external psychiatric and substance misuse treatment providers, and PHNTX medical team.

Responsibilities Specific Responsibilities of the Job:

• Facilitates integration of onsite or remote behavioral health care with outpatient HIV medical care and services, community and client services programs, substance misuse treatment providers and with the psychiatric providers. 
• Completes psychological assessments, diagnosis, and treatment for mental health and/or substance use disorders. 
• Develops and manages a treatment plan based on bio-psychosocial assessments. 
• Provides evidence based on therapeutic treatment and care and crisis intervention for patients diagnosed with mental health and/or substance use disorders. 
• Consults with psychiatric, substance misuse treatment providers and medical providers to promote client’s adherence to the treatment regimen and keeps them informed of potential barriers and concerns. 
• Conducts evidence based on therapeutic individual psychotherapy sessions as required.Conducts group therapy sessions focusing on high-risk behavior, recovery, and mental health/ substance abuse disorders. 
• Provides risk/harm reduction counseling and psychoeducation to clients in accordance with agency/program protocols. 
• Conducts community outreach to engage the population of focus as required. 
• Conducts brief screening for substance misuse, mental health, and co-occurring disorders for individuals testing positive in the community for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or viral hepatitis (VH) and existing clients receiving medical care at PHNTX. 
• Links clients who test HIV and/or VH positive to requisite care as per program protocols. 
• Links clients who test HIV negative and VH positive to requisite care as per program protocols. 
• Accesses supervision appropriately and regularly apprises behavioral health director about client concerns, problem areas and grievances and other challenges. 
• Follows all protocols, completes accurate and timely documentation of all clients’ encounters as required and submits all necessary reports to the behavioral health director on time. 
• Performs other duties as assigned by behavioral health director and program manager. 

Required Skills Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work in a positive and empathetic manner with individuals who have HIV. 
• Working knowledge of the medical, psychiatric medications and psychosocial complexities of HIV/AIDS and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.
• Working knowledge of hepatitis, STIs, and HIV. 
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations including the LGBTQ community.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written formats.
• Ability to conduct therapeutic group sessions. 
• Ability to conduct therapeutic individual psychotherapy sessions. 
• Ability to diagnose mental health and substance misuse disorders based on clinical assessment. 
• Ability to provide evidence based on therapeutic treatment. 
• Skills and experience in client counseling related to recovery, high-risk behaviors, mental health and substance use disorders.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with clients. 
• Ability to effectively collaborate with medical and other service providers. 
• Comfortable with technology and conducting sessions via telehealth, as required 
• Ability to build therapeutic relationships in a virtual platform, as required 
• Ability to work remotely, in a secure, private location, as required 
• Ability to network with community partners. 
• Demonstrated computer skills and proficiency in windows and Microsoft word software applications including Excel
• Must have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance. 

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in social work or related field and current state licensure – licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or licensed professional counselor (LPC) required. 
• Experience working with low-income clients, people living with HIV, and LGBTQ community. 
• Professional experience with trauma, depression, anxiety disorders, medical disability, cognitive impairment, and substance abuse. 
• Bilingual in Spanish is highly desirable.