Group Counselor (IOP)

Group Counselor (IOP)

Comp: $30.00 - $33.00/hr with Bonus Structure

Schedule: 5:15am - 1:45pm (Remote Flexibility as needed)

Education: Bachelors or Masters level degree required

Licensure: LCDP, CADC, PADC required. (Assistance with Reciprocity)

Behavioral Health Group (BHG) is the largest network of Joint Commission-accredited treatment centers and the leading provider of opioid addiction treatment services. We are dedicated to helping individuals overcome substance use disorders. With over 116 locations in 24 states, our team of more than 1,900 employees serves over 42,000 patients.

Job Summary

The IOP Counselors emphasize delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to patients overcoming addiction, using a multidisciplinary approach that fosters hope, respect, and recovery. Responsibilities include individual and group counseling, admissions using ASAM criteria, and maintaining accurate, organized patient records while ensuring compliance with all regulations. Collaboration with the recovery care team and clinical supervisor is essential to empower patients to achieve their best functioning and address underlying health conditions.

Summary of Essential Job Functions

The key responsibilities of the IOP Counselor include but not limited to:

• Serve as the primary ambassador for the IOP program, representing its mission and values both internally and externally.
• Mobilize efforts internally by collaborating with clinical teams, case managers, and support staff to ensure smooth program operations.
• Support external efforts by engaging with referral partners, community organizations, and healthcare providers to build awareness of the program.
• Contribute to the development and growth of the IOP program, including assisting with new processes, program design, and implementation.
• Demonstrate a willingness to assist with outreach activities, including building and maintaining relationships with referral sources
• Provide input and feedback to leadership on strategies for increasing program visibility and effectiveness.
• Uphold professionalism and act as a positive representative of the program in community and professional settings.
• Prompt and regular attendance at an assigned work location.
• Ability to complete [or oversee the completion of] assigned tasks/projects in a timely manner.
• Inspire hope that addiction is not a moral failing but a mental disease that can be overcome
• Conduct BHG admissions using ASAM criteria to determine appropriate level of care assignment into the IOP program (ASAM Level 2.1)
• Review all program Admission and Periodic assessments to ensure that patients who meet criteria for ASAM 2.1 level of care are offered and/or referred to the IOP program.
• Meet with all prospective IOP patients to explain program involvement and requirements using motivational enhancement strategies
• In collaboration with program leadership (i.e., clinical supervisor and/or program director) develop clinical documentation (i.e., assessments, treatment plans) for all IOP clients that meet regulatory and billing medical necessity and prior authorization requirements
• Communicate effectively with billing and RCM teams regarding IOP patient program attendance
• Provide evidence-based counseling, TCM and empowering crisis support services to IOP patients to live their best lives
• Deliver IOP program curriculum consisting of the Matrix Model, Seeking Safety, and CBT sessions a minimum of 3 hours per day 4 days per week.
• Conduct supportive individual counseling sessions for all enrolled IOP patients
• Work with program teams to ensure patient full engagement in the IOP program and to conduct patient outreach efforts
• Develop additional clinical program interventions that meet the needs of specific IOP patients (e.g., parenting individuals)
• Enliven compassionate care and empower patients to realize their best level of functioning in the community
• Employ an individualized and multidisciplinary approach to care with all medical staff, supporting the "shared" patient with hope, respect and care
• Help patients identify and seek treatment for underlying mental and physical health conditions that perpetuate addictive behavior with a focus on progress and recovery
• Work in close partnership with the recovery care team and clinical supervisor while conducting individual and group counseling sessions as required; make referrals to case management services as appropriate
• Orient patients to the treatment program's services, operation and procedures; Provide intake/readmission services, including several weeks of supportive follow-up counseling for new patients until a primary counselor has been assigned
• Ensure patient records are up-to-date, accurate, complete and well-organized to meet state regulatory IOP requirements
• Comply with all regulations to include State and BHG requirements for quality patient care; respect confidentiality and privacy with the utmost reverence
• Additional responsibilities as required

Regulatory

• Responsible for complying with all federal, state and local regulatory agency requirements
• Responsible for complying with all accrediting agencies

Marketing and Outreach

• Participate in community and public relations activities as assigned.

Professional Development

• Responsible for the achievement of assigned specific annual goals and objectives
• Demonstrates the belief that addiction is a brain disease, not a moral failing
• Demonstrates hope, respect, and caring in all interactions with patients and fellow Team Members
• Establishes and maintains positive relationships in the workplace
• Can work independently and under pressure while handling multiple tasks simultaneously
• Makes decisions and uses good judgment with confidential and sensitive issues
• Deals appropriately with others in stressful or other undesirable situations

Training

• Participate in and provide in-service trainings as required by federal, state, local, and accrediting agencies
• Attend conferences, meetings and training programs as directed
• Participate in and/or schedule and attend regular in-service trainings

Other

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment

Qualifications

The IOP Counselor must have the following qualifications.

Requirements: Bachelors or Masters level degree required plus LCDP, CADC, PADC required.

Experience with outreach activities is preferred.

In addition to meeting the qualifications, the ideal candidate will embody the following characteristics and possess the knowledge, skills and abilities listed below:

• High integrity
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Sound judgment
• Efficient
• Self-starter
• Strong customer service and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and under pressure handling multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to make decisions and use proper judgment with confidential and sensitive issues
• Ability to deal appropriately with patient and team members in stressful or other challenging situations and to seek direction from supervisors when necessary
• Must be able to react quickly
• Ability to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and understanding of human behavior to show potential for rehabilitating drug dependent patients
• Must have sufficient knowledge of the substance abuse population, treatment planning and the field of human social services to work toward the rehabilitation of the patient

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of the requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job to the extent such accommodation does not create an undue hardship on the business.

• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes.
• Vision adequate to read correspondence, computer screen, forms, etc.
• Prolonged sitting, some bending, stooping or stretching
• Variable workload, periodic high stress and activity level
• Standard medical office conditions and environments
• Interactions with patients who may be ill, have infectious diseases, have mental health diagnoses and/or are