Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Licensed

Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Licensed

Position Title: Counselor – Behavioral Health (MS Licensed)

Location: Bloomington Hospital

Address: 727 West 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47403

Shift: Full-Time, Day

Position Overview: The Counselor facilitates patient engagement in treatment and educational activities within a supportive, therapeutic environment. This role involves providing individual, group, and family counseling (outpatient therapy preferred), conducting intake assessments, supporting discharge planning, and performing utilization reviews. The Counselor works collaboratively with the healthcare team to ensure patients receive timely, safe, and resource-appropriate services. Additionally, the Counselor assesses psychosocial risks, interprets complex needs, and acts as a liaison with community and protective services to promote patient safety and well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

• Facilitate patient involvement in treatment, education, and recovery processes, including outpatient therapy.
• Conduct intake assessments, individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
• Support outpatient therapy services, with experience in individual and group therapy preferred.
• Perform psychosocial assessments to evaluate prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping abilities.
• Provide therapeutic interventions and mental health assessments upon physician referral.
• Support complex discharge planning to ensure safe and appropriate patient transitions.
• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring practices to colleagues.
• Access and mobilize community and family resources to meet identified needs.
• Serve as the point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Act as liaison between IU Health, state and county protective teams, and other agencies.
• Provide intervention in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health placement cases.
• Maintain and implement evidence-based practices such as CBT, MI, and DBT.
• Maintain knowledge of legal mandates related to protective services and principles of growth and development across the lifespan.
• Ensure a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct patients in daily activities and programming.
• Maintain proficiency in Electronic Medical Records and MS Office applications.
• Develop and sustain collaborative relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and healthcare teams.
• Utilize crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to ensure safety and stability.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Master's Degree from an accredited institution in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field. Indiana license in good standing as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP. 3-5 years of relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience. Certification in crisis intervention may be required. BLS certification may be required. Strong knowledge of psychosocial assessment, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention. Familiarity with evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT). Knowledge of legal mandates related to child and adult protective services. Understanding of human development principles over the lifespan. Ability to maintain a safe environment and employ de-escalation techniques. Proficiency in Electronic Medical Record systems and MS Office. Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, law enforcement, schools, and healthcare teams.

Additional Benefits & Opportunities:

Outpatient therapy experience (individual and group) is preferred. Reimbursement of up to $500 annually for Continuing Education Credits. Up to 5 days off annually for Continuing Education Days (not PTO-based).

Join Our Team: If you are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families through compassionate, evidence-based care, we invite you to apply. Join Bloomington Hospital's dedicated team and help us deliver exceptional behavioral health services.

We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.