Behavioral Health Counselor MS

Behavioral Health Counselor MS

The Behavioral Health Counselor MS facilitates patient involvement in treatment and education within a multidisciplinary environment. This role involves conducting individual, group, and family counseling, performing utilization review, discharge planning, and collaborating with healthcare team members to ensure safe, timely, and effective patient care. The counselor acts as a liaison in cases of abuse, neglect, and domestic violence, and provides critical mental health assessments and interventions, including crisis management and de-escalation techniques.

Key responsibilities include:

• Facilitating face-to-face (or telehealth) individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
• Performing utilization review and discharge planning to support safe patient transitions.
• Collaborating with all members of the healthcare team to coordinate care, ensuring patients and families receive necessary resources and education.
• Interpreting and communicating complex patient and family needs; modeling caring and professional practices to staff.
• Assessing psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping abilities.
• Counseling patients and families on emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
• Accessing and mobilizing community and family resources to meet patient needs.
• Conducting mental health assessments upon physician referral.
• Supporting complex discharge planning through therapeutic interventions.
• Serving as the primary contact in cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Acting as a liaison between Indiana University Health and local protective agencies (APS/CPS).
• Maintaining principles and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation.
• Providing intervention in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.
• Delivering evidence-based practices such as CBT, MI, and DBT.
• Supporting individuals in crisis and supporting safety through clinical leadership and de-escalation techniques.
• Ensuring a safe, therapeutic environment and facilitating daily activities and programming.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications and requirements include:

• Education: Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: 0-3 years relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.
• Licensure: License-eligible in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC. Must have a minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A upon hire.
• Certifications: Crisis intervention certification required (may be obtained after hire). BLS certification may be required.
• Knowledge & Skills: Psychosocial assessment, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention expertise. Knowledge of evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT). Understanding of state and county protective legal mandates. Principles of growth and development across the lifespan, including end-of-life care. Ability to create a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct patients in daily activities. Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.

Located at Riley Hospital, with a focus on providing comprehensive mental health care.

Join our dedicated team and make a difference in the lives of patients through compassionate, expert behavioral health services.