Mental Health Therapist

Provides mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment and crisis intervention services for adult and/or child members who present themselves from psychiatric evaluation with a broad range of mental health needs. Collaborates with treating physician, psychiatric and allied health professional team to plan and direct each individual member treatment program.

• Develops, implements, coordinates, and evaluates clinical treatment programs for the diagnosis, treatment, and/or referral of Health Plan members with acute or chronic mental illness. Participates in staff conferences to select, plan, and evaluate treatment programs. Provides outpatient psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups.
• Instructs and counsels patients and their families regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens and adherence to prescribed medication regimens, within the scope of practice. May administer specialized therapeutic procedures, as appropriate. Provides appropriate support to members family. May develop and conducts psychoeducational classes and groups.
• Prepares intake summaries, treatment plans, and case summaries and maintains ongoing confidential records. Charts members treatment and progress in accord with state and NCQA regulations and in keeping with accepted community standards. May be required to participate in the department on-call rotation.
• Collaborates with physicians in screening and evaluating patients for psychotropic medications, within the scope of practice. Utilizes resources of public and private agencies and community organizations to meet the needs of the members treatment. May develop, implements, and evaluates behavioral medicine and health psychology programs in a variety of settings, including primary care. Provides consultation to other care providers and health educators on matters relating to mental health, health psychology and behavioral medicine.
• May supervise Post Masters Fellows, Associate Clinical Social Workers, Associate Marriage Family Therapists or Associate Professional Clinical Counselors as needed if supervision course is completed.
• May provide appropriate support to members family, including explanation of treatment, instructions in how to support treatment and interventions to increase acceptance of and adherence to treatment, at members request.
• Utilizes resources of public and private agencies and community organizations to meet the needs of the members treatment to include referral of the member and/or members family to external resources, as appropriate. Participates in departmental program development, implementation and evaluation.
• Reports safety concerns to mandated reporting agencies.

Secondary Functions:

• Position in Adult Psychiatry Division.

• N/A

• Masters degree in Social Work, Social Welfare from a clinical track, Clinical or Counseling Psychology or related field required from an accredited college or university.

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (California)

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (California)

• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (California) AND Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Couples and Families Endorsement (California) within 24 months of hire

• National Provider Identifier required at hire

• Must be familiar with DSM-V as a means of diagnosis.
• Has experience in assessing, diagnosing and treating a broad range of psychiatric conditions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge of social service agencies, state regulations, and professional board standards as is related to member treatment, patient rights, and member/patient confidentiality.
• May be required to participate in the department on-call rotation.
• Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice and psychotherapy research methods.
• Knowledge of the bio-psycho-social functions that contribute to mental health.
• Accuracy in diagnosing patients and developing effective treatment plans.
• Competence in individual, family and group psychotherapy.
• Professional maturity and ethical integrity necessary for assuming professional responsibilities.
• Commitment to quality of service, teamwork, and participation in a highly interactive multidisciplinary clinic.
• Ability to complete multiple tasks/objectives in a timely manner.
• Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.

• Previous post license, experience as a member of a psychiatric treatment team in an outpatient or inpatient setting/program under licensed supervision.
• Previous clinical responsibility to include crisis intervention, individual and group psychotherapy.
• Demonstrated professional maturity and ethical integrity necessary for assuming professional responsibilities, preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality of service, teamwork, and participation in a highly interactive multidisciplinary clinic, preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to complete multiple tasks/objectives in a timely manner, preferred.
• Accuracy in diagnosing patients and developing effective treatment plans, preferred.
• Competence in individual, family and group psychotherapy, preferred.