Group Therapist

Group Therapist

Connections Wellness Group is committed to providing dynamic, holistically enriching mental health services. Our team of psychiatrists, counselors, and therapists are trained to foster lasting solutions for their patients through a variety of proven approaches, including individual and group therapy, full-service psychiatric care, and, where warranted, partial hospitalization programs. We are proud to offer premier telehealth and teletherapy services as an option for most of our programs. Quality of life is possible. Our team provides life-enriching care that connects clients back to what matters most while establishing a clear path to long-term wellness.

Job Type: Full-time - Exempt Job Schedule: 8:30AM-5:00PM, M-F Work Location: In person - Denton, TX

At Connections Wellness Group, our mission is to provide you with meaningful, life-improving mental health support to promote positive change for your overall wellness. We provide comprehensive mental health services and accelerated group therapy, including Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), designed to offer structured support and guidance during critical times. Our purpose is to create a safe and nurturing environment where individuals can develop coping mechanisms, build resilience, and rediscover their inner strength, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life. We believe everyone deserves access to quality mental healthcare, and we're dedicated to being a trusted partner on your journey.

Position Summary: The Group Therapist oversees the quality of care delivered to patients within the PHP and IOP levels of care. This role is responsible for providing group psychotherapy and counseling services to patients experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. Day-to-day responsibilities include facilitating psychoeducational and process groups, completing treatment plans and updates, and actively collaborating with a dynamic, multidisciplinary treatment team. The Group Therapist also assists in the development and implementation of a holistic, evidence-based curriculum focused on reducing symptoms, building essential coping and life skills, and supporting patients in reconnecting with what matters most while establishing a clear path toward long-term wellness.

Qualifications: Education: Master's degree in social work or counseling and relevant state licensure required. Experience: Prior experience working with psychiatric and chemical dependency populations is strongly preferred. License: Current unencumbered clinical license per state of practice guidelines. Additional Requirements: CPR certification and Avade training during orientation week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conducts individual and group therapy sessions to educate patients regarding psychological, emotional, or substance abuse problems.
• Displays active involvement in the treatment planning process.
• Displays active involvement in the discharge, transition, and after-care planning treatment process.
• As therapeutically necessary, provides family session counseling to patients to ensure appropriate communication and involvement of family members and support groups.
• Support with vital and UDS capture as needed.
• Actively communicates with clients, families, and outside referral sources, functioning within the scope of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2. Demonstrates proactive communication with those involved with the patient's treatment, documenting all correspondence held with patients and other stakeholders.
• Ongoing and consistent collaboration with the interdisciplinary team including physicians, utilization review and nursing staff members. Demonstrates active communication with team members.
• Effectively communicates to UR on treatment and LOS issues, supporting in UR functions/authorizations/denials as needed and requested.
• Completes appropriate paperwork for clients in a timely, accurate, and complete manner.
• Demonstrates appropriate crisis intervention and de-escalation skills. Acts as a member of the team when a crisis occurs, assisting others in ensuring patient safety.
• Enacts the code system per company policy and training.
• Completes accurate assessments of patients utilizing clinical skills. Assists the care coordination department as requested.
• Displays a thorough knowledge of confidentiality. Completes releases appropriately; Demonstrates knowledge of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations and abides by those standards.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of all clinical regulations and state and federal laws.
• Other duties as assigned by leadership.

Standards of Performance:

• Understands and adheres to facility compliance plan and code of conduct.
• Respects confidentiality at all times; follows HIPAA guidelines for disclosing information.
• Adhere to facility, department, corporate, personnel, and standard policies and procedures.
• Treats all patients, visitors, and co-workers with dignity and respect.
• Takes initiative to help the team, is flexible when asked to assist in other areas.
• Consistently demonstrates positive and affirming behaviors, even when addressing conflict or stressful situations.
• Demonstrates concern for the overall team and understands how actions affect others. Shows a positive attitude and contributes to maintaining an enjoyable and productive work environment.
• Does not engage in any unfavorable behaviors such as rumors, inappropriate conversations, etc.
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining a clean, safe environment. Demonstrates knowledge of the facility and services provided.
• Positively greets all customers and demonstrates sensitivity to customer's needs. Answers telephone appropriate to guidelines and avoid excessive transfers.
• Provides superior customer service while never crossing therapeutic boundaries.
• Demonstrates the ability to listen to patients/customers regarding problematic issues in a non-defensive manner.
• Adheres to attendance requirements. Utilizes the correct procedure for taking time off.
• Attends departmental and staff meetings as required.
• Is accountable and shows pride in work; strives to do more than the minimum required; Demonstrates initiative and completes work in a timely and accurate manner.
• Acknowledge mistakes and demonstrates a willingness to learn and correct them.
• Demonstrates passion and hustle in all work.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of facility policies and procedures.
• Must have excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills to effectively communicate ideas/problems/instructions (oral or written) with staff, employees, and Connections Wellness Group management staff.
• Ability to analyze situations, evaluate data, recommend/implement courses of action that would improve the functioning of systems/processes.
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to use sound judgment and uphold confidentiality.
• Ability to respond calmly and effectively in an emergency.

Please Note: This is a drug-free workplace. All candidates must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen and be willing to submit to a national background check. If interested in this position, please apply with a complete resume and work history.

Disclaimer: Applicants who have been patients of any program or provider at the facility are eligible for employment under the conditions outlined below: For private practice therapy and medication management, the applicant must have discontinued or transferred their treatment to a provider or providers outside of the facility. For PHP/IOP services, the applicant must have been discharged from the program at least 2 years before applying for employment.