Behavioral Health Counselor

Summary:

Serves as active part of a multidisciplinary team that provides outpatient assessment and clinical treatment services to children, adolescents, families and adults who present with a wide range of significant behavioral health needs. Treatment is aimed at assisting individuals and families by helping them develop the skills necessary to improve their quality of life. 

Essential Responsibilities and Target Outcomes:

• Performs comprehensive intake assessment that results in diagnosis and recommendations for psychiatric and substance abuse treatment for children, adolescents, adults and/or families and assists with appropriate referrals and linkage to others services, if appropriate. 
• Develops achievable treatment plan goals with child, adult and or family; with measurable and behavioral objectives within designated timeframes. 
• Monitors treatment progress and provides updates within identified timeframes and as necessary 
• Performs individual, family and group treatment utilizing evidence based practices to facilitate positive strength-based change. 
• Collaborates and coordinates with external agencies such as schools, PCPs, DCF, probation, court and other social service agencies in a timely manner. 
• Responds to crisis situations and triages appropriately, communicating clearly with professionals, internal and external, to meet presenting client needs. 
• Secures reimbursement by obtaining authorizations, providing accurate documentation and the submitting progress notes in a timely manner. Completes documentation within designated timeframes as established by CMHA and external regulatory agencies. 
• Completes documentation within designated timeframes as established by CMHA and external regulatory agencies.  
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Principal Customers:
Children, Adults and/or Families referred to or seeking mental health and/or co-occurring treatment.

Critical Work Relationships:  
DCF, DSS, ABH, Probation, attorneys, substance abuse treatment centers, all area hospitals, visiting nurse, organizations, conservators, billing, department of Public Health, primary care physicians 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in behavioral health discipline  
• Must be in actively in a masters level program focusing on degree in behavioral health discipline 

Credentials and Licenses:  

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred CT 
• Driver’s License  

Experience:

• Successful experience working with the co-occurring population in individual and group treatment. 
• Beginner to intermediate experience with Microsoft Office products including Word and Outlook. 
• Experience in, or the ability to learn how to use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system which includes appointment scheduling, authorization tracking, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes and discharge summaries. 

Competencies:

• Knowledge of physical, medical, and pharmacological issues related to substance abuse. Educates clients on issues associated with chemical dependency treatment using a harm reduction approach 
• Knowledge of Mental Health Disorders and the evidence based treatment methods to treat the various disorders (CBT, DBT, EMDR, ETC…). 
• Ability to utilize the DSM-V and identify clinical diagnoses in formulation of appropriate Treatment for clients. 
• Excellent communication skills, ability to press ideas clearly and objectively orally and in writing as necessary. 
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality in accordance to CMHA policy, and state and federal regulations. 
• Awareness/sensitivity to all types of issues related to client diversity. 
• Effective interpersonal skills, ability to problem solve, use good judgment and work independently. 
• Flexibility and ability to adapt creatively to stressful situations.