Address
Form of workEating Disorders Counselor
FTE: 1.0
Shift: First
Position Summary:
The Eating Disorder Counselor provides evidence-based, best practice clinical treatment interventions for clients 11 years of age and older who have Eating Disorders (EDO) and other co-morbid mental health difficulties. In group therapy and individual psychotherapy, the Eating Disorder Counselor will provide psycho-education about the contributors and treatment of Eating Disorders, and will explore and challenge EDO thoughts and behaviors in a non-judgmental manner. The Eating Disorder Counselor will teach new coping strategies using Dialect Behavioral Therapy, Radically-Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and other evidence-based therapies to replace the EDO.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Contributes to the development, implementation, and coordination of the standardized Eating Disorder Group Curriculum. Assists with program management and development as needed.
- Assists in overseeing the inpatient, PHP, EDO IOP, and residential EDO treatment protocols and serves as a liaison between the EDO team and the units.
- Provides staff training, including formal didactic and staff shadowing/supervision as well as informal staff coaching on effective communication and behavioral management of eating disorder patients.
- Provides assessment, consultation, group, and individual psychotherapeutic treatment for patients with Eating Disorders in PHP, EDO IOP, inpatient, and on residential units.
- Participates in RODBT consultation team.
- Provides shadowing/supervision for EDO psychology and social work interns on group curriculum and individual psychotherapeutic treatment. Assists interns in creating their group schedules and learning about evidence-based therapies used in eating disorder treatment.
- Coordinates with the ARC manager/Intake team on creating daily EDO census spreadsheets of hospital EDO census, referrals, and waitlist patients.
- Facilitate companion meals with patients with Eating Disorders.
- Leads a group of inpatient/residential MHSes in collaborating on EDO protocol, behavioral management, staff orientation/trainings on each unit.
- Provides clinical orientation on EDO protocol for new employee hires.
- Coordinates with the Clinical Educator on providing staff trainings on EDO protocol, behavioral management, companion meals, and documentation.
- Coordinates with the Clinical Educator on creating/updating Education Day EDO materials and quizzes for unit staff.
- Develops and leads parent EDO support group once a week.
- Gathers objective and subjective data for preparation of a weekly report to the Eating Disorder team during multidisciplinary rounds.
- Gathers objective and subjective data for preparation of inpatient and residential multidisciplinary rounds as clinically indicated.
- Leads community events, such as, National Eating Disorders Awareness week and Weight Stigma Awareness Week. Brainstorms and develops ideas for Awareness week movie night and fundraising events.
- Maintains clinical records in compliance with LCOH and CCHMC policies and regulatory standards
- Clinical Judgment - The Eating Disorder Counselor monitors an ED patient's emotional status to ensure well-being and safety.
- Identifies emergency situations or eating disorder behaviors occurring on the patient care units or in PHP and EDO IOP. Responds to the emergency situation with immediate attention and in a controlled and skilled manner.
- Gathers objective data and observation about the patient via clinical observation, review of the medical records and discussion with nurses and other treatment providers. Reports objective data and shares clinical impressions in weekly Eating Disorder treatment rounds.
- Differentiates between normal and abnormal observations.
- Shares clinical impressions and reports changes in patient status to Physician, Therapist, Registered Nurse or appropriate staff member.
- Assess patient for risk of aggression or treatment-interfering behaviors
- Maintains a calm healing environment
- Patient Care
- Identifies issues of customer service. Acts to resolve customer service issues within available options. Refers complex and unresolved issues to the appropriate staff.
- Maintains integrity and confidentiality of information.
- Supports the philosophy of family – centered care, recognizing the individual needs of the family. Supports family involvement in the care of the patient and supports family presence.
- Collaboration
- Displays a positive team oriented team attitude and behavior.
- Demonstrates quality patient care consistent with ED Protocol
- Involves patient and family in the care process
- Engages in individual & purposeful interactions with patients and involved others.
- System Thinking
- Participates in the organization wide quality measures. Implements actions that result in continuous improvement of quality and compliance. Demonstrates knowledge of and participates in departmental and organizational performance improvement
- Demonstrates the routine use of LCOH encrypted e-mail system.
- Demonstrates adherence to policies and procedures and the ED protocol during daily practice.
- Complies with all regulatory agency standards.
- Ensures proper reporting of unusual occurrences
- Response to Diversity
- Demonstrates the ability to recognize cultural differences in the patient/family population.
- Uses the resources available to educate self to the different cultures encountered and then demonstrates the ability to work with/family to incorporate their differences into educational and other therapeutic interventions.
- Provides services with respect for human dignity and uniqueness unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes or the nature of the health problem.
- Presents information to patients and involved others utilizing age specific principals.
- Assesses patient/family ability to comprehend information.
22. Clinical Inquiry
- Assures that an ethical framework has been used when making decisions for or acting on behalf of the patients.
- Seeks further training on latest research based methods of treatment of Eating Disorders and related comorbid conditions. Implement changes in practice based on research findings
- Participates in self-evaluation and identifies own learning needs in order to acquire and maintain current knowledge in behavioral health practice.
- Contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and others.
- Participates in organizational wide performance improvement measurements.
23. Facilitator Learning
- Continuously participates in learning opportunities to develop and expand a knowledge base on treating Eating Disorders.
- Applies learning and experience to patient care, both in groups and individual settings.
- Knowledgeable about treatment plan and completes interventions identified in the plan for each assigned patient.
- Develops, coordinates, and implements standard Eating Disorder Groups Curriculum.
- Conducts designated groups within the program using the EDO Group curriculum.
- Reports any actual or potential situation that impacts patient safety.
Position Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field
- Currently holds valid clinical license
- Minimum of two (2) years recent, related experience within a mental health care environment
- Demonstrated expertise in Eating Disorders and Mental Health individual and group supportive psychotherapy is considered an asset
- Knowledge of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT)
- Advanced interpersonal skills and the ability to understand the feelings, concerns and needs of other people, demonstrate care and interest towards them and establish and maintain productive relationships
- Must have flexible eating behaviors to be able to eat companion and mirror meals with patients with Eating Disorder diagnoses.
- Demonstrated advanced ability to be flexible and adapt to change
- Demonstrated advanced ability to be self-directed and motivated, and to work independently and as an effective team member
- Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) in order to interact with a wide range of individuals
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Advanced problem solving and decision making skills
- Understanding of medical and health care terminology
- Demonstrated computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Electronic Medical Records and Internet
- Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to patient and staff safety at LCOH.
- Ability to enthusiastically follow and model the Lindner Center of HOPE mission and vision and values
- Must be willing to work some day and evenings hours to facilitate groups. Demonstrated ability to attend work on a regular basis
Physical Requirements:
To effectively care for patients candidates must be able to push, pull and lift up to 50 pounds on a regular basis and be able to stand or walk about 90% of work shift. Must be able to see, talk and hear coworkers, patients and others.
