Licensed Professional Counselor

Job Summary:

The Licensed Professional Counselor will perform a wide range of duties tailored to meet the unique socio-economic and therapy needs of our patient population. Provides behavioral health consultation to children, adolescents, adults, and families to enhance psychosocial function. Provides comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of behavioral health clients; Provides effective treatment planning and assisting clients in successfully achieving goals; Evaluate crisis situations and apply appropriate interventions. Actively participate in meetings that support SEMRHI integrated health care model to provide comprehensive care for clients; Assist in the detection of "at risk" patients and development of plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration; Assist the primary care team in developing care management processes such as the use of guidelines, disease management techniques, case management, and patient education to improve self-management of chronic disease; Support patients to follow all PCP recommendations, help the treatment team (PCP's & Patient) monitor treatment progress, and refer Patients to their PCP for questions, side effects, and compliance regarding PCP recommendations. Provide assessment, consultation, and brief intervention for psychological/psychiatric problems; and/or disorders; Teach patients, families, and staff care, prevention, and treatment enhancement techniques; Identify problems related to patient services and make recommendations for improvement. The Licensed Professional Counselor must utilize a growth and development knowledge base in the care of children (pediatric), adolescent, adult, geriatric, and HIV patients. Demonstrates knowledge and skills to appropriately communicate and interact with the staff, patients, families, and visitors of all age groups, while being sensitive to their cultural and religious beliefs.

Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct accurate assessment of the psychosocial situations of patients and their families, relying on appropriate theories, past experiences, information from the patient/family, and collaboration with other health professionals. Consider age-related aspects of patient/family situations (infant, child, adolescent, elderly) during assessment.
• Implements individual, family, and/or group sessions for clients with a mental health diagnosis.
• Convey and maintain a therapeutic relationship with patients and families within a group or individual setting
• Working knowledge of assisting patients/families in identifying psychosocial problems
• Demonstrate the ability to assist patients/families in planning an appropriate course of action to resolve identified problems
• Participate in encouraging a healthy expression of feelings/emotions to patients/families
• Assist patients/families in implementing the chosen course of action to resolve identified problems, including assistance in accessing, and appropriately using community resources, and advocating on their behalf when necessary
• Accurately documents assessments, diagnoses, plans, observations, and recommendations in a timely, and meaningful manner adhering to policy and procedure, including home and/or field visits when necessary
• Conducts and maintains an effective working relationship with other health professionals
• Effectively collaborates/communicates/coordinates with other health professionals and appropriate entities during assessment, planning, and implementation
• Participates in conferences and seminars to maintain a professional working knowledge
• Maintains an effective working relationship with community agencies and services
• Prepares necessary referrals to appropriate alternative agencies and follows up with patients to assess the effectiveness of services to which they were referred
• Knowledgeable of and adheres to patient confidentiality
• Adheres to agency policies as well as to the Code of Ethics
• Demonstrate the ability to de-escalate a crisis situation and perform necessary risk assessment
• Develop treatment goals/objectives with the client and determine alternate treatment methodologies
• Perform related job duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

• Master's degree from an accredited school
• Active License and certification required
• Ability to organize required tasks
• Cooperate with others, following policy and procedures
• Relate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other health professionals and the general public
• Ability to become familiar with community agencies and their policies and procedures
• Ability to assess and diagnose behavior, psychological problems and plan/carry out appropriate interventions

Physical and Other Requirements:

• Continuously listen, visualize, and have dexterity and eye-hand coordination
• Have a full range of body motion
• Frequently sit, reach, use both right and left forearm rotation, walk, stand, kneel and twist
• Have the ability to grasp firmly, lift, and carry 10 to 20 pounds