Mental Health Counselor, 40 Hours (Days/Evenings)

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Lead Behavioral Health Counselor, the Behavioral Health Counselor will provide counseling services to patients who are being withdrawn from alcohol and/or other drugs either in the inpatient or outpatient units of the Medical Center.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Evaluate patients' level of addiction using the biopsychosocial assessment, develop and implement treatment plans for each patient.
• Counsel patients individually and in group sessions.
• Educate patients about addiction and recovery including relapse prevention techniques.
• Clearly and concisely document patients' history, progress and aftercare treatment planning.
• Acquire and deliver specialization components within our addition treatment program.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings to monitor progress and discharge planning.
• Involves family members and/or significant others in the recovery process, including support and participation in sober living arrangements, aftercare programs, outpatient therapy programs, etc.
• Encourages patients in decisions about aftercare treatment - providing information about available resources for post-treatment.
• Liaison with MD's nurses and other health care personnel and referral sources within and outside the medical center to ensure that both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction are addressed.
• Supervises assigned student interns in their clinical practice on Substance Abuse Unit

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in counseling psychology, Social Work, or Behavioral Science and at least 2 years of training and/or clinical experience in substance use and/or mental health counseling; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Specialized cognitive-behavioral knowledge, training, experience preferred.
• Experience with dual-diagnosis population

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

• De-escalation Certification within 1 month of hire
• BLS required or obtain within 1 month of hire

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS PREFERRED

• Massachusetts LMCH/LICSW
• Prefer CADAC/CAS/CAC/CRC
• Current Massachusetts Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of dual-diagnosis populations.
• Must be able to collaborate and communicate with referring agencies, such as EAP professionals, private practitioners, probation officers, halfway house staff, primary care doctors, community mental health agencies
• Familiar with Patient's Bill of Rights.
• Able to make clinical assessments and interventions autonomously.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans