Behavioral Health Therapist Behavioral Health Unit/Full-Time

POSITION SUMMARY:  Provides behavioral health clinical services for patients across a variety of settings, including the hospital, emergency department, primary care and ambulatory behavioral health offices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:  At a minimum, a Master's Degree in Social Work or Counseling is required

CERTIFICATION/LICENSES:  A provisional license in the State of New Mexico as a LMSW or LMHC. Completion of prevention and management of aggressive behavior course within 2 months. BLS within 6 months.

SKILLS: 

• Ability to work independently on own accord and initiative, yet as a team member
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Advanced behavioral health assessment and referral skills
• Ability to deal with all types of patients with behavioral health conditions
• Understanding of crisis intervention theory, case management, and referral process
• Knowledge of psychopathology and ICD-10 diagnoses
• Ability to coordinate with multiple departments and community resources to reach interdisciplinary treatment goals.
• Provide evidence based solution focused therapeutic interventions
• Ability to develop and lead therapeutic groups such as cognitive behavioral, psychoeducational, DBT and supportive therapy sessions
• Formulates treatment plans in conjunction with rest of treatment team
• Ability to assess clients in an emergency situation and initiate transfer to higher level of care when needed.
• Flexibility with job assignments
• Ability to read, write and communicate verbally in English.

EXPERIENCE: Previous experience working in a human services agency preferred.

NATURE OF SUPERVISION: -

  Responsible to: Director or designee, BHS

ENVIRONMENT:

- Bloodborne pathogen B

Multiple simultaneous activities around patient care.  Exposure to infectious diseases and intermittent exposure possible to blood, excrements, odors and noise.  Work area has normal heat, light, and air.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Emotional and physical ability to cope with stress and physical nature of inpatient work with behavioral health patients; possibility of emergency lifting and need for physical interventions.  Must be able to handle emergency/crisis situations, prolonged, extensive or considerable standing/walking. Has knowledge of and uses good body mechanics. Frequently lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfers patients or equipment. Ability to work in crisis and potentially hazardous situation(s). Hearing and visual acuity within normal limits.  Manual dexterity and fine motor coordination required.  Is scheduled to be on-call, and expected to work on short notice and on an emergency basis.