JOB TITLE: Mental Health Counselor DEPARTMENT: Health

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt CATEGORY: Professional

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies
• Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships.
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
• Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.
• Collect information about clients through interviews, observation and tests.
• Act as client advocates in order to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
• Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Meet with families and other interested parties in order to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.
• Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.
• Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives.
• Monitor clients' use of medications and work with medical provider on medication management.
• Implements counseling case management for assigned patients. Provides group and individual therapy.
• Assesses, collaborates and coordinates patient's discharge planning needs and readiness for discharge with other members of the care team.
• Work in partnership with local departments to meet mental health needs of community.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Therapy or similar field.
• Prefer two years of work experience in mental health counseling setting.
• Must have Iowa license in Mental Health (LMHC), Social Work (LSW, LISW), or Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT), Psychology (LP).
• Possess knowledge of principles methods, and procedures for diagnosis and treatment for mental health.
• Possess experience with counseling clients of all ages.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong ability to work independently and complete documentation in timely manner.
• Experience in partnerships to ensure client's needs are being met.
• Flexibility and adaptability within an evolving service and processes.
• Adhere to HIPAA confidentiality guidelines.
• Must pass background check.

SUPERVISION:

• Will be supervised by the Behavioral Health Director.

SALARY LEVEL:

• Salary Range: DOQ