Behavioral Health Therapist

Description

The Behavioral Health Therapist serves as a key member of the Primary Care Team ensuring that KCHC patients receive appropriate mental, behavioral and emotional support services during and following their primary care clinic visits. Behavioral Health Therapist may assist primary care providers in any of the following ways:
Recognition and treatment of behavioral health disorders, psychological conditions and demanding chronic

medical conditions;
Early detection of at risk clients, with the goal of preventing further psychological or physical

deteriorations;
Prevention of relapses in chronic health conditions that tend to reoccur over time;
Prevention and management of addiction to pain medication, tranquilizers and/or other controlled substances;
Prevention and management of work and/or functional disability;
Obtaining benchmarked quality clinical outcomes with high prevalence behavioral health disorders;
Efficient and effective treatment and management of clients with chronic emotional and/or health problems;
Management of clients who use medical visits to obtain needed social support;
Improving the quality of primary care provider interventions with or without the aid of behavioral health

consultation;
Efficiently referring clients into appropriate behavioral health specialty care when appropriate.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Education:  Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Health Education or other related behavioral health field that will be accepted for licensure as listed below.
2. Experience: Minimum of one year Behavioral Health counseling required. Minimum of one year in primary care with working knowledge of concepts, practices and theory is strongly preferred.
3. Licensure/Certification:  Must possess State of Alaska Professional Licensure. Accepted Licensure iincludes - LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or LMSW
4. Preferred: Preferred experience or certification in PTSD, EMDR, and/or Marital Family Counseling.
5. Other Qualifications:

Communication:

• Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with all levels of staff personnel.

Collaboration:

• Team-oriented and able to work collaboratively with staff.
• Strong problem-solving and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, medical office environment with frequent interruptions, public contact, and occasional crisis situations.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with sensitive medical information and foster an ethical work environment.
• Ability and willingness to carry out responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Cultural Competence:

• Demonstrates complete understanding and responds effectively with sensitivity to special populations served by KCHC. Special populations include, but are not limited to, those defined by race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, sexual orientation, economic standing, disability status, migrant, homeless, seasonal workers, and the uninsured.

Attendance:  Regular attendance and punctuality is expected and required.

English Language:  Must be able to read, write, and speak English.