Behavioral Health Therapist (School & Clinic Based)

Your Valued Contributions:

Provides behavioral health services for student patients, their parents and/or legal guardians. Assesses patients' with mental health and/or psychological issues, creates care plans, and manages care plans with a care team of primary care providers. Conducts student/patient intakes, focused on diagnostic and functional evaluation, makes appropriate mental health treatment recommendations to the primary care providers, and establishes positive rapport with patients. Provides brief, focused intervention for patients as necessary, including but not limited to substance abuse issues. Provides individual, family, and group counseling. Provides episodic counseling services to children in acute crisis. Consults with school staff on the behalf of patients as appropriate. Assists in the detection of "at risk" students/patients and in the development of plans to prevent worsening of their condition. Communicates with other care team members, including providers, regarding patients' health as necessary. Advises primary care provider on which care settings best serve the needs of the patient. Follows-up with all patients and adjusts treatment plans as necessary. Refers patients to internal health center providers and resources as well as external providers and resources. Assists patients with, and refers patients to, appropriate public benefits, vocational rehabilitation, social support, housing and other appropriate community resources. Provides patients with education regarding their care plans, any mental disorder self-management techniques, and any coping mechanisms for medication side-effects as necessary. Utilizes motivational treatment methods with students/patients with, or at risk for, physical disorders and helps them make healthier lifestyle choices. Assists students/patients in complying with any medical treatment initiated by the primary care provider, such as offering strategies to cope with medication side effects. Acts as the school resource for behavioral health. Serves as a representative for the health and mental well-being needs of students at agency-based and school meetings. Strengthens the partnership between AHC, the school, and students and families by participating in new student and parent orientation and other school activities, including treatment groups. Provides educational sessions on various mental health topics, including parenting. Acts as the health center resource for behavioral health. Provides training and assistance in the techniques/practices of tasks. Leads group discussions, problem solving and project activities as necessary. Provides behavioral health management consultation and training to clinic management, providers and other staff as appropriate. Maintains all appropriate reports, charts, and documentation, including patient progress and diagnostic information.