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Discovery Behavioral Health
Mental Health Associate Therapist
Entry-Level JobVerifiedNo experience needed
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What they do
A Mental Health Assistant provides basic care and assistance with daily activities to patients with mental illnesses or cognitive disabilities. Helps patients dress and eat, monitors patients' well-being, and restrains patients if they become physically violent. Works in hospitals or mental health care facilities.
$37,015 / year median in Virginia
+13% projected growth
Job Description
Position Summary:
The Associate Therapist works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Clinical Model. Therapist responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, providing milieu interventions, leading psychoeducational and process-oriented therapy groups, facilitate clinical assessments, conduct therapy sessions, and other case management tasks, as assigned.Essential Job Functions:
- Ensures clinical documentation is completed timely throughout the course of treatment. All documentation is required to be done at the time of service.
- Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families/loved ones.
- Facilitates admission assessments and the admission process for new patients with professionalism, courtesy, and a welcoming attitude.
- Understands role in providing expeditious access to care for individuals seeking services.
- Participates in weekly treatment team and communicates weekly treatment goals with all team members.
- Maintain a case load of 5-6 patients in RTC and 10-15 in OP level of care..
- Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patients' level of care.
- Facilitates process orientated and psychoeducation groups one to two times, daily in RTC and 2-4 times daily in OP.
- Required to sit at a meal and/or snack a minimum of once per week.
- Facilitates multi-family groups, family program, and/or family weekend.
- Provides utilization reviews to insurance companies, providing appropriate clinical information to obtain initial authorization and continuing stay authorization, as necessary.
- Is appropriately accessible to family members or loved ones. Returning all calls and emails within 2 hours during business hours of operations and 24-48 hours all other times.
- Assesses patients for suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.
- May provide additional clinical support for other members of the clinical team in their absence.
- Communicates with the Utilization Review Department and Business Department regarding authorization and payment.
- Begins discharge planning on day of admission for all patients.
- Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.
- Ensures discharge appointments are confirmed with patient and loved ones prior to discharge.
- Communicates with referral sources and outpatient providers for continuity of care upon admission, midpoint, and discharge.
- Facilitates patient transfers to higher level of care, as needed.
- Actively participates in clinical outreach and program tours, as needed.
- Effectively manages crises in sessions and the milieu.
- Provides support to milieu staff in their interactions with patients and their loved ones.
- Works collabo.