A Mental or Behavioral Health Social Worker assesses and treats individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
To provide a broad range of services, including specialized mental health counseling, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention and case management, advocacy, and connecting clients with resources. Provide individuals, families, and groups with services to cope with challenges related to mental health, family dynamics, addiction, and social or economic hardships.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Evaluate client needs, mental health status, living situations, and support systems.
Treatment Planning:
Create and manage individualized care or personal development plans.
Counseling:
Provide supportive psychotherapy, talk therapy, or crisis intervention.
Case Management :
Coordinate patient or client transitions, discharge planning, and community referrals. This position utilizes a "warm handoff" model to address acute distress, chronic diseases management and substance use issues during medical appointments.
Advocacy:
Act as a liaison between clients, families, and multi-disciplinary teams.
Documentation:
Maintain accurate, timely case records and chart client progress in compliance with regulations.
Brief Interventions:
Deliver short-term, solutions-focused therapy (e.g., CBT, Motivational Interviewing) using a 15-30-minute appointment model.
Screenings:
Conduct universal screenings for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), substance use (AUDIT/DAST), and social needs. Use evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients manage life challenges and mental health disorders.
Crisis Management:
Provide immediate crisis safety planning, de-escalation, and risk assessment for suicidal ideation or trauma.
Chronic Disease Support:
Help patients cope with and manage chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, or HIV.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Education:
Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. Master of Arts, Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related field. Experience with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions preferred but not required.
Licensure:
Active State registration or licensure (such as an
