Job Description
Purpose & Scope:
A licensed Clinical Therapist will provide counseling services to patients individually and/or in a group setting, utilizing clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist individuals in achieving their established goals as outlined in their individual treatment plans resulting in achieving outcomes that are consistent with becoming sober and/or healthier in personal, physical, social, and psychological wellbeing.
"Apply clinical counseling principles, methods, and procedures," means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor's role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following:
Assessing and analyzing emotional conditions, exploring possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development, and/or substance abuse disorder, as applicable. It may include counseling, appraisal, consulting, supervision, administration and referral.
Engage in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders within the scope of all laws and regulations of the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
Provide training supervision for students and registered counselor trainees as requested by the program or unit director, when services are within their scope of practice, which does not include supervision of the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
Education:
Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or in an approved related field is required.
Experience:
Two years of behavioral health experience is required.
Certification/Licensure:
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) by the Virginia Department of Health Professions is required.
Other Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of providing care to individuals who may be emotionally disturbed, socially dysfunctional, behaviorally disordered, suffer from mental illness and/or substance use disorders, and their families
• As applicable, thorough knowledge of the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) standards and regulations and ability to apply ASAM criteria to each patient through documentation and their Individual Service Plan
• Thorough knowledge of community resources and human services networks
• Thorough knowledge of community-based behavioral health principles and evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment techniques
• Thorough knowledge of the theories and techniques of counseling and crisis intervention
• Thorough knowledge of intake techniques and procedures; ability to evaluate and screen clients; ability to prepare adequate records and to report findings and data effectively in line with all ASAM regulations under the Department of Behavioral Health and Disability Services (DBHDS) regulations in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, physicians, clients and their families, associates, community partners, medical personnel, law enforcement, State and Federal agency representatives and the general public
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the quality and appropriateness of social services furnished
• Responsibilities include but are not limited to participating in discharge planning arranging for follow-up care and developing mechanisms for exchange of appropriate information with appropriate sources outside the hospital
• Ability to ensure the provision of a robust therapeutic activities program that meets the needs and interests of patients and be directed towards restoring and maintaining optimal levels of physical and psychosocial functioning
• Provide robust comprehensive therapeutic activities consistent with each patient’s active treatment program
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Office of Human Rights (OHR) in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Physical Requirements:
Patient Care: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential function of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentials functions: The employee must possess physical capabilities in an amount equal to the physical demands made in the performance of the job by: Very hard work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Cope with the mental and emotional stress associated with this position. Operate office machines safely and in accordance with hospital Safety Standards. Push patients on stretchers, wheelchairs or beds from one area to another. Bending: lowering the body forward from the waist. Stooping: bending body forward and downward by bending legs and spine at the waist through use of the lower extremities and back muscles. Kneeling: bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee or knees. Crouching: bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine. Twisting: moving body from waist, using a turning motion. Reaching: extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. Standing: assuming an upright position, on the feet particularly, for sustained periods of time. Walking: moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances. Pushing/Pulling: using upper extremities to press or drag objects in a sustained motion of 30-50 pounds. Lifting: raising objects and people from a lower to higher position or moving objects or people horizontally from position-to-position through the use of the upper extremities and back muscles, of between 50-100 pounds. Repetitive Motions: sustained and continuous movements of the wrist, hands and/or fingers; Finger Dexterity: feeling and grasping. Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word those activities in which detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed accurately, loudly or quickly. Visual Acuity: the power to see at a level which allows reading of numbers and text, operation of equipment, inspections of machines, etc. Able to perform components of Basic Life Support if applicable.
Working Conditions:
Patient Care: Works in well-lighted/ventilated office/clinical setting. Subject to frequent interruptions. Subject to long hours, changing shifts. May be required to work beyond normal working hours when requested to do so, e.g., overtime, on call. Routine occupational exposure to infectious diseases, blood borne pathogens, bodily fluids, hazardous chemicals, noxious odors, latex, and/or musculoskeletal injuries. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed for instances of exposure to blood, body fluids and infectious processes, and are supplied by the hospital. Involved with patients, family members, co-workers, and visitors under all conditions, e.g., hostile and/or emotionally upset, disoriented or combative.