Therapist - Crisis Counseling

Position Summary:
Provides direct treatment, counseling, psychotherapy, and makes referrals for patients and families as an integral part of the multidisciplinary mental health team. Assists the treatment team through consultation so that the patient's psychosocial needs are recognized and met. Facilitates adjustment by the patient, family and significant others to promote maximal benefits for health care services provided. Provides continuity of care from the hospital to the community.

Qualifications:
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or Related Field

CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Illinois upon hire or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Illinois upon hire.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum three (3) years experience in related field with five (5) years preferred

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Sound knowledge of therapeutic skills. Experience providing clinical supervision to other members of the department, as warranted.

Essential Functions:

• Utilizes clinical assessment skills to determine significant psychosocial factors which contribute to the patient's disorder and precipitate dysfunctional behavior.
• Identifies dynamics of the patient and family's interactional patterns which reinforce and maintain dysfunctional behavior.
• Evaluates quality of patient and family support network in the community.
• Ascertains patient's history of illness, evaluates patient's functional level prior to admission and evaluates patient's ability to utilize effective coping strategies.
• Utilizes clinical expertise to provide patient and family with education and support to assist them in dealing with the disorder.
• Spearheads multidisciplinary treatment planning, bringing his/her expertise to assist in the diagnostic and treatment planning process.
• Has individual contact with patients to provide ongoing assessment of progress, discusses treatment issues which impact discharge planning and promotes insight development.
• Prepares all patient charts for multidisciplinary treatment planning meetings and documents against the Mental Health Interdisciplinary meeting record to ensure continuity of care against all disciplines.
• Provides psychoeducational classes based on unit needs and acuity.
• Meets with Mental Health staff at least weekly, individually and/or in groups, to review clinical care of patients currently hospitalized.
• Informs RNs, Leadership, psychiatrists of pertinent clinical information obtained via individual/group therapies or psychosocial assessments.
• Provides documentation of all casework activities per department standards.
• Attains quality management monitoring standards established by the department.
• Participates in Department Unit Council activities to promote professional growth and development, and participates in peer review.
• Utilizes clinical skills to promote patient and family satisfaction