MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR (REQ 3899)

POSITION PURPOSE:

Provide high quality, compassionate and ethical patient mental health services to Women’s Health Services patients. To provide mental health and wellness services to patients through and integrated mental health and primary care model (Women’s Health Services) setting.  This position will also serve in a key role for all Behavioral Health and Primary Care medicine grants.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

This position serves as a Mental Health Counselor and Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) within the integrated primary care model. The BHCM is at the heart of a strong collaborative care team, facilitating communication among all team members and acting as the lead contact person for the patient. The BHCM will support the PCP in their role by coordinating the overall treatment plan, providing brief psychotherapy, supporting medication management, alerting the PCP when the patient is not improving, and communicating with the psychiatric consultant regarding treatment changes. The counselor will be flexible and solutions oriented and have the ability to develop a therapeutic relationship with clients across the life span. Must be willing to work as a part of a women’s health team with other mental health specialists, Midwives, and OBGYNs. Possess a positive outlook and view working with individuals and their mental health challenges as a privilege.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

1. Current license as an LPC, LMFT, or LCSW in the state of Alaska. LCSW is preferred.
2. Collaborative agreement as a Counselor with South Peninsula Hospital
3. Ability to utilize CBT as a treatment modality
4. Ability to teach mindfulness and take a holistic approach to mental health care
5. Obtain and maintain licensure with the state of Alaska
6. Complete requirements to remain in good standing with the state of Alaska Board of licensing
7. Maintain eligibility with payer groups

 
EDUCATION / TRAINING / EXPERIENCE:

1. Master or doctorate in Counseling or Social Services in Clinical Social Work
2. Experience in the treatment of trauma using EMDR is preferable
3. Continuing medical education relevant to mental healthcare services
4. Ability to type and record accurate and comprehensive notes in patient records with an electronic health record system
5. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
6. Ability to work independently, but also collaboratively within a team environment
7. Mandatory online training provided by the AIMS grant are required, but will be provided after hire

ENVIRONMENT:

South Peninsula Hospital is a combined 22 bed critical access hospital, 28 bed long term care facility, orthopedic, mental health, and family practice clinics located at the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula. The environment is generally pleasant, clean and well maintained. The position requires sitting, interviewing patients, and typing for prolonged periods. Generally, physical demands are light and work is performed inside. The Counselor is exposed to people in pain and under stress, people with variable communication abilities, and the Counselor must be able to adapt to the dynamics of a variable patient schedule. Hours worked may include evenings or Saturdays to accommodate patient’s needs and help build a client base.