Behavioral Health Counselor MS

Position Title: Counselor – Behavioral Health MS

Location: Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington, IN

Shift: Full-Time, Days

Schedule: Day shift; may include some evening hours until 7:00 PM to support the evening IOP group

Position Overview

The Behavioral Health Counselor supports patients and families at Bloomington Hospital’s Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center through individual, group, and family counseling. This role engages patients in the treatment milieu, completes psychosocial and mental health assessments, and leads utilization review and discharge planning so every patient moves through care safely and with the resources they need. Working closely with the multidisciplinary care team, the Counselor interprets complex patient and family needs and models caring practices for other caregivers.

This position also serves as a point person for abuse, neglect, and domestic violence cases, acting as liaison with state and county child and adult protective teams and providing intervention in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements. The Counselor applies evidence-based practices such as CBT, MI, and DBT, along with crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, to support recovery and promote safety.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate patient involvement in the treatment milieu and education programming.

Provide individual, group, and family counseling, including facilitation of the evening Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) group.

Perform all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning.

Communicate and collaborate with the multidisciplinary care team so patients receive safe, timely services and families have the resources and education they need.

Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring practices for other caregivers.

Assess psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, reaction to illness, and coping ability.

Counsel patients and families on the emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness and/or disability.

Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs.

Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral.

Provide therapeutic intervention to support complex discharge planning.

Serve as point person for child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence cases.

Act as liaison between IU Health and state and county child and adult protective teams.

Provide intervention in guardianship (temporary/permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health field such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field required.

0–3 years of relevant experience required.

License eligible in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC; minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A required upon hire.

Certification in crisis intervention may be required.

BLS certification may be required.

Relevant health care, mental health, or community-based experience required.

Knowledge of disease processes and human behavior to provide psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention to patients, families, and staff.

Knowledge and application of evidence-based practices, including CBT, MI, and DBT.

Knowledge of state and county adult and child protective legal mandates.

Knowledge of the principles of growth and development across the lifespan.

Ability to apply crisis intervention and de-escalation principles, practices, and techniques.

Ability to provide a safe and therapeutic environment, including instruction in daily activities and programming.

Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with the community, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/CPS, schools, probation, and other agencies.

About IU Health

IU Health is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, with nearly 40,000 team members, 16 hospitals, and $8.64 billion in operating revenue. Our programs in cancer, cardiovascular, neuroscience, orthopedics, pediatrics, and transplants are nationally recognized. In partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, IU Health combines research, education, and clinical excellence to improve health outcomes for Indiana communities.

Benefits Designed for You

• Indiana University Health has nearly 40,000 team members, including more than 3,600 physicians and 1,200 advanced practice providers, and we’re home to the largest nursing network in Indiana with more than 9,000 nursing team members at over 800 sites of care.
• IU Health is ranked No. 1 in Indiana by U.S. News & World Report, Riley Children's Health is ranked among the top children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
• A unique partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s largest medical schools – gives patients access to groundbreaking research and innovative treatments, and it offers team members access to the latest science and the very best training – advancing healthcare for all.
• With 15 hospitals, including seven with Magnet designation and eight with Pathways to Excellence designation, our team members are leading the way through excellence.
• At Indiana University Health, your personal and professional growth is a top priority. You will have access to many diverse opportunities to learn and develop in meaningful ways that matter most to you, such as advanced clinical training, leadership development, promotion opportunities and cross training development.
• Indiana University Health is invested in the lives of Hoosiers, leading the transformation of healthcare to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states.