Behavioral Health Counselor MS Licensed

Position Title: Behavioral Health Counselor - MS Licensed

Location: Methodist Hospital – Indianapolis, IN

Shift: Part Time Nights

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Counselor provides individual, group, and family counseling while engaging patients in the treatment milieu and education. This role conducts psychosocial and mental health assessments, leads utilization review and complex discharge planning, and partners with the care team to ensure patients receive safe, timely care and that patients and families have the resources and education they need.

The Counselor serves as the point person for abuse, neglect, and domestic violence cases and acts as IU Health’s liaison with state and county child and adult protective teams. The position also supports guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements, applying crisis intervention and de-escalation skills to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitate patient involvement in the treatment milieu, education, and daily programming.

Provide individual, group, and family counseling.

Perform all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning.

Collaborate with the multidisciplinary care team to ensure patients receive safe, timely services and that patients 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 regarding the emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness and disability.

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

Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral.

Deliver therapeutic intervention to facilitate complex discharge planning.

Serve as the 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.

Apply crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment.

Qualifications

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.

3–5 years of relevant experience required.

Current Indiana licensure as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP required.

Certification in crisis intervention may be required.

BLS certification may be required.

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

Knowledge of the disease process 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.

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

Proficiency in crisis intervention and de-escalation principles, practices, and techniques.

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

Basic proficiency in electronic medical records and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Ability to develop 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.