Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Senior Licensed

Position Title: Behavioral Health Counselor – MS Senior Licensed

Location: Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, IN

Shift: Full-Time Night

Position Overview: The Senior Licensed Counselor provides comprehensive mental health services, including individual, group, and family counseling, within a hospital setting. This role involves conducting psychosocial assessments, facilitating complex discharge planning, and serving as a point person for abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and protective services cases. The Counselor leads crisis intervention efforts, supports staff development, and provides clinical supervision to interns and license-eligible staff. The position emphasizes maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and community agencies.

Key Responsibilities

Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions.

Perform utilization review and discharge planning in collaboration with healthcare teams.

Communicate and coordinate care to ensure timely, safe, and resourceful patient services.

Assess psychosocial risk factors and provide counseling on emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.

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

Provide mental health assessments based on physician referral.

Lead intervention in cases of child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence, coordinating with protective services.

Provide crisis intervention, including de-escalation techniques, for potentially dangerous situations.

Offer specialized services such as crisis intervention and addiction assessments, with recommendations for psychiatric referral or community resources.

Support end-of-life, guardianship, foster care, and adoption cases.

Serve as a clinical supervisor for interns (Bachelor’s and Master’s level) and license-eligible staff (LSW, LMHC-A, LMFT-A).

Utilize effective interviewing and intervention techniques with victims, perpetrators, families, and significant others.

Maintain accurate documentation in electronic medical records and ensure compliance with legal mandates.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with community, law enforcement, schools, and other agencies.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Master’s Degree from an accredited college in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field.

5–7 years of relevant experience post-Master’s degree.

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

Certification in crisis intervention may be required; BLS certification may also be required.

Knowledge of evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT).

Knowledge of state and county legal mandates for protective services.

Deep understanding of growth and development across the lifespan.

Ability to perform crisis de-escalation and provide a safe, therapeutic environment.

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

Excellent ability to develop and sustain strong working relationships with community and healthcare partners.

Why IU Health?

Join Indiana's leading healthcare system committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care. We offer opportunities for professional development, a collaborative team environment, and a focus on improving community health.

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.