Description

Job Title: Counselor, LPC
Reports To: Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer
Classification: Full Time
Position Summary: The Counselor will provide guidance and instruction to foster emotional, physical and mental growth of clients through therapeutic intervention and positive role modeling. Assist clients in accordance with established Agency and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) guidelines. The Counselor is expected to meet the program's productivity target for billable service each week.

Requirements

Duties & Responsibilities:
Assists the primary care provider in recognizing, treating and managing mental health and psychosocial issues and acts as a contributing member to the primary care team; conducts Patient intakes, focusing on diagnostic and functional evaluations, then makes recommendations to the primary care provider concerning the Patients’ treatment goals and plan; provides brief, focused intervention for Patients who are in need of mental health services; advises the primary care provider about which Patients are better served at the primary care setting and which should be referred to specialty mental health facilities or elsewhere; initiates follow-up to ascertain how Patients are doing and to determine if any changes in treatment approaches are indicated; develops, where indicated, relapse prevention plans and helps Patients maintain stable functioning; assists in the detection of “at risk” Patients and in the development of plans to prevent worsening of their condition; monitors and coordinates the delivery of health services for Patients as related to behavioral health care, including linking with other treatment providers not only within the primary care setting but, with the Patients’ permission, outside it as well; documents the Patients’ progress and diagnostic information in the treatment chart; keeps the primary care providers fully informed of the Patients’ needs and progress and works with providers to formulate treatment plans; works, where indicated, to effect behavioral changes in Patients with, or at risk for, physical disorders and helps them make healthier lifestyle choices; provides Patients with self- management skills and educational information needed so they can be full participants in their own treatment and recovery; provides consultation to clinic management and other team members about behavioral services and suggested areas of outcome and program evaluation;
• Assists the Patients in complying with any medical treatment initiated by the primary care provider, such as offering strategies to cope with medication side effects; must adhere to the Code of Ethical Conduct for Clinical Professionals.
Qualifications: Minimum Master’s Degree in Social Work, or Clinical Counseling; current Georgia LPC, LCSW License; knowledge of mental health assessment, treatment planning, developmental psychopathology, systems and methods in family therapy, group therapy, child psychotherapy, DSM-IV diagnoses, and behavioral therapy; Bi-lingual English-Spanish or Asian language- English preferred; eligible to be a Medicaid and/or Medicare provider; mental and physical health sufficient to meet the demands of the position.
Knowledge/Skills: Thorough knowledge of the personal/social effects of various physical and mental problems on individuals, their families and the community; considerable knowledge of available community resources and of their organization, purpose and use; knowledge of
psychodiagnostic and psychotherapeutic techniques and theories; ability to assess the individual needs of a patient and evaluate the care and services provided to meet those needs; ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative relationships with professional staff, patients, their families and other agency and communitymembers; ability to maintain clinical records and prepare related reports; ability to work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary team setting; ability to express ideas effectively; ability to exercise judgment and make independent decisions based on professional knowledge.
Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required
Salary Range: Varies depending on experience
Work Hours: Varies