Youth Outpatient Counselor

Position: Counselor-Youth Services Program

Department: Clinical

Education:Master’s Degree in social work or clinical counseling with licensure as an LISW, LSW, PC, or PCC in the State of Ohio. Clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.

Experience: 2-3 years assessment and counseling experience in a community behavioral health setting. Experience in working with youth with severe emotional disabilities and substance use disorders.

Qualifications: Counselors must demonstrate strong skills in applying counseling theory and technique as well as assessing mental and emotional disorders. They shall have the skills to develop appropriate treatment plans based upon needs presented by the consumer. Counselors shall have a working knowledge of community resources to which they can connect consumers in support of needs not addressed in counseling sessions. They must have the ability to manage and track many tasks simultaneously as well as demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, collaboration, mediation, patience, and organization. Counselors shall be open to the individuality of others and able to establish professional rapport. Demonstration of strong oral and writing skills is critical to the role. They must be able to effectively manage a caseload of consumers and strive to produce positive outcomes for those they serve. Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Word and Excel).

Immediate Supervisor: Youth Services Program Manager

Subordinates: None

Position Summary: Behavioral health counseling and therapy involves interaction with a person served in which the focus is on the assessment and treatment of the person's mental illness or emotional disturbance. Counseling and therapy shall consist of a series of time-limited, structured sessions that work toward the attainment of mutually defined goals as identified in the ISP. Behavioral health counseling and therapy service may be provided in a group setting or one to one with a client, in the agency or in the natural environment of the person served.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical:

1. Perform and update diagnostic assessments.

2. Engage in treatment planning which is clinically indicated according to the consumer’s presentation/ diagnosis.

3. Provide individual counseling or group counseling.

4. Apply counseling theory and techniques generally accepted by those in the counseling profession.

5. Maintain current knowledge of best practices and clinical trends within the field which support a recovery focus for consumers.

6. Coordinate and provide risk assessment, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and hospital pre-screening services if clinically indicated.

7. Provide follow-up counseling to consumers who may have experienced a psychiatric crisis or decompensation.

8. Demonstrate model fidelity when implementing evidence based practices.

9. Provide mental health education to consumers, families, or significant others as clinically appropriate.

10. Engage in care coordination with other departments of the agency to help consumers link with resources needed to be successful in the community whether it is treatment, housing, social supports, vocational, education, etc.

11. Actively participate as a member of a multidisciplinary team of behavioral health care clinicians.

12. Maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries with consumers.

13. Demonstrate respect for the individuality and diversity of the consumers served by the agency.

14. Consult as needed or required with other professionals in the community.

General:

1. Attend agency, department, staff, and supervision meetings.

2. Attend professional development in-services and continuing education as required by agency policy as well as professional licensure standards.

3. Abide by agency policy and procedures.

4. Complete required clinical and administrative documentation in a thorough and timely manner.

5. Actively participate in Quality Improvement activities as requested.

6. Demonstrate respect for the individuality and diversity of the consumers served by the agency.

7. Maintain a high level of professionalism and cooperative spirit in working with fellow staff, clients, and other professionals in the community.

The above listed responsibilities are not intended to be all inclusive and do not exclude any other functions customarily performed by a Counselor which may from time to time be requested by the immediate supervisor or the CEO. Work schedules may vary according to the need of the agency.

Work Environment: General Office

Physical Demands: While performing the essential duties of this job, an employee is regularly required to move about; communicate, convey and engage in conversation/discussion; and operate standard office equipment; write /create documentation; detect, recognize, perceive, and observe.

Employee must be able to perform these essential functions with or without a requested reasonable accommodation.

Alternative Paths, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Alternative Paths, Inc. does not discriminate based on ethnicity, race, gender or sexual orientation, and encourages all qualified individuals to apply.