Mental Health Therapist/Counselor - General Mental Health

Job Summary & Essential Functions

The Mental Health Therapist/Counselor provides therapeutic services and care coordination using individual, group, family, and evidence-based treatment approaches based on patient needs. Mental Health Therapists/Counselors conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, provide clinical interventions, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support whole-person wellness and recovery.

Using a strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, recovery-oriented, and patient-centered approach, the Mental Health Therapist/Couonselor promotes patient engagement, symptom reduction, improved functioning, and positive health outcomes through integrated behavioral health services.

Mental Health Therapists/Counselors may be assigned to one or more specialty populations, service lines, or care settings. Program assignments and responsibilities may change based on organizational needs and may include General Mental Health (GMH), Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Birth to Five/Early Childhood Services, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other specialty programs.

Clinical Assessment & Treatment Planning

• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments, reassessments, screenings, and evaluations to identify patient needs and determine appropriate levels of care.
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments, annual reassessments, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

Develop, implement, and update individualized service plans, safety plans, crisis plans, and treatment interventions.

Assign diagnoses and formulate clinical recommendations consistent with licensure, credentialing, and organizational standards.

Monitor patient progress, acuity, and treatment outcomes, adjusting interventions as clinically indicated.

Therapeutic Service Delivery

• Provide individual, family, and group therapy utilizing evidence-based and trauma-informed treatment approaches.
• Deliver specialty interventions and services based on program assignment and clinical competency.
• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, stabilization, and care coordination.
• Provide psychoeducation, skill development, crisis intervention, stabilization, and therapeutic support to patients and families.
• Maintain a clinically appropriate caseload while meeting quality, productivity, and service expectations.

Care Coordination & Collaboration

Coordinate care with patients, families, medical providers, psychiatric providers, schools, community agencies, and other stakeholders to support integrated, whole-person care.

Participate in Child and Family Team (CFT), Adult Recovery Team (ART), interdisciplinary staffing, and treatment planning meetings.

Facilitate continuity of care through referrals, transitions, discharge planning, and coordination of services.

Assess and address social determinants of health and barriers impacting patient wellness and treatment engagement.

Documentation, Reporting & Compliance

Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical documentation in accordance with agency, payer, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.

Complete required assessments, screenings, treatment updates, and outcome measures within established timelines.

• Adhere to documentation standards, productivity expectations, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain compliance with Arizona Vision, the 12 Principles, and applicable behavioral health regulations.

Patient & Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships that support patient engagement, recovery, and treatment participation.
• Utilize culturally responsive, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches in all patient interactions.
• Engage caregivers, family members, and natural supports in treatment planning and service delivery as clinically appropriate.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in supervision, training, credentialing, and professional development activities.
• Contribute to quality improvement, committee work, program development, and organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrate ethical, professional conduct consistent with Valle del Sol’s mission, values, policies, and standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Career Levels

Mental Health Therapist I

• Performs core therapeutic services under routine clinical supervision.
• Develops proficiency in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, documentation, and clinical intervention.
• Manages routine and moderately complex cases while building clinical competency.
• Seeks consultation and guidance for complex clinical presentations, risk concerns, and treatment challenges.
• Participates in onboarding, supervision, and professional development activities.

Mental Health Therapist II

• Independently provides therapeutic services with minimal clinical support.
• Manages moderate-to-high complexity patients and families across a variety of behavioral health needs.
• Demonstrates sound clinical judgment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and care coordination skills.
• Participates in multidisciplinary staffing, case consultation, and quality improvement activities.
• Assists with onboarding, peer support, and mentorship of newer clinicians.
• Supports specialty program initiatives and evidence-based practice implementation.

Mental Health Therapist III

• Serves as an advanced clinical resource and subject matter expert.
• Provides services to highly complex, high-risk, or specialty populations.
• Demonstrates advanced competency in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and clinical consultation.
• Provides mentorship, coaching, and support to Mental Health Therapist I and II staff.
• Supports program development, workflow improvement, specialty service delivery, and quality initiatives.
• May assist with onboarding, training, peer consultation, and special projects based on organizational needs.

Program-Specific Responsibilities

The following responsibilities may apply based on departmental assignment:

• General Mental Health (GMH)
• Provide outpatient individual, family, and group therapy services to children and adults.
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments, annual reassessments, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
• Maintain a clinically appropriate caseload based on patient acuity and program expectations.
• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, stabilization, and care coordination.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment planning and team meetings.
• Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
• Provide therapy and recovery-oriented services to individuals designated as Seriously Mentally Ill.
• Coordinate care with psychiatric providers, hospitals, RBHA representatives, and community partners.
• Support transitions following hospitalization, crisis episodes, residential treatment, or incarceration.
• Assist patients with housing, benefits, transportation, employment, and community resource needs.
• Participate in ART meetings and recovery-focused service planning.

Birth to Five

• Conduct developmental screenings and age-appropriate behavioral health assessments.
• Provide attachment-based, dyadic, and caregiver-focused therapeutic interventions.
• Conduct services in homes, childcare settings, preschools, and other natural environments as appropriate.
• Collaborate with caregivers, DDD, AzEIP, schools, pediatric providers, and community partners.
• Support healthy child development, caregiver-child attachment, and family functioning.
• Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program
• Provide counseling services for substance use and co-occurring disorders.
• Complete assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning, and recovery planning.
• Facilitate individual and group counseling utilizing evidence-based substance use treatment practices.
• Coordinate care with medical providers supporting medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
• Support relapse prevention, recovery maintenance, and community reintegration.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Provide Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) services utilizing evidence-based interventions consistent with the DBT treatment model.

Conduct assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning, risk assessments, and safety planning for individuals participating in DBT services.

Facilitate individual therapy, DBT skills training groups, and other program-specific interventions based on patient needs and program assignment.

Collaborate with psychiatrists, case managers, care coordinators, primary care providers, and other interdisciplinary team members to coordinate comprehensive patient care.

Participate in DBT consultation team meetings and maintain fidelity to the DBT treatment model through ongoing training and adherence to program standards.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Master's degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Addiction Counseling, or a related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.

Preferred

Specialized coursework or training in trauma-informed care, integrated healthcare, child and family services, substance use treatment, or evidence-based practices.

Experience

• Required:
• For purposes of job classification and compensation placement, experience is measured based on applied clinical experience at the employee's current licensure level.
• Mental Health Therapist I
• 0-2 years of applied experience at the licensure level
• Mental Health Therapist II
• 2-5 years of applied experience at the licensure level
• Mental Health Therapist III
• 5 or more years of applied experience at the licensure level
• Additional experience requirements may appear in program section.

Preferred

Experience providing behavioral health services in community behavioral health, substance use treatment, or early childhood settings.

• Experience facilitating individual, family, and group therapy.
• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations.

Qualifications

Required:

Active Associate-Level or Independent-Level license in good standing through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (LAC, LMSW, LAMFT, LAAC, L