Behavioral Health Counselor MS

• Job Title: Counselor – Behavioral Health MS
• Location: Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
• Shift: Full-Time, Day Shift

Position Overview:

The Behavioral Health Counselor MS facilitates patient involvement in treatment and education within a multidisciplinary care environment. The role encompasses individual, group, and family counseling, along with clinical functions related to utilization review and discharge planning. The counselor collaborates with healthcare team members to ensure patients receive safe, timely services, and that patients and families are provided with necessary resources and education.

The position also involves assessing complex psychosocial needs and serving as a liaison in cases of abuse, neglect, guardianship, foster care, and mental health placements.

• Key Responsibilities:
• Facilitate face-to-face engagement with patients, providing psychosocial assessments, counseling, and therapeutic interventions.
• Perform functions related to utilization review, discharge planning, and care coordination.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with all members of the healthcare team to ensure safe and efficient patient care.
• Assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial risk factors, reactions to illness, and coping mechanisms.
• Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
• Access and mobilize community and family resources to meet patient needs.
• Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral.
• Provide therapeutic intervention to support complex discharge planning.
• Serve as the primary point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence; act as liaison with protective agencies.
• Support guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.
• Maintain principles and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Provide a safe and therapeutic environment, including instruction on daily activities and programming.

Develop and sustain strong working relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and other stakeholders.

• Qualifications & Requirements:
• Education: Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health field such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related discipline.
• Experience: 0-3 years in healthcare, mental health, or community-based settings preferred.

Licensure: License-eligible in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC. Must have a minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A upon hire.

Certifications

• Certification in Crisis Intervention or de-escalation techniques may be required or preferred.
• BLS certification may be required.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of psychosocial assessment, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.
• Understanding of the impact of disease processes and human behavior.
• Familiarity with Evidence-Based Practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
• Knowledge of legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
• Principles of growth and development across the lifespan.
• Ability to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment.
• Proficiency in Electronic Medical Record systems and MS Office applications.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop collaborative relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and healthcare teams.

Join our team and contribute to providing compassionate, comprehensive behavioral health care in a dynamic hospital environment.

Interested? Apply now to become part of Riley Hospital’s dedicated behavioral health team.

• 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.

Indiana University Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state.

We’re looking for team members who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day.