Counselor, Behavioral Health (Licensed)

Job Title: Behavioral Health Counselor - Licensed

Reports To: Supervisor, Behavioral Health Counseling Program

Job Summary: Provides comprehensive, evidence-based behavioral health counseling services - including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and psychotherapy - to individuals, families, and groups served by CCHCI, working collaboratively with primary care providers, psychiatric providers, and counselors to deliver integrated, whole-person care.

Qualifications and Requirements

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Job duties may be modified at any time based on business needs.

Essential Job Duties

• Provides and manages care to children (ages 6-11), adolescents (ages 12-17), and adults (ages 13+).
• Diagnoses behavioral health and substance use disorders per appropriate DSM-5 and ICD-10 standards.

Conducts comprehensive intake assessments, including biopsychosocial history, presenting concerns, and risk assessment, to establish diagnostic impressions and inform the plan of care.

Develops individualized, measurable treatment plans in collaboration with clients, grounded in evidence-based practice and client-identified goals.

Provides counseling and treatment services within the scope of practice defined by the clinician's specific license (e. g., LCSW, LPC, LMFT, LIAC).

Provides individual, family, and/or group psychotherapy using evidence-based modalities appropriate to the clinician's training (scope of competence) and client need (e. g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma-focused approaches, solution-focused therapy, etc.).

• Monitors and documents client progress toward treatment goals and adapts interventions as indicated.
• Completes and maintains timely, accurate clinical documentation in the electronic health record.

Assesses risk and provides intervention and safety planning for clients experiencing acute distress, suicidal or homicidal ideation, or other urgent behavioral health needs.

Participates in multidisciplinary care team meetings and case conferences with psychiatric providers, case managers, and other agencies to coordinate integrated, whole-person treatment.

• Advocates for client needs and supports shared decision-making between clients and their care team.
• Provides ethical, culturally competent, trauma-sensitive, recovery-oriented, evidence-based care.
• Participates in Behavioral Health team meetings and quality improvement activities, including chart audit/peer review processes, as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Required Minimum Qualifications - Education, Experience, Certificates & Licenses:

Master's degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a closely related behavioral health field from an accredited program.

Current, active, unrestricted independent license to provide behavioral health counseling issued by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Independent Addiction Counselor (LIAC), or another independent behavioral health license approved by CCHCI.

Scope of clinical practice, supervision requirements, and continuing education obligations are governed by the clinician's specific license type and the applicable licensing board.

Completes continuing education requirements and maintains active, unrestricted licensure in good standing with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

• Driver's License and Proof of Insurance may be required if requesting mileage reimbursement.
• Valid Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Preferred Qualifications – Education, Experience, Certifications & Licenses:

One year of experience providing direct client care in a behavioral health or integrated primary care setting strongly preferred.

Experience with evidence-based treatment modalities such as CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, or trauma-focused therapies.

• Experience serving rural, underserved, or culturally diverse populations.
• Experience with electronic health records and telehealth service delivery.

Required Language Skills

Ability to comprehend and compose instructions, correspondence, and communications in English in both oral and written format.

Ability to effectively present clinical and educational information in one-on-one, small group, and multidisciplinary team settings to patients, internal providers and staff, and other agency staff working in cooperation with the organization.

Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred, but not required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to occasionally exert enough force to move objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to continuously remain in a stationary position.

Ability to constantly move about inside the workplace to assist patients, operate office or medical equipment, etc.

Possesses hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to constantly operate computers, telephone, and other office machinery.

Possesses close visual acuity necessary to accurately record and view information on a computer monitor, handwritten and typed documents.

Ability to discern the nature of sounds at a normal spoken volume.

Other Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all measures, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret graphs.
• Ability to skillfully gather and analyze data.
• Ability to perform a variety of assignments and make decisions requiring considerable independent judgment.
• Displays a high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive care principles.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and safety planning practices.
• Familiarity with AHCCCS/Medicaid behavioral health documentation requirements.
• Knowledge of health plans and community health centers preferred.
• Computer literacy required.
• Knowledge of Electronic Health Records preferred.
• Ability to develop and present educational programs and/or workshops.
• Ability to prioritize and plan work activities, use time efficiently, and develop realistic action plans.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary care team.

Work Environment & Conditions

Work environment is typical of a health clinic setting with occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, and hazardous chemicals.

Work requires reliable transportation, as the position requires frequent travel and extended hours to include early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Work requires the ability to be contacted by cell phone during or outside of regular work hours.

When providing services via telehealth, must maintain a private and secure setting consistent with client confidentiality requirements.