Behavioral Health Clinician

At Wood River Health we appreciate the dedication and hard work of our staff. If you are looking for a great work environment with fantastic benefits, this is the place! We have an opportunity for a full-time, benefit eligible, Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician to join our team.

We offer a generous paid time off program, health insurance, flexible spending account, life insurance, retirement savings, tuition assistance, and much more! Wood River is a NHSC approved scholarship and loan repayment site!

About the Role

Our Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) Clinicians work with and are valued by the primary care teams at Wood River Health.

Collaborating directly with primary care teams to assess individuals with behavioral health and/or substance use issues, our IBH clinicians provide brief treatment services within the primary care setting, often starting with a warm hand-off from providers, and follow ups for patients identified as high risk of relapse to pre-treatment behaviors.

The IBH Clinician will expand the teams’ abilities to treat persons with chronic medical conditions that are complicated by lifestyle factors and/or behavioral health diagnoses.

Essential Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Provides primarily behavioral change counselling, assisting patients and families adapt to and manage new medical diagnoses in the context of their behavioral health histories.
• Triages both scheduled and immediate referrals from the medical teams, treating with brief treatment/intervention whenever possible, and referring to colleagues within WRH as well as outside for the most appropriate resources.
• Provides brief treatment interventions for mild to moderate behavioral health concerns as well as crisis intervention. Demonstrates competence in brief assessment, crisis management, triage, diagnosis, and mental health/substance abuse treatment within a brief solution-focused model (“IBH Model”)
• Conducts patient intakes both for Behavioral Health Services as well as medically Assisted Treatment, focusing on diagnostic and functional evaluations and makes recommendations to the primary care provider concerning the patients’ treatment goals and plan.
• Provides patients with self-management skills and educational information needed so they can be full participants in their own treatment and recovery.
• IBH Clinicians are encouraged but not required to offer and/or participate in group sessions for patients in need.
• Consults with primary care providers in real time to assist patients with psychosocial issues, typically in the form of a “warm hand off” during hours of clinical operation. Informal consultations and referrals from the primary care providers happen at other times as well.
• 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.
• Gives primary care providers timely feedback about the patient’s care, treatment recommendations, and progress via documentation in the patient’s electronic health record, verbal feedback, and attending Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) huddles for patients in active IBH care program(s).
• Works with our Behavioral Health Advocate to initiate follow-up of patients and to determine if any changes in treatment intensity are needed.
• Documents in the patients’ electronic health record in a complete and timely manner. All progress will be fully completed and signed within 48 hours of the encounter.
• Demonstrates customer-centered approach to treatment, as measured by respectful interactions with patients and their families, high patient satisfaction, and lack of patient complaints.
• Places high value on the treatment team, as measured by willingness to meet regularly, work collaboratively, and demonstrate flexibility when consulting with medical providers in the consultation and treatment of new patients, whether they are scheduled or referred as “warm hand-offs” or unscheduled emergencies.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of DSM V, as measured by thoroughness and accuracy of diagnostic formulations brought for review and presentation to the multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of effective treatment protocols for brief solution-focused interventions and necessary cultural competencies for treating children and adults with mental health / substance abuse issues, as well as chronic disease lifestyle management.
• Adapts therapeutic strategies to individual characteristics of the patient, including but not limited to, disability, gender, sexual orientation, developmental level, culture, ethnicity, age, health status as measured by return visits and patient satisfaction.

Minimum Qualifications

• Full, unrestricted Rhode Island licensure as an LICSW, LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT
• Masters level degree in Clinical Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related field
• Demonstrated competence in the areas of interdisciplinary care and program development/management required
• Previous experience providing direct clinical services, preferred
• Experience treating Substance Use/Addictions preferred
• CPR Certification, preferred

Skills

The Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician utilizes strong clinical assessment and diagnostic skills daily to identify client needs and develop effective treatment plans.

Communication skills are essential for building therapeutic rapport, conducting therapy sessions, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated care. Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities enable the clinician to adapt interventions based on client progress and emerging challenges.

Organizational skills are important for maintaining accurate documentation, managing caseloads, and complying with regulatory requirements. Additionally, cultural competence and empathy are applied consistently to provide respectful, client-centered care that acknowledges and values diverse backgrounds and experiences.