Mental Health Crisis Counselor

Summary:

Master's or doctoral-level BHS clinician to provide outpatient behavioral health services to clients in Lowell CHC’s Behavioral Health Department, which provides clinical treatment, including 1:1 therapy, to individuals with behavioral health issues or disorders.

Responsibilities:

• Provide therapy in the primary areas of PTSD and depression, but may also include anxiety, grief, domestic violence, relationship difficulties, parent-child problems, acculturation issues, or serious mental illnesses, including but not limited to substance abuse.
• Complete all clinical documentation in Epic per Health Center standards.
• Meet direct care standards as determined by the BHS Department.
• Complete mandatory reporting, including, as needed, reporting of abuse and/or neglect of children, the elderly, or the disabled.
• Initiate referrals for substance abuse treatment, coordination of services, ongoing case management of complex cases (including working with DCF and the courts), and crisis intervention in cases of patients with suicidal or homicidal ideation, including consultation with medical staff and assistance in sending patients to the ED if necessary.
• Provide consultation to medical providers on mental health issues, as well as collaborate with them in the holistic care of the patient.
• Actively participate in MDT, team meetings, and other staff and community meetings as necessary and appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Experience with or interest in working with individuals who may be victims of abuse or suffering from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, personality, thought, or other behavioral health disorders.
• Experience in individual counseling in an outpatient setting is required.
• Ability to appreciate and work with a culturally diverse population.
• Good organizational skills and comfort working in a team-based, collaborative setting.
• Bilingual is a plus but not required.
• A master’s or doctoral degree in mental health counseling or social work is required.
• Licensed in MA-LICSW, LMHC (or LMHC-eligible), LADC1, LMFT, LCSW, psychologist.
• CPR certification is required.

Work environment:

Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses, and other department staff. Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs. Occasional stress and pressure are caused by multiple simultaneous demands. May be exposed to various body fluids and/or infectious diseases. Universal precautions and techniques are included in orientation, and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.

Benefits:

Lowell Community Health Center offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefits program; including sick, personal and paid holidays, health insurance, company paid life and long-term disability, 403B, & flexible spending accounts.

Lowell CHC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.