Behavior Health Counselor Intern - Temporary - Closes 04/28/2025

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for managing internal and external referrals to the Behavioral Health (BH) department, providing general information about the process of becoming a patient to interested parties, improving interdepartmental communication within UIHS, providing outside resources to patients currently being seen in the Behavioral Health and Medical Department.

Behavioral Health Counselor - Intern works with complex and high-risk needs with a goal of engaging the consumer in the treatment process, decreasing their reliance on higher levels of care, helping them to access appropriate community services, and assisting them in improving their ability to seek help. 

The Behavioral Health Counselor - Intern will function as part of the Behavioral Health Integration(BHI) program and is a part of the Primary Care team that assists medical providers with supporting patient wellbeing. The BHI will provide biopsychosocial assessments, brief solution-focused behavioral health interventions, crisis management, and referral services to adults and children affected by emotional, mental, and/or substance abuse difficulties, or other behaviorally impacted medical conditions. The treatment approach will take place in a collaborative setting of medical providers, behavioral health staff, substance use disorder counselors, as well as other support staff. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides support to medical providers and UIHS staff by assisting with warm hand offs.
• Provides on-going supportive and/or case management functions assisting other BH clinicians to equip their patients with needed internal and external resources. 
• Partner with designated external providers, programs, entities to address the needs, gaps in care, and recovery goals of complex and high risk consumers 
• Identify high-risk, co-morbid needs of consumers 
• Establish and foster positive relationships with medical team, participate in medical-behavioral integration activities and discussions 
• Identify and remove barriers to procurement, delivery, participation in and success of services 
• Participates in reciprocal education with other providers to support integration of peer support and recovery principles within provider teams. 
• Provides an orientation to services for individuals in need of services. 
• Documents all service contacts on a timely basis including face-to-face interviews, collateral and networking contacts, correspondence and maintains the case records in accordance with agency and regulatory standards and requirements. 
• Work with Substance Use Department (SUD) to screen mental health referrals and facilitate SUD and BH collaboration. 
• Assist consumers and their families/caregivers with connections to appropriate psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial referrals and services 

• In collaboration with a licensed counselor and under the supervision of the Behavioral Health Manager, provide direct behavioral health services to individuals, groups, children and families.  
• Develop theoretical orientation consistent with personal style of therapy and appropriate to clients served.
• Provide crisis counseling as needed, including in the primary care clinic. 
• In collaboration with a licensed counselor, provide specialized counseling groups or classes, on topics such as parenting, depression, grief, anger management, self-esteem, youth groups or other topics within the scope of skill and training. 

• Participate in weekly case consultation meetings.
• Maintain client electronic health records in a complete and timely manner, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes and other reports and/or statistical data as required by the law, section and agency.
• In collaboration with a licensed counselor and under the supervision of the Behavioral Health Manager, appropriately diagnose, assess and make efficacious treatment recommendations based on client’s clinical presentation and symptoms.

• Include clients in all aspects of treatment, including development of treatment plan and goals.  Utilize a strength based model.
• Utilize strategies and interventions pertinent to individual clients, including, but not limited to, culturally relevant practices, traditions and preferences.
• Refer clients to additional treatment, services or support, as indicated. Coordinate services with referring agencies as needed.
• Collaborate actively with community providers, as approved by clients, to ensure optimal health and wellbeing, and achievement of treatment goals.  
• Attend section, organizational, and other assigned meetings. 
• Adhere to UIHS Communication Norms and Guiding Principles, accreditation and compliance standards/guidelines.

• Abide by all legal and ethical standards of the profession including as dictated by state, federal, accrediting and licensing body guidelines.
• Performs other training and job related activities requested by the Behavioral Health Manager. 

• Maintains a professional organized clean working environment by following organizational policies, guidelines, and safety standards.
• Assists in development of departmental policy, procedures, and quality improvement activities within the clinic as directed
• Performs other duties as assigned by the BH Manager which are consistent with the position and in compliance with agency policies and procedures. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  All individuals must demonstrate a commitment to the provision of culturally sensitive counseling services to American Indians.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Educational degrees must be from a US Department of Education accredited school.

COMPUTER OPERATIONS
 

• Proficient personal computer skills including electronic mail, record keeping, routine database activity, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, etc.
• Ability to work with Electronic Health Records is required.