Job Description
Description SUMMARY The Mental Health Counselor will counsel individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. The Mental Health Counselor will help individuals deal with thoughts of suicide; addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; problems with self-esteem; and issues associated with aging and mental and emotional health.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
- Counsel’s clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes. Maintains confidentiality of records relating to client’s treatment.
- Guides clients in the development of skills and strategies to deal with their problems. Encourages clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives and helps them develop insight into themselves and their relationships.
- Collects information about clients through interviews, observations, and tests. Prepares and maintains treatment records and reports.
- Evaluates the client’s physical or mental condition based on the review of client information. Develops and implements treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge. Acts as a client advocate to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- Other duties as assigned
COMPETENCIES (KSA’s)- Ethical Practices
- Judgment
- Relationship Management
- Emotional Intelligence
- Empathy
- Professional Boundaries
- Global and Cultural Awareness
- Critical Evaluation
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Crisis Management
- Technical Capacity
Qualifications REQUIRED EDUCATION - High School Diploma or equivalent
- Preferred, bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field.
- Preferred, CASAC-T or be working toward a degree or certification in the field.
Required Experience - Six (6) months to one (1) year working with a vulnerable population (e.g., OPWDD, OMH, psychiatric clinic or community -based residential setting).
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, and cultures and their history and origins.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
- An ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with mentally or emotionally disabled persons and their families is a must.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - This job operates in an indoor office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties and responsibilities.
- Regularly required to sit, use hands to type, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.
- Frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel or crouch and lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
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