Provides diagnostic and therapeutic outpatient services to adults, children, and families.  Plans, organizes, and provides therapy services to clients whose level of functioning indicates they can benefit from outpatient therapy.

Therapist must complete paperwork per agency/setting policies and requirements of funding source. Provides oversight of therapeutic activities and coordination and linkage to other needed services.  Ensures continuity of care for high risk persons suffering from mental illness through direct clinical intervention, monitoring and advocacy functions

Must meet following criteria to reach Clinician Specialized status:

1. Holds specialized certification to treat specific behavioral health population such as trauma, grief, or personality disorder.
2. Provides group services a least twice a week. Group service topics will be identified through agency, community or health system need.

Employee will adhere to the Memorial Health System (MHS) Code of Conduct, the MHS Ethics and Corporate Compliance Plan, MBH policies and procedures, as well as performance standards established by the governing board/administration and accrediting bodies.

1. Direct Clinical Services
   1. Provide 25 billable hours per week to individuals/families/couples/groups within Behavioral Therapy Services.
   2. Develop initial comprehensive assessment data including clients’ presenting problems, mental status, relevant psychiatric, medical and developmental histories to make decisions regarding diagnosis (per DSM-V), treatment objectives and ongoing treatment plans and/or to provide information and make appropriate referrals to other treatment resources in the community.
   3. Implement crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal, or severely disabled clients. Make appropriate referrals to consulting psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric facilities to prevent further destabilization.
   4. Interview collateral contacts, previous and current treatment professionals, and significant others, to further establish a database for assessment and ongoing treatment plan as needed.
   5. Clarify priority problems, goals for change, and session limits according to agency policy to assist clients in developing appropriate expectations for treatment in relationship to the agency. Use a variety of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches and interventions to change targeted behaviors and stabilize adaptive behaviors with individuals, couples, and families.
   6. Manage the termination process and discharge planning to enhance clients’ abilities to retain treatment changes and/or use other available support services.
   7. May perform projective and objective psychological testing on patients of all age ranges, as assigned.
   8. May organize, plan, and participate in therapy groups for victims of sexual abuse and/or their families, as assigned
   9. Complete concurrent documentation at time of service with clients.
2. Client Information System
   1. Establish appropriate professional files, including: comprehensive assessments, progress notes, treatment objectives and plans, previous treatment records, clients' consent to current treatment and for exchange of information.
   2. Complete required administrative forms. Collect necessary information for billing and fee collection.
   3. Provide necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.
   4. May prepare necessary documents/reports for DCFS as needed.
3. Consultation/Networking
   1. Engage in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to best professional judgment and agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.
   2. Develop cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.
   3. Maintain weekly contact with DCFS caseworker for case review, as assigned.
   4. May provide expert testimony regarding child sexual abuse and/or supportive documentation as needed.
4. Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values:
   1. SAFETY: Prevent Harm - I put safety first in everything I do.  I take action to ensure the safety of others.
   2. COURTESY: Serve Others - I treat others with dignity and respect.  I project a professional image and positive attitude.
   3. QUALITY: Improve Outcomes - I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance.  I work with others to achieve superior results.
   4. EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste - I use time and resources wisely.  I prevent defects and delays.

5. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.