Behavioral Health Counselor MS

OverviewPosition Title: Counselor – Behavioral Health (MS Entry-Level Licensed)Department: Behavioral Health ServicesLocation: Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, INShift: Full-Time Nights Position Overview: The Counselor provides essential mental health services within a multidisciplinary setting, focusing on patient involvement, education, and crisis intervention. This role involves individual, group, and family counseling, discharge planning, utilization review, and serving as a key liaison for cases involving abuse, neglect, guardianship, and high-risk situations. The counselor collaborates with healthcare teams, community agencies, and protective services to ensure patients receive safe, timely, and resource-rich care. The role also includes assessing psychosocial risk factors, supporting complex discharge processes, and mobilizing community resources to meet patient needs.Key Responsibilities: Facilitate patient involvement in treatment, education, and recovery through individual, group, and family counseling.Conduct psychosocial assessments evaluating prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping strategies.Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral; deliver therapeutic interventions including crisis and discharge planning.Support complex discharge planning, including guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health placements.Serve as the primary point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.Act as liaison between Indiana University Health, protective teams, law enforcement, and community agencies.Lead clinical interventions in high-risk situations, utilizing de-escalation and crisis management techniques.Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness/disability.Provide clinical supervision and model caring practices to other caregivers.Ensure a safe and therapeutic environment, instructing on daily activities and programming.Develop and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, law enforcement, schools, and social services.Qualifications & Requirements: Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field.Requires 0-3 years of relevant experience.License eligible in the state of Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC. Must have a minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A upon hire.Certification in crisis intervention may be required.BLS certification may be required.Knowledge of the impact of disease processes and human behavior for psychosocial assessments and crisis intervention.Knowledge and application of evidenced-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT).Familiarity with state and county legal mandates for child and adult protective services.Understanding of human development principles over the lifespan.Ability to utilize crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques effectively.Proficiency in Electronic Medical Records and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).Strong ability to develop and sustain collaborative relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and healthcare teams.We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.