Behavioral Health Therapist

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

12/22/2024

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

840005B

Job Title:

Behavioral Health Therapist

FLSA Exemption Status:

Exempt

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY

The Behavioral Health Therapist functions as an independent provider while working collaboratively within a team environment, providing diagnostic evaluations and behavioral health interventions to adults, children, adolescents, and/or their families. Responsibilities include conducting integrated biopsychosocial assessments and developing treatment plans, conducting individual and group psychotherapy, making and coordinating referrals, and completing related documentation. Emphasis is placed on the provision of evidence-based and time-limited psychotherapy in conjunction with care delivered by other medical and behavioral health professionals. Depending on the setting, the focus may be on substance use, mental health, or co-occurring disorders. 

The Behavioral Health Therapist demonstrates an advanced level of clinical knowledge, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration, professionalism, and systems-based practice. This role works with administrative, nursing, physician, and faculty leaders to assure safe, effective, and quality patient care and to promote UW Health's educational and research missions.

The Behavioral Health Therapist provides care within their scope of practice as outlined by applicable state law, licensing, regulations, institutional policy, and practice agreements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Perform assessments to evaluate a variety of behavioral health conditions in children, adolescents, and/or adults.

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Determine the level of substance use or mental health disorder treatment needed for each patient based on appropriate diagnostic and patient placement criteria.

•

Develop individualized, patient-centered treatment plans based on the patient’s ability to participate, cultural concerns, and diagnostic impression.

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Conduct individual, family, and group counseling, utilizing methods consistent with evidence-based practice using a brief, focal model of care when appropriate.

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Support psychotropic medication management and monitor patients for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.

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Utilize outcome tools to determine patient progress.

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Coordinate patient care with psychiatric providers, primary care and other specialty providers, schools, and families via written and verbal communication.

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Arrange for appropriate care within the UW Health system or through outside providers as outlined in policies and procedures.

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Ensure that each patient’s rights are protected and comply with all procedures to protect patient safety and confidentiality.

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Participate in activities such as team huddles, staffing, clinical care conferences, morbidity and mortality conferences, or other quality improvement activities, utilization review activities, and trainings. Share expertise and clinical impressions with team members and trainees.

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Participate in training new team members, supervising trainees, and assisting other clinical staff as needed.

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Complete clinical and billing documentation in the UW Health electronic health record in a timely manner.

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Clinical

Will provide all patients age and culturally appropriate assessment/screening and interpretation of clinical and laboratory data. Develops and implements age appropriate interventional plans of care including education within the parameters of their position responsibilities and licensure

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Master's Degree

in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or other behavioral health related field

Required

2 years

of experience providing evidence-based treatment for a variety of behavioral health diagnoses for children, adolescents, or adults

Required

5 years

of experience providing evidence-based treatment for a variety of behavioral health diagnoses for children, adolescents, or adults

Preferred

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Upon Hire

Required

or

Licensed Professional Counselor

Upon Hire

Required

or

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Upon Hire

Required

and

Certified Sex Therapist through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)

within 24 months

Required

and

Basic Life Support/CPR

within 6 months

Required

and

Substance Abuse Counselor

Upon Hire

Preferred

or

Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor

Upon Hire

Preferred

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

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Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills

•

Excellent interviewing and assessment skills

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Strong ability to translate assessment information into a treatment plan

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Demonstrated success in working with a culturally diverse patient population and community

•

Demonstrated ability in managing stress and crisis situations

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Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team

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Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common behavioral health disorders

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Knowledge of legal guidelines relating to alcohol, drug, and mental health counseling

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Knowledge of local, state, and federal community resources available to patients

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Ability to work independently

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Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality

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Able to complete clinical and billing documentation in an electronic health record in a timely manner

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Professional demeanor

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

☒

Sedentary: Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10#

Negligible

Negligible

☐

Light: Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that they can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

up to 20#

Up to 10# or requires significant walking or standing or requires pushing/pulling of arm/leg controls.

Negligible or constant push/pull of items of negligible weight

☐

Medium: Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work.

20-50#

10-25#

Negligible-10#

☐

Heavy: Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If someone can do heavy work, we determine that they can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.

50-100#

25-50#

10-20#

☐

Very Heavy: Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If someone can do very heavy work, we determine that they can also do heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

Over 100#

Over 50#

Over 20#

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.