Behavioral Health Counselor MS

IU Health; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

IU Health in Bloomington, IN is seeking a Behavioral Health Counselor MS to support patients and families through emotional and psychosocial challenges. The role provides individual, group, and family counseling, conducts psychosocial assessments, and guides discharge planning as part of the care team.

This full-time day position emphasizes crisis intervention, collaboration with protective services, and utilization of evidence-based practices (CBT/MI/DBT) to deliver safe, coordinated care

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or related field.
• 0–3 years of relevant experience.
• License eligibility in Indiana (LCSW/LMHC/LMFT/LCAC) with permanent status upon hire.
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation skills.
• Knowledge of CBT, MI, and DBT.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual, group, and family counseling.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and discharge planning.
• Serve as contact for abuse, neglect, and protective services cases.
• Collaborate with care teams to coordinate episode of care.
• Provide mental health assessments on physician referral.
• Liaise with protective services and community resources.

Skills

Crisis intervention

De-escalation

Team collaboration

Evidence-based practice

Education

Master's Degree in mental health field

Tools

EMR system

MS Office

Job description

Position Title: Behavioral Health Counselor MS

Location: Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington, IN

Shift: Full-Time Day

Position Overview: The Counselor – Behavioral Health (MS) supports patients and families through the emotional, social, and psychosocial challenges of illness and treatment at Bloomington Hospital. This role provides individual, group, and family counseling, conducts psychosocial assessments, and guides complex discharge planning while serving as a key point of contact for abuse, neglect, and protective services cases. Working closely with the broader care team, the Counselor helps ensure patients and families receive timely, safe, and well-coordinated support throughout the episode of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitates patient involvement in the milieu of treatment and education.
• Performs functions of individual, group, and family counseling.
• Performs all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning.
• Communicates and collaborates with all members of the health care team to facilitate the episode of care so the patient receives services in a safe and timely manner, and the patient and family are provided all necessary resources and education.
• Interprets and communicates complex patient/family needs and role models caring practices to other caregivers.
• Assesses patients' and families' psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning levels, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to cope.
• Counsels patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability.
• Accesses and mobilizes family/community resources to meet identified needs.
• Provides mental health assessments of patients upon physician referral.
• Provides therapeutic intervention to facilitate complex discharge planning.
• Serves as the point person in child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Serves as liaison between Indiana University Health and state and county child and adult protective teams.
• Provides intervention in guardianship (temporary/permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health field such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field is required.
• Requires 0-3 years of relevant experience.
• Requires 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.
• Requires relevant health care, mental health, or community-based experience.
• Requires knowledge of the impact of the disease process and of human behavior to provide psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention to patients, families, and staff.
• Requires knowledge and implementation of relevant Evidence-Based Practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
• Requires knowledge of state and county adult and child protective legal mandates.
• Requires knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Requires the ability to maintain principles, practices, and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
• Requires the ability to provide a safe and therapeutic environment, including instruction of daily activities and programming.
• Requires basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Record and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Requires the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with the community, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/CPS, schools, probation, and other agencies as indicated.

Why IU Health?

Join Indiana's leading healthcare system committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care. We offer opportunities for professional development, a collaborative team environment, and a focus on improving community health.

Benefits Designed for You