Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Licensed

IU Health; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

IU Health seeks a Behavioral Health Counselor – MS, Licensed, to engage patients in treatment within a therapeutic milieu. The role includes individual, group, and family counseling, utilization review, and discharge planning.

The counselor will work with the health team to ensure timely, safe, and resource-informed services, using evidence-based practices and crisis intervention when needed.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a mental health field; Indiana licensure in a qualifying discipline.
• 3–5 years of clinical or community-based experience.
• Crisis intervention certification; BLS may be required.
• Familiarity with CBT, MI, DBT; knowledge of legal mandates for child/adult protective services.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate patient involvement in treatment plans and educational activities.
• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
• Perform utilization reviews and discharge planning for optimal care transitions.
• Collaborate with the healthcare team to deliver safe, timely, and effective services.
• Interpret complex patient and family needs and model professional practices for the team.
• Assess psychosocial risk factors and provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Counsel patients and families on emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness.
• Coordinate with protective services in cases of abuse or neglect.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Psychosocial assessment

Counseling (individual/group/family)

Interdisciplinary collaboration

EMR familiarity

Education

Master’s Degree in mental health field

Indiana licensure: LCSW/LMHC/LMFT/LCAC/HSPP

Tools

EMR systems

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Position Title

Behavioral Health Counselor – MS, Licensed

Shift

Full-time evenings, 2:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. (four 10-hour shifts per week), plus every 4th weekend

Location

Gateway Plaza

Department & Position

Behav Health - Virtual

Overview

The Counselor facilitates patient engagement in treatment and education within a therapeutic milieu. This role involves conducting individual, group, and family counseling sessions, performing utilization review, and coordinating discharge planning. The Counselor collaborates with the healthcare team to ensure patients receive timely, safe, and resource-informed services. They interpret complex patient and family needs, role model caring practices, and provide leadership in crisis intervention and safety management.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate patient involvement in treatment plans and educational activities.
• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
• Perform utilization reviews and discharge planning to ensure optimal care transitions.
• Collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to deliver safe, timely, and effective services, providing resources and education to patients and families.
• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring and professional practices to team members.
• Assess psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping skills.
• Counsel patients and families on emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
• Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs.
• Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral and provide therapeutic intervention for complex discharge planning.
• Serve as the primary contact in cases involving child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Act as liaison between IU Health and state/county child and adult protective teams.
• Provide 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 discipline.
• 3-5 years of relevant clinical or community-based experience.
• Current licensure in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP.
• Certification in crisis intervention (may be required).
• BLS certification (may be required).
• Knowledge of the impact of disease processes and human behavior to perform psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.
• Familiarity with Evidence-Based Practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
• Knowledge of state and county legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
• Understanding of growth and development principles across the lifespan.
• Ability to maintain principles, practices, and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation.
• Ability to provide a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct patients in daily activities and programming.
• Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, medical teams, schools, probation, and protective services.

Join Indiana University Health

Join Indiana University Health and help deliver compassionate, expert crisis assessment and mental health services in a flexible, virtual setting.

To learn more about our benefits, visit: IU Health Benefits

Indiana University Health Overview

Indiana University Health has nearly 40,000 team members, including more than 3,600 physicians and 1,200 advanced practice providers, and we’re home to the largest nursing network in Indiana with more than 9,000 nursing team members at over 800 sites of care.

IU Health is ranked No. 1 in Indiana by U.S. News & World Report, Riley Children's Health is ranked among the top children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

A unique partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s largest medical schools – gives patients access to groundbreaking research and innovative treatments, and it offers team members access to the latest science and the very best training – advancing healthcare for all.

With 15 hospitals, including seven with Magnet designation and eight with Pathways to Excellence designation, our team members are leading the way through excellence.

At Indiana University Health, your personal and professional growth is a top priority. You will have access to many diverse opportunities to learn and develop in meaningful ways that matter most to you, such as advanced clinical training, leadership development, promotion opportunities and cross training development.

Indiana University Health is invested in the lives of Hoosiers, leading the transformation of healthcare to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states.

Indiana University Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state. We’re looking for team members who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day.