Intake Therapist

Strive-Recovery; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, Dental & Vision

Vacation plan

Paid Time Off

401K retirement plan

Positive work environment

Staff appreciation

Job summary

Strive Recovery in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking an Intake Therapist to be the first clinical contact for prospective clients. You will perform timely biopsychosocial assessments, evaluate safety risks, determine service needs, and facilitate admission, referral, or crisis planning.

The role requires strong therapeutic communication, accurate documentation, and collaboration with admissions, medical providers, and treatment teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field.
• Active clinical licensure or eligibility for supervised practice (LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LMHC, LMFT, etc.).
• Experience in clinical assessments, crisis evaluations, or intake screenings in behavioral health.
• Knowledge of mental-health diagnoses, substance-use disorders, trauma-informed care, and levels of care.
• Strong communication, documentation, organization, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to stay calm and empathetic in high-pressure situations.
• Proficiency with EHRs and standard office software.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial clinical screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and mental-health or substance-use evaluations.
• Assess presenting concerns, psychiatric history, substance-use history, trauma exposure, medical needs, family/social supports, and functional impairment.
• Complete suicide-risk, self-harm, violence-risk, abuse/neglect, withdrawal, and other safety assessments in accordance with agency policy and applicable law.
• Determine clinical appropriateness and recommend the appropriate level of care, including outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, inpatient, crisis stabilization, or external referral.
• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and de-escalation when needed.
• Explain program services, treatment expectations, financial/insurance requirements, confidentiality practices, and next steps to clients and families.
• Coordinate admissions, transfers, referrals, and continuity-of-care arrangements with internal departments and outside providers.
• Obtain, verify, and document relevant consents, releases of information, insurance information, and clinical records.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely electronic health record documentation, including assessments, risk evaluations, disposition decisions, and referral follow-up.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, nurses, case managers, utilization-review staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Communicate professionally with hospitals, physicians, schools, employers, community agencies, and referral partners while protecting client confidentiality.
• Participate in on-call, evening, weekend, or holiday coverage as assigned.
• Stay current on program criteria, payer requirements, ethical standards, mandated-reporting duties, and relevant state/federal regulations.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Crisis evaluation

Documentation

Communication

Empathy

EHR proficiency

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology

Tools

EHR systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

We are committed to transforming lives through compassionate, evidence-based behavioral health and addiction services. As we grow, we are seeking dedicated professionals who are ready to elevate care and make a difference every day.

Position Summary

The Intake Therapist serves as the first clinical point of contact for prospective clients and referral sources. This role completes timely, compassionate, and clinically sound assessments to determine service needs, evaluate safety risks, establish appropriate levels of care, and facilitate admission, referral, or crisis-response planning.

The Intake Therapist combines strong therapeutic communication with accurate documentation, clinical judgment, and knowledge of community resources. The position works closely with admissions, medical providers, utilization review, and treatment teams to support a smooth transition into care.

Shift: 1st shift Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct initial clinical screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and mental-health or substance-use evaluations.

• Assess presenting concerns, psychiatric history, substance-use history, trauma exposure, medical needs, family/social supports, and functional impairment.

• Complete suicide-risk, self-harm, violence-risk, abuse/neglect, withdrawal, and other safety assessments in accordance with agency policy and applicable law.

• Determine clinical appropriateness and recommend the appropriate level of care, including outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, inpatient, crisis stabilization, or external referral.

• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and de-escalation when needed.

• Explain program services, treatment expectations, financial/insurance requirements, confidentiality practices, and next steps to clients and families.

• Coordinate admissions, transfers, referrals, and continuity-of-care arrangements with internal departments and outside providers.

• Obtain, verify, and document relevant consents, releases of information, insurance information, and clinical records.

• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely electronic health record documentation, including assessments, risk evaluations, disposition decisions, and referral follow-up.

• Collaborate with psychiatrists, nurses, case managers, utilization-review staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Communicate professionally with hospitals, physicians, schools, employers, community agencies, and referral partners while protecting client confidentiality.

• Participate in on-call, evening, weekend, or holiday coverage as assigned.

• Stay current on program criteria, payer requirements, ethical standards, mandated-reporting duties, and relevant state/federal regulations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical, Dental & Vision plan
• Vacation plan
• Paid Time Off
• 401K retirement plan
• Positive work environment
• Regular staff appreciation and recognition

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related behavioral-health field.
• Active clinical licensure or eligibility for supervised practice, as permitted by state and organizational requirements. Examples may include LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LMHC, LMFT, or equivalent.
• Experience conducting clinical assessments, crisis evaluations, or intake/admissions screenings in a behavioral-health setting.
• Knowledge of mental-health diagnoses, substance-use disorders, trauma-informed care, suicide-risk assessment, and appropriate levels of care.
• Strong verbal communication, rapport-building, clinical documentation, organization, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to remain calm, empathetic, and effective in high-pressure or emotionally complex situations.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and standard office software.

• Two or more years of experience in behavioral-health intake, emergency/crisis services, hospital admissions, or substance-use treatment.
• Experience with utilization management, insurance verification, prior authorization, or payer medical-necessity criteria.
• Training in evidence-based suicide assessment/intervention, such as ASIST, CAMS, or Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).
• Familiarity with local community resources and referral networks.

• Collaboration and care coordination
• Time management and ability to prioritize urgent cases
• Compassionate communication with clients, families, and referral partners

Strive Recovery is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for all employment; free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, associational preferences, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.