Intake Therapist: Compassionate Assessments & Coordination

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

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.