Therapists and SUD Counselors

Ava Health; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Package

Job summary

Ava Health in Grand Junction, Colorado, seeks a Primary Clinician I to provide individual, group, and clinical services within our behavioral health programs. You will work with an interdisciplinary team and contribute to assessment, treatment planning, and discharge planning while developing toward independent licensure.

The role targets provisionally licensed SUD counselors or therapists and offers a path toward Primary Clinician II with credentialing and experience.

Qualifications

• Provisionally licensed SUD Counselor or Therapist.
• Colorado behavioral health credential eligibility.
• Ability to carry a clinical caseload and work with a team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an assigned caseload aligned with program needs.
• Provide individual therapy or counseling within credential scope.
• Facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Complete biopsychosocial and other clinical assessments as qualified.

Skills

Caseload management

Group facilitation

Clinical assessment

Documentation

Crisis intervention

Education

CAS

LAC

LPCC

MSW

MFTC

Job description

Job Title: PRIMARY CLINICIAN I

Department: Clinical Services

Reports To: Clinical Director

Classification: Full-Time

Compensation: $64-75k Salaried DOE + Benefits Package

Location: Ava Health — Grand Junction, Colorado

Position Summary

The Primary Clinician I is a provisionally licensed SUD Counselor or Therapist who provides individual, group, and clinical services to clients participating in Ava Health’s behavioral health programs.

This position is designed for substance use counselors, provisionally licensed mental health clinicians, and developing clinicians who are qualified to carry a clinical caseload while continuing to build experience, competency, and professional independence.

Primary Clinician I team members work as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team and are responsible for assessment, treatment planning, individual therapy/counseling, group facilitation, documentation, care coordination, discharge planning, and other clinical responsibilities appropriate to their credential and scope of practice.

This position may serve as a developmental pathway toward Primary Clinician II as the clinician gains experience, demonstrates competency, and obtains applicable independent licensure or advanced credentials.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical Care

• Maintain an assigned caseload of clients in accordance with program needs, clinician competency, and organizational caseload standards.


• Provide individual therapy or counseling within the clinician’s professional scope and credential.


• Facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups using evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches.


• Participate in development and implementation of individualized treatment plans.


• Complete biopsychosocial assessments and other clinical assessments when qualified and assigned.


• Assess client progress, barriers to treatment, symptoms, functioning, recovery needs, and readiness for change.


• Participate in crisis assessment, safety planning, and coordination of higher levels of care when indicated.


• Support clients through transitions between levels of care and discharge from services.


• Incorporate motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and person-centered treatment principles into clinical practice.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete clinical documentation accurately and within required timeframes.


• Develop and update treatment plans based on client needs, progress, and medical necessity.


• Complete individual, group, assessment, transition, and discharge documentation as assigned.


• Maintain documentation that supports medical necessity and the client’s current level of care.


• Follow Ava Health policies, professional ethical standards, payer requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations.


• Participate in chart review, documentation improvement, and corrective education when needed.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Participate actively in treatment team meetings, clinical meetings, case consultation, and supervision.


• Collaborate with psychiatric providers, nursing, case management, utilization review, admissions, residential staff, and other members of the treatment team.


• Communicate changes in client presentation, risk, treatment needs, and level-of-care recommendations to appropriate team members.


• Coordinate care with outside providers and supports when clinically appropriate and properly authorized.

Professional Development

• Participate in individual and/or group clinical supervision as required by credential, licensure status, organizational policy, and assigned responsibilities.


• Participate in Ava Health training, professional development, and competency evaluations.


• Demonstrate openness to feedback and incorporate supervisory guidance into clinical practice.


• Develop increasing independence in case conceptualization, treatment planning, documentation, group facilitation, and clinical decision-making.


• Work toward advanced credentialing, independent licensure, or Primary Clinician II competencies when applicable.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must hold or be eligible to practice under an appropriate Colorado behavioral health credential or professional status consistent with assigned duties.

Examples May Include

• Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS)


• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)


• Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC)


• Social Work Candidate (SWC, MSW, or equivalent)


• Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate (MFTC)


• MSW or other master's-level behavioral health professional working toward applicable credentialing/licensure


• Other Colorado-recognized behavioral health credentials appropriate to the position

Candidates must practice within the scope of their current credential and receive supervision where required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in substance use disorder and/or mental health treatment.


• Experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.


• Experience facilitating therapeutic groups.


• Familiarity with PHP, IOP, outpatient, or residential behavioral health services.


• Training or experience in Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, ACT, trauma-informed care, or related approaches.


• Strong clinical documentation and treatment-planning skills.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Therapeutic relationship building


• Individual counseling/therapy


• Group facilitation


• Case conceptualization


• Treatment planning


• Clinical documentation


• Crisis recognition and response


• Professional boundaries


• Interdisciplinary communication


• Giving and receiving feedback


• Cultural humility


• Ethical decision-making


• Time management and caseload organization

AVA HEALTH CLINICAL APPROACH

Ava Health provides person-centered, attachment based, DBT-Skills centric behavioral health care emphasizing accountability, connection, and meaningful change. Clinicians are expected to contribute to a collaborative treatment environment and integrate evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches while maintaining respect for each client’s individual goals, experiences, strengths, and autonomy.