Clinical Assessor / Outpatient Therapist

• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health and/or substance use assessments for new and existing clients.
  
  
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments and gather information regarding substance use, mental health, medical, family, social, legal, employment, housing, and recovery needs.
  
  
• Assess clients using appropriate clinical screening and assessment instruments.
  
  
• Identify presenting problems, strengths, risks, barriers to treatment, and recovery supports.
  
  
• Assess for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
  
  
• Evaluate level-of-care needs and make clinically appropriate treatment recommendations.
  
  
• Utilize ASAM criteria and other applicable clinical standards when determining substance use treatment recommendations.
  
  
• Complete diagnostic impressions and clinical formulations within the scope of professional credentials and applicable regulations.
  
  
• Identify situations requiring referral for psychiatric, medical, crisis, withdrawal-management, residential, or other specialized services.
  
  
• Participate in reassessments and updates to clinical recommendations as client needs change.
  
  

• Provide individual outpatient therapy within the scope of licensure/certification and professional competency.
  
  
• Facilitate therapeutic interventions addressing substance use, mental health, trauma-related concerns, emotional regulation, coping skills, relapse prevention, interpersonal relationships, and behavioral change.
  
  
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients.
  
  
• Monitor client progress toward treatment goals and modify interventions as clinically indicated.
  
  
• Utilize evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Person-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, relapse-prevention strategies, and other appropriate interventions.
  
  
• Provide co-occurring disorder treatment when within the clinician's scope of practice.
  
  
• Facilitate family or collateral sessions when clinically appropriate and authorized.
  
  
• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning within the scope of the position and organizational procedures.
  
  

• Develop individualized, measurable treatment goals, objectives, and interventions.
  
  
• Collaborate with clients to establish person-centered recovery goals.
  
  
• Coordinate services with case managers, peer recovery specialists, medical providers, psychiatric providers, residential staff, and other members of the treatment team.
  
  
• Make appropriate referrals to community resources and higher or lower levels of care.
  
  
• Participate in treatment team meetings and case consultations.
  
  
• Assist clients with continuity of care and transitions between levels of treatment.
  
  
• Participate in discharge planning and aftercare coordination.
  
  

• Complete assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, reassessments, discharge summaries, and other required clinical documentation accurately and within established timeframes.
  
  
• Maintain documentation that supports medical necessity and the services provided.
  
  
• Ensure clinical documentation is consistent with organizational policies, applicable Virginia DBHDS requirements, payer requirements, and professional standards.
  
  
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic health records.
  
  
• Document clinical interventions, client response, progress toward goals, barriers to treatment, and ongoing needs.
  
  
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and applicable privacy regulations.
  
  

• Maintain knowledge of applicable Virginia behavioral health and substance use disorder regulations and standards.
  
  
• Follow organizational policies and procedures.
  
  
• Practice within the scope of the employee's license, certification, education, training, and experience.
  
  
• Maintain required professional credentials and continuing education.
  
  
• Participate in clinical supervision and consultation as required.
  
  
• Participate in quality assurance, utilization review, audits, and performance-improvement activities as assigned.
  
  
• Protect client confidentiality and maintain professional boundaries at all times.
  
  

• Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field.
  
  
• Current Virginia clinical license or eligible credential appropriate to the position, such as LMHP, LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or other applicable credential.
  
  
• For substance use disorder services, CSAC, CSAC-A, or other applicable Virginia credential may be considered based on the duties and supervision structure.
  
  
• Experience conducting behavioral health and/or substance use assessments.
  
  
• Experience working with individuals with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring mental health conditions.
  
  
• Knowledge of ASAM levels of care and substance use treatment principles.
  
  
• Experience providing individual therapy is preferred.
  
  

• 2+ years of experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, community mental health, residential treatment, or outpatient services.
  
  
• Experience conducting ASAM assessments or level-of-care assessments.
  
  
• Experience treating individuals with co-occurring disorders.
  
  
• Experience working in an ASAM 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, or outpatient treatment environment.
  
  
• Experience with electronic health records and electronic clinical documentation.
  
  
• Experience working with Medicaid and/or other behavioral health reimbursement systems.
  
  

• Ability to work in an office, outpatient, residential, or community-based behavioral health environment as assigned.
  
  
• Ability to maintain extended periods of documentation and computer use.
  
  
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, families, and interdisciplinary team members.
  
  
• Ability to respond appropriately to emotionally challenging and potentially crisis-oriented situations.
  
  
• Ability to maintain professional conduct and boundaries in all clinical settings.