Overview

Job Title: Behavioral Health Counselor MS
Location: Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
Schedule: Part-Time Days

Position Overview:

The Behavioral Health Counselor MS facilitates patient involvement in treatment and education within a multidisciplinary healthcare setting. This role includes conducting individual, group, and family counseling, performing utilization review, discharge planning, and collaborating with the healthcare team to ensure patients and families receive timely, safe, and effective care. The counselor also serves as a liaison with protective services and community agencies, especially in cases involving abuse, neglect, and complex placements such as guardianship, foster care, and adoption.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct face-to-face (or telehealth) individual, group, and family counseling sessions.
• Perform utilization review and discharge planning to support safe patient transitions.
• Collaborate with the healthcare team to coordinate care and ensure patients and families receive the necessary education and resources.
• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs; model caring, compassionate practices.
• Assess psychosocial risk factors, including 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 patient needs.
• Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral.
• Support complex discharge planning through therapeutic intervention.
• Serve as the point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Act as liaison between Indiana University Health and local protective services (APS/CPS).
• Maintain principles and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation.
• Provide intervention in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.
• Deliver evidence-based practices such as CBT, MI, and DBT.
• Support individuals in crisis and take a leadership role in clinical intervention and safety.
• Ensure a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct patients in daily activities and programming.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Education: Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: 3-5 years relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.
• Licensure: Current Indiana license in one of the following:
  • LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC, or HSPP.
• Certifications:
  • Crisis intervention certification required within 90 days of hire.
  • BLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
• Knowledge & Skills:
  • Psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention expertise.
  • Knowledge of evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
  • Familiarity with state and county protective legal mandates.
  • Principles of growth and development across the lifespan, including end-of-life care.
  • Ability to create a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct patients in daily activities.
  • Proficiency in Electronic Medical Records and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Additional Information:

• Part-Time, Days schedule at Riley Hospital.
• Focus on providing compassionate, patient-centered mental health care.
• Opportunity to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Join our dedicated team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients.

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