Mental Health Associate Therapist (Outpatient)

Position Summary:

The Associate Therapist works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Clinical Model.

Therapist responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, providing milieu interventions, leading psychoeducational and process-oriented therapy groups, facilitate clinical assessments, conduct therapy sessions, and other case management tasks, as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:


* Ensures clinical documentation is completed timely throughout the course of treatment.

All documentation is required to be done at the time of service.


* Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families/loved ones.


* Facilitates admission assessments and the admission process for new patients with professionalism, courtesy, and a welcoming attitude.


* Understands role in providing expeditious access to care for individuals seeking services.


* Participates in weekly treatment team and communicates weekly treatment goals with all team members.


* Maintain a case load of 5-6 patients in RTC and 10-15 in OP level of care..


* Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patients' level of care.


* Facilitates process orientated and psychoeducation groups one to two times, daily in RTC and 2-4 times daily in OP.


* Required to sit at a meal and/or snack a minimum of once per week.


* Facilitates multi-family groups, family program, and/or family weekend.


* Provides utilization reviews to insurance companies, providing appropriate clinical information to obtain initial authorization and continuing stay authorization, as necessary.


* Is appropriately accessible to family members or loved ones.

Returning all calls and emails within 2 hours during business hours of operations and 24-48 hours all other times.


* Assesses patients for suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.


* May provide additional clinical support for other members of the clinical team in their absence.


* Communicates with the Utilization Review Department and Business Department regarding authorization and payment.


* Begins discharge planning on day of admission for all patients.


* Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.


* Ensures discharge appointments are confirmed with patient and loved ones prior to discharge.


* Communicates with referral sources and outpatient providers for continuity of care upon admission, midpoint, and discharge.


* Facilitates patient transfers to higher level of care, as needed.


* Actively participates in clinical outreach and program tours, as needed.


* Effectively manages crises in sessions and the milieu.


* Provides support to milieu staff in their interactions with patients and their loved ones.


* Works collabo...