Mental Health Therapist

POSITION SUMMARY:
This position provides professional mental health services and case management to clients and their families. Responsibilities include therapeutic interventions, assessments, referrals, crisis planning, and collaborative service planning to promote development and recovery within a natural environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Provides therapeutic mental health services including individual, family, and group treatment through face-to-face sessions, phone contact, and written correspondence.
• Conducts comprehensive mental health evaluations, including assessments of symptoms, treatment history, medications, and psychosocial background.
• Formulates diagnoses, develops collaborative treatment plans, and refers clients to appropriate internal and external providers and resources.
• Performs ongoing risk assessments, creates crisis plans, and determines appropriate levels of care as needed.
• Delivers emergency and crisis stabilization services including screening, referral, and short-term care planning.
• Documents assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, referrals, and discharge summaries in accordance with agency, professional, state, and federal standards.
• Prepares and submits service billing and completes data collection and state reporting requirements in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provides training, consultation, and psychoeducational programming for community partners and other internal divisions.
• Participates as a mental health professional on interdisciplinary teams and collaborates with legal and medical professionals as needed.
• May provide services or coverage in other program areas within Health and Human Services.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES  

• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
• Proficient in preparing accurate, legible, and timely documentation and reports.
• Knowledge of modern office procedures, standard software, and electronic health records.
• Understanding of local and county government operations, agency protocols, and interdepartmental workflows.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with clients, community partners, legal entities, and internal staff.
• Skilled in analyzing information, preparing functional reports, and exercising sound judgment in decision-making.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

LANGUAGE SKILLS  

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in both verbal and written formats.
• Proficient in workplace English, grammar, and spelling.
• Capable of reading and interpreting policies, manuals, correspondence, safety data, and instructions.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to perform basic mathematical computations required for billing, data reporting, and clinical documentation.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to interpret and implement federal, state, and local regulations and agency policies.
• Effective problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to address diverse and complex client situations.
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress, and respond effectively in crisis situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in compliance with applicable laws.
• Skilled in evaluating information, exercising judgment, and making informed decisions.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; regular sitting; frequent standing, speaking or hearing; use of hands to handle or feel; repetitive motions; occasional walking, stooping, kneeling, or crouching; and reaching with hands and arms.
• Standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication required to express or exchange ideas verbally.
• Hearing required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines, and observing surroundings and activities.
• May involve interaction with individuals who are hostile, aggressive, abusive or violent, posing potentially threatening conditions.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic). 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work settings may include office environments, detention centers, correctional facilities, treatment and residential facilities, health care centers, remote locations, County work sites, and various community locations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Master's degree in social work, clinical psychology, or related program.
• Three years’ experience working in a clinic setting with clients. 
• Experience working with young children preferred. 
• State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Professional Counselor preferred.
• State of Wisconsin Advanced Practice Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Professional Counselor-In Training will be considered.  License is required within 1 year of employment.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) training and experience, preferred.
• Must successfully pass criminal and caregiver background check.