The Primary Therapist is responsible for performing a full range of psychotherapy and counseling for individuals, families, and groups within the scope of licensure. The Primary Therapist Performs Psychosocial screening and assessments. The Primary Therapist will demonstrate expertise in evidence-based treatment modalities for dual diagnoses, case management, development of client support systems, design and implementation of a personalized treatment plan, and crisis interventions. The Primary Therapist will collaborate with the treatment team to plan and coordinate the client’s movement through the continuum of care.

This position follows the client’s progress from a psychological standpoint, beginning with admittance through discharge. During this time, the Primary Therapist maintains frequent and open communication with the Supervising Counselor regarding any issues or problems. 

DUTIES:

• Conduct initial assessment and create treatment plans and updates to treatment plan with cooperation from the clinical team.
• Assist clients in developing measurable treatment and discharge goals and objectives.
• Lead group therapy sessions and psycho-educational groups.
• Provide liaison services between client and family.
• Document all services via EMR system.
• Meet with clients on an individual basis when requested by client or as directed by Supervising Counselor.
• Document progress notes in client files following each individual and group therapy.
• Maintain frequent contact with the Clinical team regarding individuals' progress.
• Responsible for attending and participating in mandatory weekly clinical and interdisciplinary staff meetings to discuss client care and all aspects of treatment.
• Maintain and adhere to all Federal, State, and County regulations regarding patient confidentiality and code of conduct and ethics.
• Maintain Licensure in good standing including all continuing education requirements.
• Responsible for all state and CARF documentation requirements relating to client records.
• Timely and thorough responses to documentation requests for Utilization Reviews or Concurrent Reviews.
• Adherence to ABC Recovery Center policies relating to professional boundaries.
• Observe conflict of interest limitations and notify supervisor regarding any outside employment opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES 

• Adaptability:  Adapts to changes in the work environment.  Manages competing demands.  Accepts criticism and feedback, and changes approach to methods to best fit the situation.
• Communications: Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally and in written form.  Exhibits good listening and comprehension and keeps others adequately informed.  Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Customer service: Displays courtesy and sensitivity, manages difficult or emotional customer situations, meets commitments, responds promptly to customer needs and solicits customer feedback to improve service.
• Problem Solving: Identifies problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions, resolves problems in early states, and works well in group problem solving situations.
• Teamwork: balances team and individual responsibilities, exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, and puts success to team above own interests. 
• Business ethics: Treats people with respect and inspires trust in others. Keeps commitments and upholds organizational values. Works with integrity and ethically.
• Knowledge and understanding of the variety of models and theories of addiction and other problems related to substance abuse; recognize the social, political, economic, and cultural context within which addiction and substance abuse exists, including risk and resilience factors; describe the behavioral, psychological, physical health and social effects of a psychoactive substance; recognize the potential for substance use disorders to mimic a variety of medical and mental health conditions and the possibilities for mental health conditions to coexist with addiction and substance abuse.
• Strong clinical skills, knowledge of principles and processes for providing client services including client satisfaction, and meeting quality standards for services provided.
• Consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate choice.
• Knowledge of CARF standards.

ABILITIES:

• Ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented through verbal and written words and sentences.
• Able to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions, including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events.
• Ability to recognize others' reactions, understanding why they react as they do, and adjusting one’s own actions in relation to others.
• Ability to listen and bring others together to try and reconcile difference.
• Ability to identify when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and to know who to involve for a resolution.
• Ability to generate various ideas about a given topic.

SALARY RANGE:  $62,400 TO $89,440 BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE. 

QUALIFICATIONS

LEVEL I

• Must have a valid and current registration with the State of California Board of Behavioral Health.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a professional counseling program.
• Minimum of one-year professional experience in a behavioral health position. Substance Abuse preferred.

LEVEL II

• Licensed as a LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or PSYD with the State of California Board of Behavioral Health.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a professional counseling program.
• 2 years’ experience working with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

 LEVEL III

• Licensed as a LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or PSYD with the State of California Board of Behavioral Health.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a professional counseling program.
• Five (5) years’ experience working with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• A minimum of 1 year of experience in behavioral health as well as general knowledge and experience in the field. Substance abuse is preferred.
• Driver's License
• CPR and First Aid Certification

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE PREFERRED:

• Substance Abuse field experience.  Familiar with treatment program and structure and facility policies and procedures.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a professional counseling program.
• 2 to 5 years' work experience working with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

PHYSICAL: Work functions of this position are primarily performed in an office environment. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 40 pounds); Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to include repetitive keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and/or standard office equipment. 

VISION: Close, distant, and peripheral vision ability, including depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. 

VERBAL:  Capable of clearly communicating with fellow co-workers, managers, and clients of the Center.

HEARING: Hear normal audio range with or without correction.

ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in a standard clinical environment with extensive client contact and frequent interruptions.  Due to the nature of this position, there may be exposure to bodily fluids, odors, and cleaning products on an occasional basis

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

A.B.C. Recovery Center, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. It is our policy to abide by all federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on a person's race (including hair texture and hairstyles), color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by managers to perform other instructions and duties. This job description may be revised from time to time and does not constitute a contract for employment.