The counselor may provide care to persons with substance use disorders in the outpatient and inpatient settings.
Clinical Excellence/Patient Care
Provides evaluation, counseling and therapeutic services to chemically dependent patients/families assessing patient’s social, psychological, emotional, financial, cultural problems and chemical abuse history. Makes recommendations for treatment and acts as a liaison and patient/family advocate with the treatment network. Maintains open communication with referral sources, families, or others involved in the patient’s treatment regarding the patient’s progress, discharge plans and aftercare plans. Supports the patient and family throughout treatment by maintaining open communication with referral resources, patient and family. Assists the patient and family in working towards positive outcomes. Coordinates the patient’s care with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Develops individual treatment plans based upon information gathered. Facilitates programming for court ordered referrals. Assists patient and family with adjustment to illness, motivation for treatment and realistic planning for post treatment care. Coordinates the completion of the Aftercare Plan with patient and recommends post-treatment referrals for patients. Documents per department guidelines. Maintains current knowledge of behavioral managed care and the precertification and utilization review activities necessary to obtain treatment approval. Participates in covering weekend inpatient evaluations on a rotating basis. Provides statistical data or special reports as required
Development and patient Education
Continues professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance clinical practice by sharing knowledge through networking and research. Participates in community education as assigned. Serves on professional organization committees or boards as appropriate. Assess and chooses teaching strategies and therapy modalities appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension. Consults appropriate resources within Behavioral Health Division to provide specialized education. Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately. Provides educational in-services as assigned. Participates in conjoint conferences with patients, concerned persons and referral sources as appropriate. Develops, promotes and maintains a good relationship with self-help programs such as AA, NA and Al-Anon. Participates in mandatory education and department staff meetings, per established guidelines. Other duties as assigned.
Provides assessments for patients with diagnostic impression and treatment recommendations.
Supports patients who are seeking help to become abstinent from substances.
Teaches patients what the disease of addiction is, and it’s signs and symptoms.
Helps patients identify resources in their community which support ongoing abstinence.
Teaches family members and loved ones about addiction disease and what their part is in the recovery process.