*Behavioral Health Counselor MS

Counselor – Behavioral Health MS

Location: IU Health Bloomington Hospital

Address: 727 West 2nd Street, Bloomington, IN 47403
Shift: Full-Time Days (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM) 

Join Our Dedicated Behavioral Health and Counseling Team!

Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital is seeking a compassionate and skilled Master’s Level Counselor with experience in behavioral health to provide direct therapeutic services, discharge planning, and crisis intervention. This role involves face-to-face interactions with patients and families, collaboration with healthcare teams, and supporting patients through complex psychosocial challenges.

Position Overview:

The Behavioral Health Counselor will:

• Facilitate patient involvement in treatment and education within a supportive environment

• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions

• Perform all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning, ensuring safe and effective care transitions

• Collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to ensure timely delivery of services, resources, and education for patients and families

• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring and professional practices to other caregivers

• Assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial risk factors by evaluating prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping abilities

• Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of health conditions or disabilities

• Access and mobilize community and family resources to meet patient needs

• Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral

• Serve as the point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence

• Act as a liaison between IU Health and local protective services (APS/CPS)

• Provide crisis intervention and support during acute situations, including de-escalation techniques

• Support complex discharge planning and care coordination

• Provide specialized mental health services, including crisis and addiction assessments, with appropriate referrals for psychiatric or community resources

• Lead interventions in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health placements

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field from an accredited institution required.

• Experience: 0-3 years relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.

• Licensure:

  • Candidates must be license-eligible in Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, or LCAC.

  • A minimum of a permanent LSW, LMHC-A, or LMFT-A is required upon hire.

  • Note: Candidates with a BSW must obtain an LBSW license. They can be considered if they acquire a 12-month temporary license prior to start date, which makes them compliant until passing the licensing exam. We recommend obtaining the temporary license within one week prior to employment.

• Certifications:

  • Crisis intervention certification may be required.

  • BLS certification may be required.

• Skills & Knowledge:

  • Evidence-based practices such as CBT, MI, DBT

  • Knowledge of the disease process, human behavior, and social needs

  • Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques

  • Legal mandates related to child and adult protective services (state and county)

  • Ability to create a safe, therapeutic environment and instruct daily activities and programming

  • Basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

  • Strong relationship-building skills with community agencies, law enforcement, schools, and healthcare teams

Core Competencies:

• Connecting to IU Health’s mission, vision, and values by demonstrating purpose, excellence, compassion, and teamwork

• Building rapport and providing exemplary customer service

• Clear, concise, and professional communication—both oral and written

• Effectively addressing problems and delivering high-quality work on time

• Adapting to changing priorities and organizational needs

• Upholding confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, demonstrating ethical practice

Reimbursement up to $500 a year for Continuing Education Credits and up to 5 days for Continuing Education Days (not PTO based)

Why Join IU Health?

Be part of a compassionate team dedicated to improving mental health outcomes and providing patient-centered care. We support your professional development and encourage a collaborative, innovative environment where your contributions make a difference.

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

Interested?
Apply today to join IU Health Bloomington Hospital as a Behavioral Health Counselor MS and help us deliver expert mental health care with compassion and professionalism!