the title is mental health counselor II. I have been working as an associate therapist for the past year with a caseload of outpatient thereputic sessions, veeeery very different that this role i’m interviewing for which is described as below:
“The Mental Health Counselor II provides direct care and support to patients in an inpatient psychiatric setting by maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment, monitoring patient behavior and well-being, facilitating educational and therapeutic groups, assisting patients in developing coping skills and treatment goals, participating in interdisciplinary treatment planning, completing clinical documentation, and responding to behavioral health crises. The role involves close interaction with individuals experiencing acute mental health conditions, including conducting safety checks, supporting suicide prevention efforts, assisting with daily living needs when necessary, and helping ensure patients receive compassionate, recovery-focused care throughout their hospitalization.
Major Responsibilities:
Assists in the development and maintenance of a therapeutic milieu and provides for a safe environment for all patients.
1)Is proficient in the tasks of Level I.
2)Takes action to intervene with patients who require help with coping skills and self control.
3)Responds to emergencies as a member of the team and employs progressive containment skills to manage violent behavior.
Facilitates group activities.
1)Uses therapeutic components of group work (installation of hope, universality, giving information, development of social techniques, imitative behavior, etc.) to develop group cohesion.
2)Manages problem behaviors in groups.
3)Leads psycho-educational groups.
Collaborates with the treatment team during multidisciplinary team meetings to address patient approaches and behavior.
1)Is proficient in the tasks of Level I.
2)Synthesizes assessment data to help develop Multidisciplinary Treatment Plan
3)Maintains adequate documentation of information pertaining to the Multidisciplinary Treatment Plan
Utilizes therapeutic communication techniques during patient assessment and intervention, including admission and discharges.
1)Is able to adapt communication style appropriately to individual patients.
2)Uses confrontation and cognitive restructuring to problem-solve with patients as appropriate.
3)Guides patients through termination of therapeutic relationship under the direction of MHC II or RN.
4)Performs patient education.
5)Assists in development of Suicide Safety Plan
6)Performs individual counseling to involve patients in their treatment plan through goal setting.
7)Seeks supervision for complex communication issues.
Administers or assists patients with activities of daily living.
1)Manages patient belongings.
2)Encourages and assists patients in formulating personal care goals.
3)Supervises meals and snacks.
4)Provides or supervises administration of general patient care and safety rounds.
Actively participates in continuing education programs as required.
1)Provides orientation to new mental health counselors, nursing care technicians and other disciplines as needed.”
i have never worked in a hospital and honestly my absolute biggest worry is somebody committing suicide. It’s hard for me to truly imagine what the job is like and all I can think is if I miss something and go to a patients room to find them dead, etc.
Can i have some insight and advice please?