The Intake Therapist is tasked with providing a welcoming experience while conducting thorough and comprehensive assessments of adults, adolescents, and children seeking mental health services. The primary objective is to determine service eligibility and accurately identify the specific service needs and preferences of each individual. The Intake Therapist must possess a comprehensive understanding of all agency services, therapeutic activities, and available supports that could benefit consumers and their families, and actively promote participation in these options as alternatives or adjuncts to conventional treatment services.

Services are rendered within the office setting, accommodating both scheduled appointments and walk-in clients. Regular working hours are from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the requirement of occasional evening or weekend hours.

Specific Responsibilities:

- Conduct intake assessments to ascertain areas of need and service preferences, ensuring documentation is completed within 48 hours.
- Aggregate and synthesize information from all accessible sources during the intake process, including self-reports from consumers, insights from family members and guardians, documented medical and treatment histories, needs surveys, and assessments from other disciplines.
- Employ motivational interviewing techniques to evaluate and articulate the motivation of consumers in addressing identified needs throughout the assessment.
- Provide consumers, family members, and guardians with comprehensive and accurate information regarding all available services and supports that meet the needs discerned during the assessment.
- Assist consumers in initiating the person-centered planning process, adhering to the principles of Person-Centered Planning, Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, Self-Determination, and current Medicaid guidelines.
- Develop Safety Plans as warranted by the circumstances and identified needs during the assessment process.
- Identify consumers who require more extensive evaluations to ascertain their needs and preferences, facilitating referrals for psychological testing, discovery groups, and other necessary services.
- Consider and advocate for the utilization of group and support services.
- Participate in regularly scheduled clinical supervision, case consultations, and team meetings.
- Document all face-to-face service activities and phone interactions relevant to consumers.
- Maintain productivity within acceptable standards.

Qualifications:

- A minimum of a Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling is required, in addition to the corresponding State of Michigan licensure and at least one year of post-Master’s experience providing mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illness. All state licensure must remain active and free of disciplinary issues.
- Candidates must obtain both the Qualified Mental Health Professional and Qualified Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Professional credentials within 120 days of hire.
- The candidate must possess a CAADC credential or be on an approved registered MCBAP certification Development Plan within six weeks of hire.
- The candidate must demonstrate the ability to engage and cultivate therapeutic alliances with adult mental health consumers, their families, and supporters.
- The professional must exhibit expertise in assisting consumers in identifying their service needs and preferences, developing initial treatment plans, and transitioning to long-term services aligned with their treatment strategies.
- Additional requirements include a nonjudgmental approach that reflects cultural competency and sensitivity to the unique needs and diverse experiences of individuals with mental illness, substance abuse issues, and their families. Effective organizational, verbal, and written communication skills are essential.

Additional License Requirements:

LLMSW, LLPC, TLLP, LMSW, LPC, or LLP.