Mental Health Therapist 2

Careers in Mental Health

Jenny Rogers and Carlos Alvarenga
Mental Health Therapist 2

Generic Information

Job Responsibilities:

Participate as a positive member of a patient-centered interdisciplinary care team.
Provide support in a person-centered manner and honor the wishes and culture of the individuals supported while maintaining health and safety.
Assist individuals with accessing their community and encourage participation in educational and recreational activities.
Observe and document each individual’s treatment interventions, behavior, and progress.
Coach individuals through activities of daily living and hygiene which may include all levels of personal care.
Use a computer to document and track all aspects of care, answer phones, maintain confidentiality.

Education Requirements:

Certified Nursing Aide or Medical Assistant certificate program
Continuing education courses as required by job placement

Certification Requirements :

Licenses issued by Oregon State Board of Nursing

Essential Skills:

Empathetic active listening skills
Clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities to work with persons with mental illness
Ability to function independently and as a part of a patient-centered interdisciplinary treatment team
Highly attentive to detail, confidentiality, and accuracy
Verbal and written communication skills

Other Job Settings:

Hospitals
Outpatient clinics
Substance abuse centers
Schools (k-12 – university)
Correctional Facilities

Overview

Mental Health Therapists are part of the nursing team on the floor. They participate as part of the patient-centered interdisciplinary care team of psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other mental health professionals within the hospital. Within this team, the Mental Health Therapist provides personalized care; they develop a professional intimacy with the patients and are wholly invested in patient well-being. They know the patient’s hobbies, their emotional triggers, and their goals. Other responsibilities may include supportive counseling/educational groups, supervision and modeling appropriate social behaviors. Using this insight, they help patients work on relapse-prevention skills so they can move toward being an active participant in their own recovery.