Contracted Counselor II

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Opportunity for advancement
• Training & development
• Wellness resources

Counselor IIIndependent Contractor (1099)
Position Information
Department: Clinical Services
Employment Classification: Independent Contractor (1099)
Reports To: Clinical SupervisorProgram Assignment:

• Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OP) 
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) 
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) 

Primary Practice Location:DelawareWork ArrangementCounselor II contractors primarily provide services in person from approved CRHE clinical locations.Tele-behavioral health services may be provided only after successful completion of CRHE telehealth orientation, demonstration of competency, supervisory approval, and authorization under CRHE Telehealth Policies and Procedures, applicable payer requirements, and Delaware regulations. Telehealth services shall be provided only from approved CRHE clinical locations.
Compensation$26.00 per clinical hourCompensation is based upon completed billable clinical services in accordance with the executed Independent Contractor Agreement, CRHE policies and procedures, and payer requirements.
ScheduleThis is a variable-hour independent contractor position.Clinical schedules are established collaboratively between CRHE and the contractor based upon:

• Contractor availability 
• Client demand 
• Program assignment 
• Organizational priorities 
• Referral volume 

Evening and occasional weekend availability may be requested to improve client access to care.
About CRHEThe Center for Research & Health Equity (CRHE) is an integrated behavioral healthcare organization dedicated to expanding equitable access to comprehensive mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorder treatment. Through culturally responsive care, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community partnerships, CRHE seeks to improve behavioral health outcomes while addressing the social and structural factors influencing health and recovery.CRHE provides outpatient behavioral health services, intensive outpatient programming (IOP), partial hospitalization programming (PHP), psychiatric medication management, integrated care coordination, and recovery-oriented services designed to promote long-term wellness.
Position SummaryThe Counselor II provides behavioral healthcare services under the clinical supervision of a Clinical Supervisor while demonstrating increasing independence, advanced clinical judgment, and expanded responsibility in the assessment and treatment of adults with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions.The Counselor II delivers evidence-based counseling services across outpatient (OP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and partial hospitalization (PHP) programs while participating in clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, utilization review, and care coordination. This position is intended for clinicians progressing toward independent professional licensure and assuming greater responsibility for complex clinical presentations while maintaining structured clinical supervision.
Regulatory ClassificationThis position is established in accordance with applicable Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) regulations governing licensed substance use disorder treatment facilities.CRHE hiring standards may exceed minimum DSAMH regulatory requirements based upon organizational needs, payer credentialing standards, and the complexity of services provided.
Essential FunctionsThe Counselor II is responsible for providing supervised behavioral healthcare services that promote recovery, resilience, improved psychosocial functioning, and successful progression through the continuum of care.Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Clinical Assessment

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with increasing clinical independence. 
• Gather psychiatric, behavioral, substance use, trauma, family, vocational, legal, medical, and psychosocial histories. 
• Administer and interpret approved behavioral health screening instruments. 
• Participate in diagnostic case formulation with supervising clinicians. 
• Conduct suicide, homicide, abuse, neglect, and safety risk assessments using approved organizational tools. 
• Participate in ASAM-informed level-of-care recommendations. 
• Reassess clients throughout treatment to evaluate clinical progress and ongoing service needs. 
• Present complex clinical cases during supervision, interdisciplinary staffing, and case consultation meetings. 

Treatment Planning

• Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients and supervising clinicians. 
• Establish measurable, recovery-oriented treatment goals and objectives. 
• Conduct treatment plan reviews within organizational timeframes. 
• Coordinate discharge planning and continuing care services. 
• Collaborate with community providers to facilitate continuity of care. 
• Participate in utilization review and medical necessity determinations as assigned. 

Counseling ServicesProvide behavioral healthcare services within the scope of education, supervision, and organizational policy, including:

• Individual counseling 
• Family counseling 
• Couples counseling (when clinically appropriate and supervised) 
• Psychoeducational groups 
• Process-oriented psychotherapy groups 
• Relapse prevention programming 
• Recovery-oriented counseling 
• Crisis intervention 
• Skills-based behavioral health interventions 

Utilize evidence-based interventions appropriate to client presentation, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 
• Motivational Interviewing (MI) 
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 
• Trauma-Informed Care 
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed interventions 
• Seeking Safety 
• Solution-Focused Therapy 
• Person-Centered Therapy 
• Harm Reduction approaches, when clinically appropriate 

Integrated Behavioral HealthcareCollaborate effectively with:

• Licensed Clinicians 
• Counselor I staff 
• Qualified Psychiatric Practitioners 
• Clinical Supervisors 
• Case Management 
• Peer Recovery Specialists 
• Primary Care Providers 
• Hospitals 
• Community Behavioral Health Providers 
• Referral Partners 

to coordinate comprehensive, person-centered behavioral healthcare.
Crisis Intervention

• Assess behavioral health crises under supervision. 
• Develop and implement safety plans. 
• Coordinate emergency evaluations and referrals when clinically indicated. 
• Participate in crisis stabilization planning. 
• Complete required documentation related to crisis intervention and critical incidents. 

Documentation ResponsibilitiesThe Counselor II is responsible for maintaining accurate, timely, and clinically appropriate documentation in accordance with CRHE policies, DSAMH regulations, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and payer requirements.Documentation responsibilities include:

• Comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments. 
• Progress notes. 
• DAP and/or SOAP documentation. 
• Individualized treatment plans and reviews. 
• Group psychotherapy documentation. 
• Crisis intervention documentation. 
• Discharge summaries. 
• Referral documentation. 
• Utilization review documentation. 
• Critical incident reports. 
• Other clinical documentation required by CRHE or applicable regulatory agencies. 

All documentation shall be reviewed in accordance with supervisory requirements and completed within established organizational timeframes.
Caseload ExpectationsCounselor II contractors are expected to maintain a progressively larger and more clinically complex caseload than Counselor I contractors while continuing to receive structured supervision.Caseload assignments are determined based upon:

• Clinical competency. 
• Program assignment. 
• Contractor availability. 
• Client acuity and complexity. 
• Organizational priorities. 
• Supervisory recommendations. 

Counselor II contractors are expected to demonstrate increasing independence in clinical decision-making while recognizing situations requiring consultation or supervisory guidance.
Quality Improvement & ComplianceCounselor II contractors are expected to:

• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings. 
• Participate in required clinical supervision. 
• Support quality improvement initiatives. 
• Participate in documentation audits and peer review activities. 
• Complete required organizational training. 
• Report critical incidents, compliance concerns, and client safety issues in accordance with organizational policy. 
• Practice in accordance with professional ethical standards, Delaware law, and CRHE policies and procedures. 

Minimum QualificationsDSAMH Regulatory RequirementsApplicants shall meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Have less than five (5) years of experience working in the substance use disorder treatment field; or 
• Be a student enrolled in an approved course of study while completing a practicum or internship; or 
• Be actively working toward certification in addictions counseling or co-occurring disorder counseling through the Delaware Certification Board or another nationally recognized credentialing organization. 

In accordance with DSAMH regulations:

• Counselor II contractors shall receive a minimum of one (1) hour of clinical supervision for every twenty (20) hours of direct clinical services provided. 
• The Clinical Supervisor shall review all clinical documentation for clinical accuracy and appropriateness. 
• Documentation of supervision shall be maintained in accordance with CRHE policy and DSAMH requirements. 

Preferred QualificationsCRHE Hiring PreferencesCRHE strongly prefers applicants who possess:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in: 
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling 
  • Counseling 
  • Social Work 
  • Marriage and Family Therapy 
  • or another related behavioral health discipline. 
• Eligibility for provisional professional licensure in Delaware, or willingness to pursue provisional licensure under CRHE clinical supervision. 
• Experience working with adults experiencing mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. 
• Working knowledge of: 
  • DSM-5-TR. 
  • American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria. 
  • Evidence-based behavioral health interventions. 
• Experience facilitating therapeutic groups. 
• Experience utilizing electronic health record systems. 
• Pennsylvania licensure or eligibility is preferred for future organizational expansion. 

Knowledge, Skills & AbilitiesThe Counselor II shall demonstrate knowledge of:Clinical Knowledge

• Comprehensive behavioral health assessment. 
• DSM-5-TR diagnostic concepts. 
• Integrated treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. 
• Crisis assessment and intervention. 
• Trauma-informed behavioral healthcare. 
• Recovery-oriented systems of care. 
• Professional ethics. 
• Cultural responsiveness. 

Professional Skills

• Clinical interviewing. 
• Treatment planning. 
• Clinical documentation. 
• Therapeutic communication. 
• Time management. 
• Organization. 
• Professional consultation. 
• Interdisciplinary collaboration. 
• Clinical judgment. 
• Receptiveness to supervision. 

Technical Skills

• Electronic Health Record documentation. 
• Tele-behavioral health technology. 
• Microsoft Office applications. 
• Secure electronic communication systems. 

Professional ExpectationsCounselor II contractors are expected to:

• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, integrity, and sound clinical judgment. 
• Practice within the scope of education, supervision, and organizational policy. 
• Participate actively in clinical supervision. 
• Demonstrate increasing independence while appropriately seeking consultation. 
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation. 
• Promote culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented care. 
• Maintain professional boundaries and ethical conduct. 
• Support CRHE's mission, vision, and organizational values. 

Contractor OpportunitiesCRHE offers Counselor II contractors the opportunity to:

• Develop advanced clinical competencies in integrated behavioral healthcare. 
• Provide services across OP, IOP, and PHP levels of care. 
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and case consultation. 
• Collaborate with Qualified Psychiatric Practitioners and Licensed Clinicians. 
• Participate in organizational quality improvement initiatives. 
• Continue progressing toward independent professional licensure. 

Physical RequirementsReasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of this position.The Counselor II must be able to:

• Sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach as necessary to perform clinical responsibilities. 
• Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and community partners. 
• Utilize electronic health record systems and tele-behavioral health technology. 
• Perform behavioral health responsibilities within a professional clinical environment. 
• Safely respond to behavioral health emergencies consistent with organizational policy. 

Equal Opportunity StatementThe Center for Research & Health Equity (CRHE) is committed to fostering a professional environment grounded in integrity, collaboration, innovation, accountability, and respect. CRHE recruits qualified professionals based upon demonstrated competency, education, experience, and organizational need. We are committed to developing an exceptional behavioral health workforce while delivering equitable, evidence-based mental health and substance use treatment to the communities we serve.