County of Nevada, CA
March 2008
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST I/II
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST – LICENSED
DEFINITION
Under direction, provides a variety of professional behavioral health services to clients
within an assigned program area; prepares and maintains documentation related to client
services; and performs related work as required.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Behavioral Health Therapist I:
This is the entry level in the professional Behavioral Health Therapist series. Incumbents
must be registered interns with the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners or be eligible to
accrue hours of Supervised Professional Experience (SPE), as defined by the
requirements of the Board of Psychology. Incumbents are supervised for clinical hours
towards licensure and will learn and perform duties of increasing complexity in assessment,
diagnosis, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, non-medical psychotherapy,
treatment planning and case management, and professional consultation. This class is
flexibly staffed with Behavioral Health Therapist II, and incumbents normally advance to the
higher level after attaining the clinical hours required to be license eligible.
Behavioral Health Therapist II:
This is the journey level in the series, fully qualified to perform the full range of duties.
Incumbents have met the educational and clinical requirements to be license eligible and
exercise independent judgment within the scope of established policies and procedures.
Behavioral Health Therapist – Licensed:
This is the advanced journey level in the series. Incumbents possess a valid California
license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Marriage, Family Therapist or Psychologist.
Incumbents exercise considerable independent clinical judgment within the scope of
program responsibilities and licensure, and may provide training and guidance to less
experienced employees and/or provide clinical supervision for hours towards licensure.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (Illustrative Only)
Essential:
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Provides direct and indirect behavioral health services in outpatient clinics,
homes, schools, and community settings; functions as a member of
multidisciplinary teams in the provision of assessment, treatment planning and
case management services
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Conducts diagnostic clinical interviews to gather, analyze and evaluate psychosocial data, both on a regular basis and as part of crisis intervention
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Provides individual, family, child, and group therapy, independently or as a team
member, in accordance with assigned program objectives and policies
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Conducts intake/psychosocial assessments of those seeking behavioral health
services; prepares diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and referrals;
evaluates appropriateness of and authorizes, re-authorizes or denies clinician
requests for initial and continuing client mental health services
Behavioral Health Therapist I/II - Licensed - Page 2
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Develops and implements written treatment plans; participates in case
conferences and clinical meetings
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Provides professional consultation to and coordination of services with other
county departments, other agencies, community organizations and groups,
schools, and others concerned with behavioral health services

Prepares, processes and provides timely documentation of all clinical contacts
and forms and reports associated with admissions, evaluations, diagnoses,
treatment plans, referrals, authorization of services, and outcome measures

May provide crisis counseling on a backup basis to contracted Crisis Intervention
program; arranges for appropriate medication consultation, outpatient or inpatient
care, and involuntary holds
Important:

Participates in a variety of meetings, training sessions, conferences, and
presentations; promotes community education and information on behavioral
illness

May assist in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating Managed Care
program policies, procedures and forms
QUALIFICATIONS
NOTE: The required level and scope of the following knowledge and skills relate to the
level of the position as defined in the class characteristics.
Knowledge of:

Theories, principles, practices and techniques of mental health treatment
including clinical interviewing, assessment, diagnosis, crisis intervention,
individual and group therapy and counseling

Psychological, physical and social aspects and characteristics of mental illness,
emotional disturbances and chemical dependency

Laws, rules, regulations and procedures governing mental health services in
relevant program areas

Principles, practices, procedures and operations of Managed Care programs

County and community mental health systems of care, community resources and
related services

Basic psychiatric terminology and treatment methods, including uses and effects
of psychotropic drugs
Skill in:
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Effectively assessing and evaluating mental health status, developing treatment
plans, making appropriate referrals, and providing therapy for individuals, groups
and families
Evaluating mental health service needs and providing and authorizing services
Providing ongoing therapeutic support and case management services
Communicating and coordinating services with other county and community
agencies
Responding appropriately in crisis intervention situations
Evaluating the treatment decisions of other clinicians for appropriateness and
conformance to Managed Care requirements
Behavioral Health Therapist I/II - Licensed - Page 3
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Understanding and applying laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures of
mental health programs, services and treatment methods
Working cooperatively and effectively as a member of a team, as well as
independently without close supervision
Exercising sound independent judgment within established guidelines
Preparing clear, accurate, timely and complete clinical documentation in
accordance with requirements of regulatory and funding agencies
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted
in the course of the work
Working in, and with individuals from, various cultural, physical, behavioral and
environmental settings, including those who may be hostile or volatile
Education and Experience:
Behavioral Health Therapist I:
A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, or from a school, college, or
university that is approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, or meeting the
educational requirement of 48 semester/trimester or 72 quarter units of master’s level
coursework to accrue hours for Supervised Professional Experience (SPE), per the
Board of Psychology.
Behavioral Health Therapist II:
In addition to the above, completion of supervised clinical experience sufficient to
qualify for licensure.
Behavioral Health Therapist - Licensed:
Possession of California License with one year of clinical experience in a community
mental health program.
Licenses and Certificates:
All levels:
Possession of a valid California driver's license within 30 days of hire.
Behavioral Health Therapist I and Behavioral Health Therapist II: Registration as an
intern for licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners or
meeting requirement as defined by the Board of Psychology to accrue hours of
Supervised Professional Experience (SPE), or licensed in another State.
Behavioral Health Therapist - Licensed: Pursuant to Section 5600 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, must possess a valid California license as a Licensed Clinical Social
Worker; Marriage, Family Therapist; or Psychologist (with an earned doctorate degree
in psychology, educational psychology, education with a field of specialization in
counseling psychology or education with a field of specialization in educational
psychology).
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Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
Mobility and manual dexterity to work in a standard office environment and use standard
office equipment; mobility to travel to and participate in counseling sessions and
therapeutic activities in homes, schools and community settings; vision to read
handwritten and printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to
communicate in person and by telephone.
Some accommodations may be made for some physical demands for otherwise qualified
individuals who require and request such accommodations.
Other Requirements:
This class description lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not allinclusive. Not all duties are necessarily performed by each incumbent. Incumbents may
be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document
and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.
FLSA: E