Clinical Therapist - First Episode Psychosis Program (FEP) - Asheville

MAHEC's First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Clinic provides comprehensive, recovery-oriented care for adolescents and young adults experiencing early signs or a first episode of psychosis. Using the evidence-based Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) model, our multidisciplinary team partners with individuals and families to promote recovery, resilience, and long-term success. This position is an integral member of our multidisciplinary FEP team, collaborating with psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, peer support specialists, and family support providers to deliver coordinated, person-centered care.

JOB SUMMARY: 

The Behavioral Health Therapist serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team within our outpatient psychiatry clinic. This clinician provides high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services to individuals across the lifespan, addressing a range of mental health and substance use concerns. Services are delivered both in-person and via telehealth. The therapist is responsible for completing comprehensive assessments, delivering psychotherapeutic interventions, collaborating with medical providers, and coordinating care across systems to ensure patient-centered, trauma-informed care. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Deliver individual, family, and group psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults, including crisis intervention as needed. 

• Complete psychodiagnostic evaluations and develop person-centered treatment plans aligned with best practices. 

• Monitor and evaluate patient progress and outcomes, updating treatment plans in collaboration with the care team. 

• Provide care that is safe, ethical, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and aligned with evidence-based models. 

• Participate in regular case consultations and interdisciplinary collaboration, including direct consultation with resident and faculty physicians. 

• Serve in a rotating on-call schedule as assigned. 

• Coordinate care with internal providers and external agencies including schools, primary care, hospitals, court systems, and community partners. 

• Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation in compliance with regulatory and organizational standards. 

• Facilitate appropriate referrals to internal and external services, supporting continuity of care. 

• May be asked to engage in teaching or mentoring activities with medical residents on a case-by-case basis. 

• Participate in departmental meetings, supervision, and quality improvement initiatives. 

• Support the mission and values of integrated, team-based care. 

• Maintain licensure, training requirements, and adherence to ethical standards as set forth by relevant professional boards. 

KEY COMPETENCIES: 

Communication Skills  

Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals, whether it be a colleague, patient, or patient’s family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties, especially in complex and difficult situations, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families. 

Decision Making 

Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills, critical thinking skills, confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prioritize your workday appropriately to ensure the most important tasks are completed on time. 

HealthCare Knowledge 

Having the drive to keep yourself abreast and up to date on the new breakthroughs in your area of expertise and communicating them to the rest of the team, as appropriate.  This also includes keeping up with your licensure and yearly training requirements within your area expertise along with MAHEC’s organizational training. Finally, the ability to apply the depth of knowledge maintained and gained through this process in real life scenarios as appropriate. 

Interpersonal Skills  

Showing the ability to meet difficult situations with grace, professionalism, and understanding. Within your area of expertise, showing respect and showing empathy where appropriate with your colleagues, patients, and their family at all times, even when its most difficult to do so. This is done, in part, by effective listening, being your authentic self, showing responsibility and dependability, and being patient with others. 

Organizational Values 

Adherence to MAHEC’s founding principles and incorporating them every day. This includes, among others, having integrity and accountability, reverence for other cultures and equitable practices, ability to manage change, and displaying a clear understanding of organizational dynamics. Doing these things creates a culture where people want to do the best for each other and gives personal ownership towards the goal of helping people in their time of need. 

Problem Solving  

Having an analytical mind and ability to work autonomously to solve complex problems that may arise. The wherewithal to think logically through a difficult problem and come to an appropriate resolution for a given issue. This helps to drive continuous improvement by thinking through where we can improve in a novel way. Measures success by understanding where we are currently and where we want to go and then applying those new ideas to affect positive change. 

SPECIFIED SKILLS 

• COMPUTER 

• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database applications required. 

• FOREIGN LANGUAGE 

• Spanish speaking skills preferred. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

•  Master’s in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology  

• Two (2) years relevant experience or comparable combined experience and/or education preferred.   

REQUIRED LICENSES: 

• Current North Carolina License to practice independently including Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Doctoral level Psychologist (PhD or PsyD) 

• Current BLS certification required. ​

• Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist preferred. 

• Full licensure to practice independently preferred and will be prioritized during candidate assessment and selection

SCHEDULE: 

• Regular attendance on-site is an essential function of this position. Typical business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (or flexed to best meet the needs of the clients and/or the Division); 40 hours per workweek; weekend, holiday, or evening coverage is occasionally required. Work hours will need to be flexible in order to respond to special work assignments, or evening activities, as requested by the team leader. 

COMPENSATION:

• $63,800 - $84,500 annually exempt. Salary determined at time of offer, based on qualified practice experience and licensure
• Additional compensation add on opportunities for Therapists that bring: fluent bilingual Spanish/English skills, dual licensure that includes LCAS

At MAHEC, we strive to equip all team members with Total Rewards (pay + benefits) to honor their service, support their health, manage their financial security, build their career, and thrive.

All MAHEC employees and learners will be required to receive the Flu vaccine or have an approved exemption.

MAHEC Talent Management is located at 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Equal Opportunity Employer.

MAHEC is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Employees who meet federal requirements may be eligible to have remaining student loan balances forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments while working full-time at MAHEC.

If you are interested in this role, and you have related experience and qualifications, we encourage you to apply or reach out to AskTalent@mahec.net for support in your job search process. You could be the talent we are seeking for this or other opportunities.