Forensic Behavioral Health Counselor

Our Agency

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is the state agency that focuses solely on policies, programs, and services for people with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, or any combination of these. As Georgia’s public safety net, DBHDD operates six field offices and five hospitals throughout the state within three program areas: behavioral health, developmental disabilities and hospital services.

Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah (GRHS) is a state-funded multi-service facility operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The hospital provides quality care to mentally ill adults and individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities from its 34-county catchment area in Southeast Georgia. GRHS opened in December of 1970 with a design to decentralize mental health services in the state and treat people nearer to their homes and families. The hospital provides evaluation and treatment to clients needing care. The hospital's admitting office is a psychiatric emergency receiving facility open 24 hours a day.

GRHS is seeking candidates for the position of Forensic Behavioral Health Counselor working 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

FOR THIS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT, STATE LAW REQUIRES A NATIONAL AND STATE BACKGROUND CHECK AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT. 

Job Description:

Under supervision of the forensic psychologist, this position will work with adult Forensic individuals to promote optimum mental health and recovery oriented community reintegration by providing individual and group counseling with an emphasis on psychiatric rehabilitation, prevention and/or behavior modification. This position will provide counseling that will largely address issues related to the development of coping skills for adaptive management of psychiatric symptoms, as well as issues related to substance abuse, stress management, and aging amongst a diverse population of individuals with prominent severe and persistent mental illness, personality disorders, developmental disabilities, dementia and other age-related disorders. Will identify individuals who are at risk for maladaptive behavior, and in collaboration with the forensic psychologist, provide the individual’s unit staff with behavior guidelines and interventions on how to reduce the risk of the individual engaging in the identified maladaptive behavior(s). Under the supervision of the forensic psychologist, this position will provide competency restoration services to individuals who have been identified by the Court as unfit to participate with legal proceedings in both group and individual formats. This position will carry out unit-based responsibilities of the therapeutic incentive program (e.g. a hospital-wide token economy program). Will prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports. Will monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s in Clinical Psychology / Counseling from an established graduate program in Psychology. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses, forensic populations, and experience with behavior assessment and modification. Preference will be given to applicants with a professional license or can be license-eligible within one year of hire.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary & benefits, GA Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is part of a statewide initiative called Total Rewards that seeks to attract and retain employees by supplementing their base pay and benefits with programs designed to improve the quality of their work environment and lead to greater job satisfaction and work/life balance. Eligible employees are offered generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. For more information, visit https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/benefits

Employment Requirements
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees, individuals and communities we serve, certain positions within DBHDD may require evaluations, vaccinations, professional licensure and certifications. Licenses must be current and enable providers to practice within the State of Georgia. 

The following are a listing of evaluations and vaccinations that may be required for employees, including those not involved with direct care:

• Drug Screening
• TB Evaluation
• Annual Influenza*

*Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

DBHDD is an Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of DBHDD to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.