Cancer Counselor, Oncology Mental Health Therapist, Portland OR

Job Summary:
To serve the special needs of health plan members and other patients of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program as part of comprehensive quality cancer care by assessing, diagnosing and treating the psychological, emotional and environmental problems of cancer patients and their families.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Treat problems of cancer patients and family members resulting from cancer diagnosis and/or cancer treatment. Use variety of therapeutic interventions including individual, couple, family and group counseling.


• Diagnose and treat problems and disorders of grief and bereavement. Provide therapeutic interventions.Intervene in crisis and urgent situations as requested by medical team and patient and family. Use crisis intervention techniques. Carry out education and support programs as part of comprehensive cancer care for health plan members (includes teaching classes to patient and family members).


• Participate in research, program planning, and program implementation for Cancer Counseling Center and Department of Hematology/Oncology. Participate in various Kaiser Permanente and community committees as assigned and/or as relates to the position. Act as consultant in this field. Maintain high level of professional education in the state of the art through classes, workshops, regular supervision, publications, etc.


• Assess and diagnose psychosocial, emotional and mental problems and disorders of cancer patients and families by use of medical charts, DSMIII-R, history-taking and consultations.

Basic Qualifications:
Experience

• Minimum two (2) years as mental health therapist.

Education

• Masters level required (MSW, MS, MA MED).

License, Certification, Registration

• This job requires credentials from multiple states. Credentials from the primary work state are required before hire. Additional Credentials from the secondary work state(s) are required post hire. within 6 months of hire

• Professional Counselor License (Oregon) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oregon) within 6 months of hire OR Psychologist License (Oregon) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Oregon) within 6 months of hire

• Psychologist License (Washington) within 6 months of hire OR Mental Health Counselor License (Washington) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (Washington) within 6 months of hire OR Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Washington) within 6 months of hire

• National Provider Identifier required at hire

Additional Requirements:

• Appropriate application of a variety of diagnostic tools, including the DSMIII-R.


• Counseling psychology: appropriate use of therapeutic intervention.


• Dynamics of cancer counseling, major illness and bereavement.


• Experience working in medical setting.


• Experience working with life-threatening illness.


• Thorough knowledge of treatment approaches.


• Appropriate use of Kaiser system resources.


• Legal requirements for reporting.


• Individual counseling skills.


• Group counseling skills.


• Grief and bereavement counseling skills.


• Crisis intervention skills.


• Professional level communication skills.


• Ability to maintain personal emotional and mental health.


• Suicide assessment skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to work autonomously.


• Ability to work as part of a team.


• Background in several counseling modalities.


• Hospice/Home Health knowledge.


• Cancer treatment modalities.


• Community resources.


• Marital/family counseling skills.


• Psycho-sexual counseling skills.


• Drug and alcohol assessment skills.


• Child development skills; use of play therapy.

Notes:

• Working schedule = 4 8-hr shifts.


• Days off will need to be either Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.