Hill Country Community Clinic
Job Description
Job Title: Behavioral Health Consultant
Department: Behavioral Health/Medical
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Behavioral Health Director
Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 7:30am – 6:00pm
Location: Round Mountain
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) is an integral member of the primary care team, embedded within the medical clinic to provide real-time, evidence-based behavioral health interventions. The BHC works alongside medical providers, nurses, case managers, and care coordinators to improve whole-person health outcomes by addressing behavioral, emotional, and psychosocial factors that impact physical health and wellness.
This position supports Hill Country Community Clinic’s mission as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), ensuring access to high-quality, integrated, patient-centered care..
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned which may become essential to the position.
- Provide brief, solution-focused behavioral health interventions (15–30 minutes) for patients within the primary care setting.
- Work in close collaboration with medical providers during patient visits to support treatment planning, patient engagement, and follow-up.
- Conduct screenings, assessments, and brief interventions for common behavioral health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, stress management, and adjustment issues.
- Assist medical providers with behavioral strategies to improve chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, pain management, weight management).
- Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation support as needed in the medical setting.
- Facilitate warm hand-offs from medical providers to behavioral health services.
- Offer psychoeducation and support for patients, families, and caregivers.
- Support care coordination by connecting patients to internal and external resources, specialty behavioral health, and community supports.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences.
- Document all encounters and communications in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) consistent with Hill Country and FQHC/CCBHC standards, with timely and accurate completion of documentation as required by policy and regulation.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related behavioral health field.
- Active, unrestricted California license (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PsyD/PhD) OR registered associate eligible for supervised practice with plan for licensure.
- Experience in brief, evidence-based interventions (e.g., CBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, problem-solving therapy).
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary, fast-paced team in a medical setting.
- Commitment to serving diverse, underserved, and rural populations.
Preferred:
- Experience in integrated primary care or FQHC/CCBHC setting.
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screening, and SBIRT model.
- Knowledge of Medi-Cal and community mental health systems.
Competencies:
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to adapt interventions to a time-limited, population-based care model.
- Cultural humility and responsiveness.
- Crisis intervention and de-escalation skills.
- Commitment to confidentiality and ethical practice.
Work Environment & Physical Demands:
- Works in a clinic setting with frequent patient contact.
- May require sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods.