Mental Health Counselor
CurrentMy Roles:- Provides care for patients primarily on two adult psychiatric units at NWH. Occasionally stationed on other floors and departments as needed.- Often leads daily community meetings, facilitates therapeutic groups, and performs individual counseling sessions with patients.- Acts as a counselor during essential inpatient situations such as ECT, lab consultations, medical procedures, court hearings, admission, discharge, restraint, seclusion, release, medication, and the de-escalation of crisis events.- Performs 1-to-1 patient care including evaluating vital signs, assisting with ADLs, monitoring individual nutrition, reinforcing treatment goals, ensuring personal safety, and facilitating internal transport.Notable Achievements:- Considered a primary preceptor for the Mental Health Counselor role.- Interviewed potential candidates for the Nursing Director position, the youngest employee asked to take part in such a process.- Recruited for a departmental committee convened to update safety policies for both psychiatric units, the youngest employee asked to do so.- Recruited for a 2nd monthly hospital-wide committee convened for the purpose of reducing falls in the hospital.Unit Services Description:"Our two inpatient units include 45 beds and provide acute care for adults with active psychiatric conditions. When needed, psychiatric hospitalization provides a safe environment for intensive assessment and treatment, including medications and other therapies. All admitted patients have an attending psychiatrist who works with the patient to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Being part of a general medical hospital, patients also have access to consultants from other specialties, such as Medicine and Neurology, when needed. While in the hospital, patients work with a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatric nurses, mental health counselors, social workers, and occupational therapists."