See Corrections Mental Health Counselor 2.

In an adult corrections treatment program, provides specialized mental health counseling to a group of offenders demonstrating emotional, cognitive and/or behavioral disorders. Provides unit leadership and assists the supervising psychologist in the management of treatment programs. Caseloads consist of offenders with the most complex needs requiring mental health treatment.

Facilitates and monitors development and implementation of individual treatment plans and general case management procedures;

Acts as liaison for all support service and contract staff;

Monitors and oversees treatment and management reports prepared by subordinate Corrections Mental Health Counselors;

Leads and coordinates groups providing specialized therapy; coordinates specialized program activities in recreation; provides crisis intervention, group and individual counseling to offenders;

Participates Facility and Risk Management Team and treatment and multidisciplinary treatment conferences;

May provides training for lower level Corrections Mental Health through case consultation and formal presentation; provides consultation to all unit staff regarding treatment needs;

Participates in off-unit and cross-unit task groups and projects, including research, evaluation and planning;

May lead or supervise lower level staff.

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of:  mental health treatment values and objectives; laws, regulations, and procedures related to the legal offender; individual and group behavior; hospital and community resources; methods of gathering and organizing personality and social data; supervision and instruction techniques and procedures.   

Ability to:  recognize and interpret signs and symptoms of mental illness; relate to people with psychological understanding, personal honesty, and concern; build motivating rapport with offenders; work effectively with professional people; appraise persons and situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; speak and write clearly and effectively; instruct, supervise and regulate subordinate staff.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Bachelor's degree with major study in a behavioral or social science.  

AND 

Two years of mental health, criminal justice, or social service experience which includes twelve months of experience providing mental health treatment to groups and/or individuals.  

A Master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of experience; a Ph.D. degree in a related field may be substituted for the two years of experience.  Neither degree can remove the requirement for the twelve months of experience providing group or individual mental health treatment.   

Note:  For specific programs, specialized training and/or experience may be required for eligibility for examination or appointment.   

Note:  Experience in mental health treatment may be defined as:  any experience where responsibilities have included mental health treatment planning, mental health program implementation and/or direct delivery of client mental health services.

New class: 10-11-85
Revised definition: 5-15-87
Revised definition: 9-9-88
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, minimum qualifications and title change (formerly Corrections Mental Health Counselor 2): 7-10-92
New class code: (formerly 38970) effective July 1, 2007
Revised definition; adopted August 13, 2015; effective August 14, 2015.
Salary adjustment, revisions to the definition and typical work adopted June 30, 2017  and effective July 1, 2017.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.