Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)-Psychotherapy Specialist (Mind Body Therapist) - Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Job Summary :

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)-Psychotherapy Specialist, also known as a Mind Body Therapist, provides comprehensive psychotherapy and social work services to Wounded Warriors, active-duty service members, and their families experiencing chronic and acute pain.

This role includes leading pain management groups using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), stress management techniques, hypnosis, and other modalities.

The LCSW collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to ensure the psychosocial well-being of patients, develops discharge plans, and provides crisis intervention services.

The therapist will also support Tele-Pain services and offer educational instruction to hospital staff.

Duties and Responsibilities :

Clinical Social Work Services :

• Provide a full range of social work services, including individual, group, family, and couples therapy.
• Lead pain management groups utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, hypnosis, guided imagery, and other stress management techniques.
• Perform psychosocial assessments to determine patient needs, family support, and community resources, developing treatment and discharge plans.
• Provide direct and indirect services to both inpatients and outpatients following social work standards of practice.
• Collaborate with medical staff and provide consultation on psychosocial issues, discharge plans, and patient care follow-up.

Patient and Family Support :

• Work primarily with Wounded Warriors and active-duty personnel experiencing chronic and acute pain, offering counseling and support for adjustment to medical conditions and ongoing treatments.
• Develop and implement patient discharge plans and coordinate transfers to other healthcare facilities such as rehabilitation hospitals or VA facilities.
• Provide crisis intervention services as necessary, ensuring immediate psychosocial support for patients and families.

Community and Interdisciplinary Collaboration :

• Maintain working relationships with community resources and coordinate care with external agencies for optimal patient support.
• Consult with teachers, lawyers, physicians, and other professionals for the benefit of the service member and their families.
• Act as a human services broker by providing information and referrals to patients and other care providers.

Program and Educational Support :

• Participate in the Annual Pain Care Skills Training, offering instruction on integrative mind-body therapies and pain management techniques.
• Support Tele-Pain services by providing remote patient care for pain management.
• Take part in lectures, presentations, and community outreach programs to address the needs of service members and their families.

Administrative and Clinical Support :

• Document and maintain patient records, including tracking patient needs, referrals, and follow-up care.
• Assist in quality assurance programs and performance improvement activities as directed by the Commander.
• Perform administrative duties, such as generating reports and attending interdisciplinary team meetings to review patient care and recommend improvements.

Professional Development :

• Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and creative problem-solving in managing patient care.
• Maintain an ongoing commitment to personal professional development and the quality of care provided.
• Adhere to clinical protocols and best practices, staying current with developments in pain management and psychotherapy techniques.

Required Qualifications :

Education :

• Master's degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Bachelor's degree in Psychology from an accredited university.

Licensure / Certification :

• Valid, unrestricted Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license from any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth.
• Maintain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as required for licensure.

Experience :

• Minimum of two (2) years post-master's experience as a clinical social worker within the last three (3) years.
• At least two (2) years of experience as a psychotherapist in pain management.
• Proficiency in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for pain management or sleep disorders.
• Experience with mind-body techniques, stress resiliency, touch therapy, or other modalities to support pain management.

Other Qualifications :

Communication and Customer Service :

• Excellent customer service and communication skills to effectively collaborate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in English (both written and spoken) for effective communication with patients and healthcare providers.

Technical and Clinical Knowledge :

• Knowledge of medical conditions, diagnostic studies, and treatments related to chronic and acute pain is desirable.
• Familiarity with equipment and supplies related to patient care and the ability to communicate proper usage.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems.

Time Management and Adaptability :

• Strong organizational and time management skills to track patients and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing program needs and patient care demands.

Problem-Solving and Leadership :

• Creative problem-solving skills and the ability to lead pain management programs that promote self-care and recovery.
• Commitment to quality care and professional development.

Additional Requirements :

U.S. citizenship is required.

This role is essential to supporting the psychosocial well-being of patients dealing with chronic and acute pain, providing both clinical social work services and innovative mind-body therapies to improve patient outcomes.

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