Behavioral Health Technician

Role Summary: 

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) plays an integral role in the delivery of high-quality behavioral health services to adolescent clients participating in Guidelight Health’s Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

Working under the direction and supervision of licensed behavioral health professionals, the BHT provides direct client support, facilitates structured psychoeducational and skills-based groups, supports the therapeutic milieu, assists with client education and engagement, and promotes a safe, respectful, and therapeutic treatment environment.

The BHT works closely with therapists, prescribers, nurses, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team to reinforce treatment concepts, support client participation, observe and communicate client needs, and contribute to the overall success of the treatment program.

The BHT does not provide psychotherapy or independently perform clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, or other activities requiring a professional clinical license.

Role Responsibilities:

1. Skills Group Facilitation & Client Education

• Facilitate Guidelight-approved psychoeducational and skills-based groups under the direction of licensed clinical staff.

• Deliver structured curriculum designed to reinforce treatment goals and build practical behavioral health skills.

• Facilitate groups focused on topics such as:

• Depression symptom management

• Anxiety symptom management

• CBT skills

• Coping skills

• Emotional regulation

• Social and interpersonal skills

• Problem-solving

• Time management and organization

• Sleep and wellness

• Behavioral activation

• Other approved psychoeducational topics

• Use discussion, activities, role-play, demonstrations, and skills practice to promote active client participation.

• Present information in an age-appropriate, engaging, and developmentally appropriate manner for adolescent clients.

• Reinforce skills and concepts introduced by licensed clinicians.

• Maintain fidelity to Guidelight-approved curricula and group facilitation standards.

• Complete accurate group documentation and attendance records in accordance with organizational requirements.

• Participate in Guidelight’s Group Facilitator Certification Program and demonstrate competency before independently facilitating assigned groups.

Therapeutic Milieu Support

• Maintain a safe, structured, welcoming, and therapeutic environment throughout the client day.

• Provide active supervision and support of clients during transitions, breaks, meals, activities, and other non-group programming.

• Engage clients in appropriate therapeutic, recreational, and skill-building activities.

• Model healthy communication, emotional regulation, appropriate boundaries, and respectful interpersonal behavior.

• Encourage positive peer interactions and help clients practice appropriate social and communication skills.

• Recognize and appropriately respond to changes in client behavior, mood, engagement, or emotional regulation.

• Redirect disruptive, unsafe, or inappropriate behaviors using trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate approaches.

• Support consistent adherence to program expectations, routines, and behavioral guidelines.

• Help create a milieu that is physically and emotionally safe for adolescents, teammates, and visitors.

Client Support & Therapeutic Engagement

• Build appropriate, professional, and supportive relationships with clients.

• Encourage client participation in treatment programming and daily activities.

• Assist clients in practicing coping strategies and behavioral skills introduced by the clinical team.

• Support clients who are experiencing distress using approved de-escalation, grounding, and coping techniques.

• Provide appropriate support with activities of daily living and program routines as needed.

• Encourage independence, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and healthy decision-making.

• Support clients in identifying and utilizing appropriate coping strategies without independently providing psychotherapy.

• Maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries and professional conduct at all times.

Observation, Documentation & Communication

• Observe client behavior, participation, engagement, and response to programming.

• Document observations objectively and accurately according to Guidelight standards.

• Communicate clinically significant observations, safety concerns, behavioral changes, or other concerns promptly to the appropriate licensed clinician.

• Participate in treatment team meetings and other interdisciplinary discussions as appropriate.

• Collaborate with therapists, nurses, prescribers, and other team members to support coordinated client care.

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with all applicable privacy, documentation, and organizational requirements.

Safety & Crisis Support

• Maintain awareness of the physical and emotional safety of clients and teammates.

• Follow all Guidelight safety, emergency, crisis response, and escalation procedures.

• Assist licensed clinical staff with crisis intervention and de-escalation as trained and directed.

• Recognize potential signs of escalating emotional or behavioral distress and promptly notify the appropriate clinical team member.

• Support implementation of established safety protocols and clinical direction.

• Maintain required CPR, de-escalation, suicide prevention, and other safety-related training.

• Never independently assess suicide risk, determine level of clinical risk, create treatment plans, or make other clinical determinations outside the scope of the role.

Team Collaboration

• Work collaboratively as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Maintain open and timely communication with therapists, clinical leaders, nurses, prescribers, and other teammates.

• Seek clinical direction when client needs or situations fall outside the BHT’s scope of practice.

• Participate in team huddles, staff meetings, supervision, training, and other required meetings.

• Support a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Human Services, Behavioral Health, Education, or a related field.

• Previous experience working with adolescents, preferably in behavioral health, education, residential treatment, PHP/IOP, inpatient, community mental health, or a related setting.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and group facilitation skills.

• Ability to establish appropriate professional relationships with adolescents while maintaining clear therapeutic boundaries.

• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in challenging or emotionally charged situations.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Strong observation, organization, and documentation skills.

• Ability to follow structured curriculum, policies, procedures, and clinical direction.

• Compassionate, empathetic, trauma-informed, and nonjudgmental approach to client care.

• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and ethical standards.

• Successful completion of required background checks and other pre-employment requirements.

• CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain within the required timeframe.

• Ability to complete required de-escalation, suicide prevention, and other safety training.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous behavioral health experience with adolescents.

• Experience facilitating groups, classes, psychoeducation, or other structured programming.

• Experience working in PHP, IOP, inpatient, residential, school-based, or community behavioral health settings.

• Familiarity with CBT, DBT, behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, or other evidence-based behavioral health concepts.

• Experience supporting clients with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, or other common adolescent behavioral health concerns.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary treatment environment.

Guidelight is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are passionate about fostering an environment where everyone, irrespective of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or background, feels valued and included.

We want to be a place where every employee has a voice and feels truly welcome, appreciated, free to be themselves, and empowered and enabled to do their best work. Our differences make us unique, and we actively support these differences and work to create communities of respect throughout our company. www.guidelighthealth.com