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Behavioral Health Therapist-Behavioral Health Triage
Duke University
Location : Durham, NC, 27701
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 1 December 2025
Behavioral Health Therapist-Behavioral Health Triage (Hybrid)
Durham, NC, US, 27710
At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.
About Duke University Hospital
Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.
General Description of the Job Class
Provide psychosocial assessments, diagnosis, and psychotherapy treatment. It is an expectation to maintain a patient panel as outlined by departmental or team leadership with at least 80% of time dedicated to direct patient care. Scope of role, working schedule, and location may adjust with business need.Duties and Responsibilities of this Level
- Provide psychosocial assessments of patients and families to identify emotional, social, and environmental strengths and problems related to their diagnosis, illness, treatment, and/or life situation.
- Formulate, develop, and implement a comprehensive psychosocial treatment plan utilizing appropriate treatments and interventions.
- Interventions may include crisis intervention, individual, marital, family and/or group therapies.
- Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance use problems in patients.
- May participate in on-call or after-hours coverage.
- Provide consultative services to health care team members within scope of care definitions as needed.
- Maintain a working knowledge of relevant medical/legal issues that impact patient care.
- Provide education to patients and loved ones around issues related to adaptation to the patient's diagnosis, illness, treatment and/or life situation.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary healthcare teams and provide leadership in representing clinical perspective.
- May provide teaching and training for staff and faculty.
- Contribute to the academic mission of the health system by participating in academic activities.
- Maintain working knowledge of and liaison with community agencies and resources.
- Knowledge of health system resources to access and provide for patient care needs.
- Document assessment, plan, interactions, and interventions according to departmental, hospital and/or health system guidelines and standards.
- Maintain records in accordance with department, hospital, medical center and/or health system policies.
- Attend and participate in staff, committee, department, and other administrative meetings.
- Participate in department and/or health system continuous quality improvement.
- Keep current with license requirements and seek to increase further enhancement of job-related knowledge.
- Adhere to onsite and/or hybrid availability for work policies as outlined by direct supervisor.Required Qualifications at this LevelEducation:
Master's degree in human services/sciences from an accredited school.
Doctorate degree in human services will be acknowledged.Experience:
Two years of outpatient psychotherapy experience as a fully licensed, autonomous clinician. Experience working as a licensed therapist in a medical setting and/or in a team-based community program is preferred.Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:
Current licensure as a licensed LCSW, LMFT, and/or LCMHC
LCAS is preferred as a secondary license.
Outpatient Behavioral Health TherapistKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Adherence to the practice standards and ethical guidelines of licensing board.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- A solid knowledge of clinical practice.
- Excellent assessment, interviewing, and counseling skills with expertise in mental health and substance use areas.
- Excellent working knowledge of psychopathology.
- Familiarity with range of therapeutic interventions.
- Must recognize when to escalate care/refer for further medical assessment.
- Ability to work effectively and autonomously in a self-directed role.
- Flexibility in accepting diverse work assignments and managing stress related to change.
- Proficient in utilizing an Electronic Health Record (i.e. Epic experience preferred).
- Ability to resolve/manage conflict.
- Ability to help implement departmental, hospital and/or DUHS initiatives.Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level
N/A
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
Nearest Major Market:DurhamNearest Secondary Market:Raleigh
Freqently Asked Questions
In Durham, Behavioral Health Therapists often encounter anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. The region's diverse population and healthcare infrastructure at institutions like Duke University create a demand for expertise in these areas, ensuring therapists are well-versed in evidence-based interventions tailored to community needs.
This triage-focused role emphasizes rapid psychosocial assessments and crisis interventions alongside ongoing psychotherapy. Therapists balance immediate mental health stabilization with long-term treatment planning, requiring adaptability and proficiency in both acute care and comprehensive therapy within multidisciplinary health systems.
Absolutely. Working in triage settings equips therapists with critical decision-making and interdisciplinary collaboration skills, laying a foundation for roles like clinical director or behavioral health program coordinator. Experience in such dynamic environments signals readiness for leadership and specialized program management positions.
At Duke, therapists navigate a high-acuity patient population within a renowned academic medical center, balancing clinical care with academic responsibilities. The hybrid work environment and integration with multidisciplinary teams demand flexibility, advanced clinical judgment, and commitment to continuous professional development.
Duke fosters growth through academic involvement, teaching opportunities, and exposure to diverse clinical cases. Therapists benefit from access to cutting-edge resources, collaborative teams, and continuous quality improvement initiatives, all designed to enhance expertise and career advancement within the health system.
Behavioral Health Therapists in Durham typically earn between $60,000 and $85,000 annually, depending on licensure and experience. Positions at prestigious institutions like Duke University often include competitive benefits and opportunities for salary growth aligned with advanced certifications and clinical expertise.
Duke prioritizes candidates licensed as LCSW, LMFT, or LCMHC, with LCAS as a valuable secondary credential. These certifications ensure therapists meet rigorous clinical standards and can navigate complex behavioral health cases within integrated medical settings effectively.
Durham’s market, anchored by Duke University, tends to be more specialized and competitive, often resulting in longer, more selective hiring processes. Raleigh’s broader healthcare landscape offers more entry points but may have varied standards, influencing candidates to tailor applications accordingly.
Durham’s urban layout and traffic patterns require therapists to plan for peak-hour congestion, especially when balancing onsite and remote days. Proximity to public transit and parking availability at Duke facilities also influence daily logistics and work-life balance for hybrid employees.
The role involves active liaison with local agencies, enabling therapists to connect patients with external support services vital for holistic care. This community integration enhances treatment outcomes and reflects Duke’s commitment to comprehensive behavioral health solutions beyond hospital walls.
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