Behavioral Health Specialist I

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Salary range: $85,000.00

Posting expires: 4/17/2026

General Description and Classification Standards:

This classification is a single-class professional psychological services position. The fundamental features of this classification are to provide professional mental health, substance abuse crisis care and other wellness resources to employees and organizational units through a comprehensive Psychological Services and Employee Assistance Program (PS/EAP). Work involves the application of professional knowledge and personal judgment to a variety of administrative and technical mental health issues, including delivering psychological assessments and evaluations; administering individual, couples/family, and group therapy, and/or referral and crisis intervention; providing organizational consultation and intervention, and employee and supervisory training. An employee in this classification works independently, with general supervision given on special assignments and cases.

Supervision Received:

Work is occasionally reviewed for results achieved. Major initiatives and problems that require advanced decisions and determination are subject to review and approval of the Behavioral Health Specialist II, Psychologist Sr., or the Director of PSEAP/Chief Psychologist.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

  • Provides professional mental health, substance abuse crisis care and other wellness resources to employees and organizational units through a comprehensive Psychological Services and Employee Assistance Program (PS/EAP).
  • Applies professional knowledge and personal judgment to a variety of administrative and technical mental health issues, including delivering psychological assessments and evaluations.
  • Administers individual, couples/family, and group therapy, and/or referral and crisis intervention.
  • Provides organizational consultation and intervention.
  • Performs employee and supervisory training.
  • Provides on-call services to First responders in case of crisis which impact the 911 Communications, Police, or Firefighters ability to perform their job duties.
  • Keeps documentation to support the need and treatment for counseling services provided.
  • Maintains clinical records of interventions provided to the clients and follow up with clients to ensure they are able to return to work and perform job duties efficiently.
  • Provides ongoing support to Recruits of the Police academy.
  • May perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully, it is not an exhaustive list.

  • Knowledge of principles and practices of psychological services, and diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
  • Knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, policies, standards, and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities, including federal and state confidentiality regulations, drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures for local government employees, and public safety policy and procedures.
  • Knowledge of philosophy, methods, and techniques of hostage/crisis negotiation.
  • Knowledge of principles and practices of HR management and administration, public administration, and governmental organization.
  • Ability to interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies.
  • Ability to effectively communicate and interact with subordinates, peers, elected officials, management, members of the medical profession and the general public.
  • Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear, and effective manner.
  • Ability to maintain ongoing log of clinical work and information relevant for utilization data and reports.
  • Ability to apply psychological concepts and methods in crisis situations and critical incident debriefings.
  • Ability to use independent judgment and discretion in managing emergency and crisis situations, determining and deciding upon procedures to be implemented, setting priorities, maintaining standards, and resolving problems.
  • Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and integrate change.
  • Ability to interpret data obtained from psychological test results, social histories, and interviews.
  • Ability to actively engage in research projects (i.e., administering measures) and assist Psychologist Sr. and Director in research efforts.
  • Ability to prepare, produce, and conduct program presentations.
  • Ability to develop, implement, manage, and evaluate programs.
  • Ability to function independently under stressful situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience - Master's degree majoring in Social Work, Counseling or Clinical Psychology, or related field, and three (3) years of post-licensure experience providing counseling and/or psychotherapy. This job requires mandatory in office work only.

Licensures and Certifications - Georgia driver's license. Must possess current license in the State of Georgia and/or certification in professional counseling, clinical social work, or mental health/substance use; and professional liability insurance at the time of appointment.

Preferred Requirements Three (3) years of professional experience providing direct clinical services in a law enforcement agency and/or providing services to first responders and public safety; or work in an EAP setting. Preferred certifications: Certification recognized by Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), which would meet requirements of Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

Work Environment:

In Office 5 days a week

Lifting Requirements:

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta ("COA") that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran's status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.

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Top 25 Common Interview Questions and Answers

To get a job means you must be ready for an interview. Most people get confused about how they should face an interview to impress the employer. The fact cannot be ignored that landing an interview is no less than a huge achievement as we know how competitive today’s world is. Clearing an interview means you would be securing the job. It does not matter if you are a fresh graduate, are supposed to transition your career, or believe to have a higher position, preparing for an interview is important indeed.

Here, we are going to share the top 25 highly common interview questions along with tips as well as sample answers to help you stand out from others in today’s highly competitive job market in the USA.

1. Give me your introduction in short.

This is the most common questions asked by every interviewer. The fact cannot be ignored that it irritates sometimes as well. But the fact cannot be ignored that it is important as well to fetch important information about an employee.
“Myself ....(your name)…. and I hold a degree in ……….(your field name)……… from…..(university name)... .over….(duration of your). I hold experience in ….(respective field)... .specialized in ….(share your genre)... .Currently, I am working on a project and received positive reviews from the employer.

2. Describe your excellent achievement in your job career.

My greatest achievement was leading a team to do a prominent project within a stipulated time and budget. And that project set our company different from its competitors among our clients.

3. What are the reasons to work with us?

Upon asking this question, you should emphasize that you are aware of the company’s profile and adhere to align your values with theirs. I have always admired this company because of its sustainability and innovation factors. I will keep working with you and contribute to taking it to the next level.

4. Reasons to quit your last job.

The reason to quit my last job is to seek more new challenges and opportunities for growth. I want to hone my skills in a new environment. I believe in keeping going on with new challenges as I think that comfort zone eradicates your creativity.

5. What about your strengths?

Here, you need to be smart and relevant both at the same time. Problem Solving is one of my key strengths. I believe in focusing on the solution and can improve your efficiency by 20% by introducing strategic solutions.

6. What is your weakness?

I believe in doing every work with so much perfection and it takes me slow sometimes. However, I am trying to balance quality and efficiency by dividing my attention towards goals and deadlines.

7. Why should we hire you?

With my huge experience in …………. And holding a proven track record of delivering projects within time, I believe in my ability to cater to your team effectively. Moreover, I believe in giving the best to my work as it brings personal satisfaction to me.

8. In your previous company, what prominent challenges did you face, and how did you deal with them?

In my previous company job profile, we faced a sudden budget cut and delivered a project within the stipulated time with no huge team. I led my team and accomplished that project within that limited budget and time without compromising project quality. Accomplishing a project within a limited budget always makes me feel proud.

9. What is your ideal way to tackle stress and pressure?

I believe in being organized and prioritizing tasks. Once you know how much time you need to give to a particular task, it helps to cut down on high pressure. I believe in making a strategy to get the most out of it. I believe in being calm under pressure.

10. What is your way to prioritize your work?

I believe in going with the deadlines and significance of the project to keep myself productive and free from stress. Moreover, I keep working on a progress tracker to keep boosting my energy.

11. Things that motivate you.

Solving complex issues is what keeps me motivated and seeing the tangible results of my work. Moreover, dynamic as well as innovative environments always boost me up.

12. What is your way of handling criticism?

I always see criticism as a way to hone my skills and an opportunity to learn and grow. I always listen quite carefully and act accordingly to come up with satisfactory results.

13. Describe a time you worked in a team.

I collaborated with a diverse team in my last company to come up with a new marketing strategy. My role in that team was to integrate social media efforts resulting in 25% increased engagement.

14. What is your way of dealing with difficult coworkers?

I am a firm believer in addressing conflicts directly and professionally to come up with a solution. Open communication is my asset and understanding different perspectives to solve issues amicably.

15. Reasons to get this job?

This job sits well with my skills in this field as well as my passion for learning more about new things. I am excited to contribute and learn more in your company professionally.

16. How would you be handling multiple deadlines if given?

The simple thing from my perspective is to stay organized and divide the tasks into manageable steps. I believe in doing the work based on urgency and impact.

17. Tell us about the time you failed badly in your job.

Once I missed a significant deadline because of not being good at time management. This is how I learned about time management and being adhered to realistic goals to improve my planning skills in an ideal manner.

18. How do you see yourself outside of work?

I enjoy reading a lot related to my profession. Moreover, reading makes me calm too. Apart from that, hiking and roaming to peaceful places are my favorite things to do.

19. What are your salary expectations?

Following my research and the responsibilities of the role, I expect a salary in the range of $...... to $..... Though, I am open to knowing your side as well.

20. What do you expect from yourself in the next five years?

I am a keen learner and want to expand my knowledge by getting associated with your company. I want to take on more leadership responsibilities and contribute to achieving success in highly creative ways.

21. What do you think about the latest industry trends and changes?

I believe in keeping myself updated about the latest and ongoing industry trends and changes. I keep following the latest job profile e-newsletter; and also attend relevant webinars and conferences. Learning is a never-ending process.

22. How do you describe your ideal work environment?

For me an ideal work environment is all about having open communication and teamwork to achieve success, to learn more, and to have excellent professional growth.

23. How aware are you of our company?

I know this company has established itself as one of the prominent companies in today’s tech industry. It is known for its excellent solutions, creative ways, and commitment to sustainability. The current services and their success rate make this company completely different from others.

24. What skills can you add to this job?

I have been in this field for the past 5-6 years and hold huge experience identifying trends that lead to exceptional business growth. I am also good at communication and teamwork to make the most of it.

25. Do you have any questions for us?

Yes, I would like to know more about the team I would be working with. What sort of challenges are the team currently going through? What is about the career growth in this company?