Program Psychotherapist - Substance Use Disorder HOD
Posted Sep 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
Behavioral
Tell me about a time you had to update a treatment plan mid-course because a patient wasn't progressing the way you expected.
comfort with revising clinical goals under time pressure and evidence they track outcomes rather than just following an initial plan
Describe a time you were part of an interdisciplinary treatment team and disagreed with another discipline's read on a patient. How did you handle it?
ability to advocate for clinical judgment while still functioning as a team player
Tell me about a patient whose discharge planning was complicated - what made it hard and how did you work through it?
depth of experience coordinating discharge and case management, not just delivering therapy
Tell me about a time a peer chart audit or review flagged something in your documentation. How did you respond?
openness to regulatory oversight and quality feedback rather than defensiveness
What draws you to working specifically with substance use disorder patients at the inpatient level, as opposed to outpatient or general behavioral health?
genuine motivation and fit for the intensity and pace of inpatient SUD work
Technical
Walk me through how you'd run an individual therapy session with a patient who was just admitted to the inpatient unit for substance use, maybe within their first 24 hours.
whether the candidate can adapt clinical technique to acute, early-stage inpatient stabilization rather than outpatient pacing
How do you decide what belongs in a treatment plan so that the goals are actually measurable and achievable within a short anticipated length of stay?
understanding of documentation standards tied to insurance review and realistic inpatient timelines
What's your approach to facilitating a family meeting when the family is angry or in denial about the severity of the patient's substance use?
skill in managing high-emotion family systems work, a named job duty
What's different about how you'd assess and treat a teenager on this unit versus an older adult, given the age range you might see?
working knowledge of developmental stages and age-specific care as named in the posting
Walk me through how you'd conduct a psychosocial assessment for someone with co-occurring substance use and a mental health diagnosis.
clinical competence with dual-diagnosis populations, common on this unit
Situational
A family member calls asking for updates on a patient but the patient hasn't signed a release. What do you do?
knowledge of confidentiality law and boundaries around collateral contact
A patient becomes agitated and physically combative during a group session. What's your first move, and what happens after the immediate situation is handled?
crisis response instincts and whether CPI-type de-escalation thinking is already internalized
How do you keep your caseload and documentation on pace with productivity expectations without cutting corners on quality?
realistic self-awareness about balancing volume with clinical rigor
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As published by Advocate Health.
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