Behavioral Health Integration for Washington L&I

Short-term, solution-focused BHI services help injured workers address recovery barriers, strengthen coping skills, and move toward sustainable functioning.

Recovery is more than physical.

A work-related injury can affect mood, sleep, relationships, confidence, family responsibilities, and daily routines. Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) provides practical, function-focused support that stays connected to your medical recovery and return-to-function goals. Secure telehealth sessions are available throughout Washington State in English or Spanish.

What BHI can address

BHI focuses on emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and stress-related barriers that may be interfering with recovery.

Stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm

Pain-related distress or fear of reinjury

Avoidance, frustration, or shutdown responses

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Activity pacing and daily routines
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What sessions may include

Sessions focus on practical skills and functional progress rather than symptom reduction alone.

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Grounding and coping strategies
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Confidence and emotional resilience
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Communication with providers and employers

Return-to-work planning when appropriate

Who BHI is for

BHI is generally appropriate for injured workers who do not have an accepted mental health diagnosis on their claim.

Workers feeling stuck or discouraged
People adjusting to changes in work or identity
Workers managing medical, family, or claim stress

No accepted mental health diagnosis required

Referral requirement

Getting started is straightforward when the claim and referral requirements are met.

Open and allowed Washington State L&I claim

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Referral from the attending physician
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BHI is clinically appropriate
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English or Spanish telehealth requested
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Practical, integrative care

Care is collaborative and individualized, drawing from evidence-based tools that support recovery and self-management.

Distress-tolerance and emotional-regulation skills

Values, flexibility, and acceptance strategies

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Thought and behavior pattern awareness
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IFS-informed parts work and pain-stress education

Coordinated recovery

With your authorization, Mayra can collaborate with the professionals involved in your recovery.

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Attending physicians and claim managers
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Vocational counselors and care providers

Timely documentation and progress reporting

Recovery and return-to-work goal coordination

How BHI services work

For an open and allowed L&I claim, a referral from the attending physician is all that is required to initiate BHI when the service is clinically appropriate.

Send the referral

Share the open and allowed claim information and referral from your attending physician so services can be coordinated.

Use the initial 16 sessions

The first 16 BHI sessions are pre-approved through L&I benefits and do not require prior authorization.

Request more if needed

When clinically indicated, up to 8 additional sessions may be requested with claim manager approval.

If you are pursuing authorization for a mental health condition under your L&I claim, a different process and referral pathway may apply. Contact your claim manager or attending physician for guidance about your specific claim.

Ready to ask about BHI?

Have your claim number and attending physician’s referral information available. We can answer questions and help clarify the next step.

Ask about BHI services →