Crisis Counselor

About the University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus

CU Denver and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus serve as vital pillars of the University of Colorado system. Located in the heart of the city, CU Denver helps make education work for all by offering unique opportunities at a premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, across seven schools and colleges. Just a few miles away in Aurora, the CU Anschutz Medical Campus is a nationally recognized academic medical campus, home to six health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked hospitals-UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado-which together see more than 2.6 million patient visits annually.
While on separate campuses, the two universities collaborate in key areas to provide comprehensive support for students, faculty, and staff. The results are powerful: Together, CU Denver and CU Anschutz Medical Campus have earned an R1 classification for conducting cutting-edge and life-changing research that creates impact in our communities. Additionally, for more than a decade, they have received a national Military Friendly School designation. For more information visit, ucdenver.edu and cuanschutz.edu.

Job Description

The CU Denver Student and Community Counseling Center (SCCC) provides mental health counseling services to CU Denver Students as well as community members and Denver Public Schools (DPS) students and their families. Fee-paying students receive counseling sessions at no cost. Community members are charged a nominal fee for services.
In addition, our center serves as a training center for counseling graduate students in the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD). We are staffed by psychologists, professional psychotherapists, and advanced graduate-level practicum students. Counseling faculty members, as well as professional staff supervise our students.
Supervisors and psychotherapists are well-trained in working with diverse psychological issues with individuals, couples, and families. Services at our center emphasize enriching the quality of life for those seeking treatment. Each individual, couple, or family is assured respect and confidentiality. We honor the personal needs, philosophies, and beliefs of our clients.
The mission of the SCCC is to provide systemic, strength-based, culturally responsive mental health services focused on relationships, support, growth, and solutions.
To fulfill this mission, we will deliver:

• Quality counseling, consultation, testing, outreach, and preventative mental health services
• A competency-based, intensively supervised training program to School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) practicum and internship students
• Affordable counseling services to Denver Public Schools students and their families, as well as underserved groups and individuals in the community
• Provide quality services to all clients regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and ability

The Crisis Counselor is a therapist in the CU-Denver Student and Community Counseling Center. This position falls under the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Health, Wellbeing and Advocacy in the area of Student Affairs. This position will serve the needs of students in crisis to ensure continuity of care. This role will help coordinate services with appropriate internal CU Denver units such as Disability Resources and Services, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Office of Case Management, involved faculty, Office of International Students, Ombuds Office, Auraria Health Center, etc.

The Crisis Counselor will facilitate triage and referral of cases whose level of risk exceeds the counseling center's scope of practice. This role will maintain accurate clinical and case management records, while providing immediate consultation and assistance to faculty, staff, parents, and other students regarding students in distress. This role will coordinate a crisis intervention plan to execute a timely response to students in need. The Crisis Counselor will communicate with staff, parents, families, or designated emergency contacts regarding significant mental health emergencies including hospitalizations, suicide attempts, etc. to help facilitate a successful return to campus when issues are appropriately resolved. In conjunction with the Crisis Coordinator, the Crisis Counselor may also help coordinate student transitions from CU Denver services to external, community providers (e.g. psychiatric/psychological treatment services alcohol and drug treatment services etc.). This role may also be asked to help track at-risk cases accepted at the center as designated by our risk assessment level protocol.

The Crisis Counselor provides direct individual counseling, case management, outreach and prevention for CU Denver students under the supervision of licensed counselors. This position also provides culturally responsive mental health services and outreach to CU Denver students. This position facilitates group counseling, conducts client intake evaluations, assesses and triages walk-in clients at the Center, and keeps accurate, timely records that comply with all state laws and ethical guidelines. The Crisis Counselor provides prevention programming and mental health wellness services, and provides consultation and training for other campus groups, faculty and staff about the mental health needs of CU Denver students. The Crisis Counselor participates in all staff meetings, marketing, outreach, and campus awareness activities as requested.

Based on a total of 100% of time, this position will be responsible for approximately:

• 60% Direct services (Counseling, crisis intervention, case management, group, as assigned)
• 20% Administrative (e.g., staff meeting, team meeting, trainee review, high-risk)
• 15% supervision and practicum student training
• 5% outreach and prevention services

What you will do:

• Provide drop-in crisis coverage, delivering immediate emotional support to individuals in distress or crisis with support from the crisis counseling team
• Complete risk assessment, safety planning, de-escalation, and follow-up.
• With supervision, complete a range of moderately complex clinical services including, diagnostic assessment, psychoeducation, tangible skill building, support, resources to all contacts and crisis navigation.
• Manage and coordinate care for students in crisis, collaborating with the crisis counseling team and, CU Denver units, and facilitating external referrals.
• Under the direction of the supervising counselor, hospitalize clients who meet M-1 criteria, or assist other staff in hospitalizing clients.
• Provide consultation to staff and campus partners regarding acute and high risk individuals
• Track at-risk cases, handle triage and referrals, and maintain accurate records.
• Communicate with staff and families about major mental health emergencies and assist with students' return to campus.
• Provide brief individual, and group counseling, case management, and mental health outreach services that are culturally sensitive.
• Train campus groups on mental health issues and participate in staff meetings and outreach activities.
• Must work effectively as a part of an interdisciplinary team, including law enforcement personnel, to de-escalate and efficiently meet the needs of clients.
• Administer standardized screening tools to identify clients with behavioral health and/or substance abuse problems
• Meet with Crisis Manager and Leadership regularly to discuss program operations, concerns, and potential improvements.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

• Master's degree in counseling-related field from an accredited institution.
• If not fully licensed as a mental health practitioner, must be registered with the state of Colorado as a candidate for clinical mental health licensure (LPCC, MFTC, LSW).
• Two (2) years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

• Licensure as mental health professional in Colorado (LPC, LMFT, LCSW).
• Two (2) years of crisis counseling experience as a licensed mental health professional
• Experience working in an acute clinical setting (e.g. psychiatric hospital, intensive outpatient program, partial hospitalization program, crisis stabilization unit, etc.)
• Experience working clinically with undergraduate and graduate college students.
• Ability to provide therapy in more than one language

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to maintain/contribute to a positive team environment in supporting students.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Outstanding customer/mental health consumer service skills.
• Mental health knowledge, experience and skill in working with college student populations.
• Ability to provide short-term psychotherapy, and work as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to provide culturally sensitive crisis services and counseling for clients of diverse backgrounds, including race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, first generation college status, and socio-economic status.
• Ability to sucessfully assess and provide intervention to students in crisis with acute symptoms.
• Ability to work independently with confidence, as well as work as an integral part of a team of professionals.
• Must be mature, empathetic; flexible and adaptable to varying situations and coverage needs.
• Can establish good rapport in a rapid manner
• Ability to maintain thorough, accurate and timely clinical documentation in EHR according to established protocols.
• Confidence with initiating and writing involuntary holds (M1)
• Ability to help clients navigate various levels of medical care across a variety of healthcare entities.