"Mental Health Counselor"

Mental Health Counselor

Company:
Austin Peay State University

Job Location:
Clarksville, 37044

Category:
Counseling and Psychological Services

Type:
Full-Time

Job Description

The Counselor reports to the Director of Counseling and Health Services. This role serves as a generalist therapist utilizing a variety of counseling techniques to provide brief therapy services to our student population. The counselor will be part of a team that drives the strategy, vision, multidisciplinary approach, and data-informed approach, as well as operational leadership, to develop, inspire, and lead the care, standards, and well-being of the students.

This position collaborates in a cross-divisional and cross-institutional approach to enhance student success. The Counselor will serve with a student-centered approach that fosters a caring and safe campus environment, supporting the holistic well-being of students. The Counselor provides professional counseling and support services aimed at promoting students' personal and career development. This position plays a crucial role in promoting student well-being, retention, and success through individual counseling, group workshops, and campus-wide outreach initiatives.

Characteristics of a successful candidate:

• Integrity, kindness, creativity, and decisiveness.
• Motivation to create a caring and safe student experience.
• Ability to serve with agility; important to lead, listen, and serve with empathy.
• A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.
• Desire to collaborate with colleagues.
• Demonstrated sincere enjoyment, commitment, and expertise from working with students, faculty, and staff.
• Advanced knowledge of counseling theories and modalities.
• Ability to effectively assess psychological, social, and emotional difficulties.
• Strive to create a supportive learning and working environment with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to our core values: Respect and Care, Be Engaged, Cultivate Belonging, and Committed to Excellence.
• Good project management skills; able to handle multiple tasks and timelines in an organized manner.

Responsibilities include:

Direct care services:

• Provide brief, solution-focused therapy services, including individual and/or group counseling to APSU students.
• Provide intake, triage, and other mental health assessments to ensure optimal delivery of services.
• Provide confidential individual and group counseling to students on issues including but not limited to academic stress, personal adjustment, anxiety, depression, relationships, identity, and life transitions.
• Assist clients in identifying and utilizing other campus and community resources and services related to student success and well-being.
• Conduct crisis intervention and risk assessments, referring students to appropriate on-campus or community resources as needed.
• Provide referrals to off-campus providers for students who may require more specialized services.
• Respond to student mental health crises and provide after-hours emergency coverage as needed.
• Actively participates in and contributes to the smooth functioning of the department and demonstrates initiative and flexibility regarding work assignments.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings, committee work, and all center-related endeavors.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records in accordance with FERPA, HIPAA, and other professional ethical standards.
• Prepare reports on counseling activities, program outcomes, and student engagement data.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation of all service contacts as required by center and campus policies and procedures and abide by professional standards, state law, and confidentiality guidelines, in both paper and software formats.
• Stay current with trends and best practices in higher education counseling and student affairs.

Outreach and prevention services:

• Establish collaborative roles with the various APSU campus stakeholders, students, organizations, and departments.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students and serve as a general resource person where student mental health and well-being are concerned. Represent the department by participating in wellness and other outreach events.
• Provide consultation for faculty, staff, and students regarding individual students of concern who may be exhibiting signs of distress or dysfunction.
• Design and deliver educational programming related to mental health, wellness, and student success.

Department and Division

• Collaborate well with faculty, staff, administrators, public, and university community to identify and respond to student needs.
• Participate in campus initiatives that promote holistic student development.
• Explore opportunities for continuous quality improvement.
• Serve on relevant University committees.
• Attend appropriate local, regional, and national meetings and conferences for professional development and to represent the department, the division, and the University.
• Ability to effectively operate a personal computer and utilize appropriate software.
• Some evening or weekend hours may be required for workshops or student events.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field and at least 3 years of experience as a full-time professional.
• Fully licensed as a Counselor or Social Worker in the state of Tennessee or eligible for reciprocity
• Experience providing short-term, solution-focused treatment.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams
• Experience facilitating a variety of psychotherapy and/or wellness-oriented groups, ranging from psychoeducational and skills-based groups to interpersonal process groups.
• Successful experience providing counseling services to adults and/or adolescents.
• A background check will be required for the successful applicant.
• Employee may be required to report to work during emergency or disaster situations.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Complementing the required skills and qualifications:

• Master's degree, and at least 5 years of related experience as a full-time professional.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Experience providing services to a diverse population
• Experience working in Higher Education