Mental Health Counselor

Company: Beacon College

Job Location:

Category: Counseling and Psychological Services

Type: Full-Time

Job Title

Mental Health Counselor

Location

Counseling & Wellness Center

Department

Counseling Services

Supervisor Title

Assistant Director of Counseling

Division

Student Affairs

FLSA Classification

Exempt

Job Grade

TBD

Position Type Level

Professional

Job Summary

The Mental Health Counselor provides comprehensive psychological services to students, including individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, consultation, diagnostic assessments and evaluations, and outreach programming and training. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Counseling, the Mental Health Counselor plays a vital role in supporting students through evidence-based therapeutic practices and holistic care coordination. This role requires active participation in after-hours emergency response, collaboration with campus and external stakeholders, and contributes to mental health education initiatives.

Duties and Tasks

• Provide a broad range of counseling and psychological services to students including the following: diagnostic assessment and evaluation, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, consultation, and outreach programming and training;
• Fulfill assigned roles in the Counseling Center's after-hours and weekend on-call roster, engaging actively in emergency response and crisis management protocols;
• Apply adept observation and behavioral assessment skills to support therapeutic processes;
• Continuously update personal knowledge of local mental health resources and provide appropriate referrals to support student well-being;
• Collaborate with relevant parties to market and enhance the visibility of counseling services;
• Execute prompt triage assessments and manage the care of students at risk, ensuring timely and effective evaluations;
• Provide critical risk assessments and manage crisis intervention efforts with precision and care;
• Partner with colleagues to ensure seamless continuity of care for students with acute and ongoing emotional and psychological needs;
• Consult with authorized family members, treatment professionals, and academic staff to ensure a holistic approach to student health;
• Facilitate the coordination of psychiatric hospitalizations and assist with the reintegration of students returning to campus life;
• Cultivate partnerships with external mental health professionals and organizations that support socio-emotional wellness;
• Lead and contribute to preventative and educational outreach programs to foster a supportive campus environment;
• Conduct training sessions for faculty and staff to enhance campus-wide mental health literacy;
• Maintain thorough and prompt documentation in the electronic record-keeping system;
• Acquire and maintain a thorough understanding of college regulations and ensure compliance with all institutional policies and procedures;
• Engage in college-organized after-hours events and activities as assigned;
• Actively participate in meetings held for the department or by other college administration;
• Serve actively on various college committees as appointed;
• Take part in significant college events such as orientations, graduations, open houses, and community outreach efforts, as well as support fundraising initiatives as needed; and
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge

• A Master's degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field from an accredited institution is required.
• Valid state licensure or registration as a professional counselor, clinical social worker, or clinical psychologist is required.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in mental health counseling is required.
• Familiarity and experience with issues pertaining to learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Familiarity and experience with emergency response procedures.
• Demonstrated proficiency in contemporary psychotherapeutic modalities and foundational principles.
• Working knowledge of advancements and emerging practices within the counseling and psychological fields.
• Commitment to continuing education and professional development in counseling practices and ethics.

Skills

• Exhibited expertise in addressing the complex emotional, social, and psychological challenges faced by students with learning disabilities and attention disorders, applying specialized treatment and management techniques.
• Strong crisis management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to collaborate effectively with students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a systematic approach to managing tasks and priorities.

Abilities

• Uphold the ethical standards of the profession in accordance with the American Counseling Association's code of ethics.
• Proficient in the use of electronic health records and data management systems.
• Availability to participate in evening and weekend on-call duties and respond to emergencies as needed. Mental Health Counselors who are on-call must ensure they are available outside of normal work hours and can respond in-person within 60 minutes of being contacted for urgent and/or emergency work-related needs.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to work as part of a highly cohesive and interdisciplinary team.
• Strong ability to remain composed and maintain a clear focus during high-stress situations.
• Experience in maintaining confidentiality and highly sensitive information.
• Knowledge of and ability to follow college and counseling services policies and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with community members.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across varied backgrounds and perspectives and support an environment of respect, collaboration, and psychological safety for all individuals.

Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation(s), can perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and college, handle various type of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 15 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

Notice

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Beacon College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success.