Posting Title

Overview

The Counseling Center assists students with defining and accomplishing personal and academic goals by serving as a multidisciplinary, campus-based mental health organization dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of students consistent with the Christian-Catholic teaching on the anthropology of the human person. In pursuing an active and fulfilling college life, a student can experience difficulties with adjusting to, and balancing, new roles and responsibilities. The Center provides a broad range of direct clinical/counseling, educational, learning assistance, consultative, outreach, training, assessment, and emergency response programs and services.

This position provides professional mental health services (i.e., counseling and psychotherapy) to the student community. Provide supervision and training for graduate student trainees (primarily interns and externs) in mental health fields. The Staff Clinician also participates in the Counseling Center’s consultative, outreach, educational, assessment/referral, and emergency response services.

Responsibilities

• Counseling and Psychotherapy• Provide individual counseling/psychotherapy both in person and via teletherapy to undergraduates and graduate or law students who may be experiencing psychological, behavioral, emotional, or learning difficulties.• Complete required administrative paperwork including writing intake and termination summaries and filing records and forms in the client’s paper file when needed, entering typed progress notes for every session into the client database, and writing individual trainee evaluations.
• Assessment and Referral• Assess, evaluate and make treatment recommendations to new clients presenting with concerns including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, disordered eating, relationship problems, family concerns, and academic difficulties.• Refer students to resources both within CUA (e.g., the Counseling Center’s Staff Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner; Student Health Services; Office of Disability Support Services; Office of the Dean of Students) and outside of CUA (e.g., private practitioners or community agencies), in order to meet student needs that exceed the scope of services (or resources) of the Counseling Center.
• Supervision and Training• Serve as designated individual and/or group supervisor for graduate student therapists.• Watch and evaluate videotapes of treatment sessions conducted by trainees.• Evaluate and edit trainees’ intake and termination summaries and progress notes.• Guide trainees in the planning and implementation of effective and appropriate treatment interventions.• Assist in the recruitment of advanced graduate students in the mental health professions.• Participate in orientations for new Counseling Center graduate student therapists in training.• Participate in orientations and training for institutional professionals and paraprofessionals, including but not limited to emergency first responders, service providers, and educators.
• Outreach, Consultation, and Educational Programming• Participate in forums and workshops to address the developmental needs of students to maximize the potential of students to benefit from the academic environment and experience.• Provide counseling and learning assistance information to prospective students, current students, families, faculty, and staff.• Educate university community members regarding legal and ethical issues in mental health and higher education, and in the provision of counseling services.• Consult with students, faculty, staff, parents, and outside mental health professionals regarding issues related to CUA students’ mental health.• Provide outreach for crisis preparedness, response and recovery.• Represent the Counseling Center by serving on various University committees (e.g., Orientation Planning Committee; search committees for new staff members in other offices within the Division of Student Affairs).• Maintain professional skills/licensure through participation in continuing education activities, such as those found at national and local conferences and symposia.• Assist in managing Counseling Center social media accounts and editing the Counseling Center website, as assigned by the Director.
• Learning Assistance Services• Participate in learning assistance programs that help foster the skills and strategies to help students become independent and active learners and to achieve academic success.• Assist students with special learning needs and disabilities.
• Emergency Response• Provide emergency consultation by phone and in person to campus personnel regarding on-campus mental health emergencies (e.g., suicidal ideation/attempts, students who are a danger to themselves or others) that arise both during and outside of business hours.• Engage in case management and tracking referral outcomes.

Qualifications

Strong clinical and supervisory skills. Strong knowledge of fundamental counseling and learning assistance roles, responsibilities, practices, essential programs and services. Ability to plan, organize, and set priorities. Strong knowledge of the clinical, legal, and ethical aspects of treating college students. Awareness of college student development, health, and welfare issues. Ability to translate knowledge and competencies into action and achievement. Strong service orientation and ability to relate effectively with diverse individuals and groups at all levels of an organization. Ability to work collegially and collaboratively. Demonstrated ability to be productive, deliver high quality work, take initiative, use good judgment, and solve problems. Strong ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and handle heavy workloads under pressure and within time deadlines. Ability to produce quality results, with limited resources. Knowledge and skills with automated computer systems; skills with use of university systems within three months of appointment.

A Master's Degree for social workers: One year of half-time internship (while a graduate student) and one year of full-time supervised work constitute the minimum practical experience needed to be a staff social worker.

For psychologists: Five (5) to six (6) years to earn doctoral degree, including at least three (3) years’ worth of clinical placements plus a full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internship.

For social workers: License to practice Social Work in the District of Columbia, at the highest level of licensure (able to practice independently).

For psychologists: Required doctorate in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, or related discipline from an APA-accredited program. Licensure or demonstrated immediate eligibility (within three months) for full, independent licensure as a Psychologist in the District of Columbia. Also, DC law requires unlicensed individuals with doctoral degrees in Psychology to at least have a DC Psychology Associate license (i.e., while awaiting full licensure) by the start date of the job, to be able to conduct client contact in the District of Columbia.