Director of Counseling

Reporting to the Dean of Student Engagement, the Director of Counseling provides comprehensive leadership and clinical direction for all dimensions of the Counseling Service. The Director plays an active role within the Office of Student Engagement and contributes to collaboration and planning. The Director leads the Counseling Service in partnering with an array of student support services and other college programs to respond to student mental health issues and promote student wellness. This full-time, 12-month position, promotes a caring, inclusive, and safe environment for students and staff to thrive in.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative (20-30%)

1. Provides strategic vision and leadership for the Counseling program. Leads planning, development, and evaluation of Counseling services and activities.
2. Develops, implements, and maintains center policies and procedures, consistent with current best-practices for college counseling centers.
3. Monitors legal issues and risk management strategies relevant to the work of college counseling centers and shapes center policies and procedures in accord with these issues and strategies.
4. Manages the daily operations of the Counseling Service, including clinical services and supervision of all staff. Manages demand for services in relation to staff resources.
5. Coordinates the center’s emergency and crisis response procedures.
6. Oversees the center’s electronic records system and procedures.
7. Initiates and maintains relationships with off-campus mental health providers and the local hospital.
8. Leads the tracking and assessment of clinical services, consultation, and outreach programs. Provides an annual report of the work of the Counseling Service.
9. Manages the Counseling Service budget.
10. Supports professional development opportunities for Counseling staff.
11. Provides the college administration with relevant information regarding student mental health issues and the work of the Counseling Service. Advocates for student mental health needs.

Clinical / Consultation (60-70%)

1. Supervises the clinical work of the Counseling Service in keeping with the highest ethical, legal and best practice standards.
2. Provides the following direct clinical services to students: assessment, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, case management, referral to off-campus mental health services
3. Consults regularly with the counselors regarding their clinical work.
4. Consults with faculty, staff, concerned friends, parents, and off-campus mental health and medical professionals regarding specific students of concern.
5. Consults with the Dean for Student Engagement, and the Directors if the Office of Student Engagement regarding specific students of concern.
6. Serves on the college Care Team.
7. Serves on the college Threat Assessment Team.
8. Serves on the college Student Death Response Team.
9. Other duties as assigned by the Dean of Student Engagement within reason and reasonably associated with the position.

Outreach / Education / Collaboration (10%)

1. Leads the development and implementation of outreach/education efforts across campus related to student mental health and wellness (Red Folder, Mental Health First Aid, QPR, etc.).
2. Fosters collaborative relationships between the Counseling Service and other college programs in regard to intervention, outreach, and prevention efforts related to student mental health issues.
3. Participates with other Counseling Service staff members in planning and providing training to Residence Life student and professional staff and to other selected college groups in regard to student mental health issues.
4. Leads planning and development of the Counseling Service website.
5. Participates actively in the collaborative work of the Office of Student Engagement.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assistant Director of Counseling Service
• Mental Health Therapists
• Wellness Education Promotion Coordinator
• Administrative Assistant to Counseling Service
• Peer Counseling Program

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE and SKILLS:

Required Qualifications

1. Education: One of the following degrees: Doctorate (PhD, EdD, or PsyD) in counseling or clinical psychology; MSW in clinical social work; or Master’s degree in counseling
2. Licensure: Currently licensed in Iowa as a Psychologist (LP), Independent social worker (LISW), Mental health counselor (LMHC), or licensure eligible within one year of hire
3. Experience:
   
   1. Minimum of five years of full time, post graduate practice as a mental health professional working in a clinical setting with late adolescent and adult clients.
   2. Significant experience in crisis intervention and assessment of suicide risk and other acute mental health problems.
4. Availability: Ability to occasionally work after hours and/or on a weekend for crisis intervention, response to college-wide crisis, individual student crisis requiring an on-campus response, or selected outreach activities.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Significant clinical experience in a college or university counseling center.
2. Continuing education credits and experience in providing clinical supervision to provisionally-licensed mental health professionals.
3. Experience with administrative responsibilities in a college counseling center.
4. For psychologists, training in an APA accredited program plus an APA or APPIC accredited pre-doctoral internship.
5. For counselors, master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP accredited program.

Required Competencies

1. Strong generalist mental health professional with well-developed skills in clinical assessment, crisis
   intervention, and brief to moderate length psychotherapy.
2. Demonstrated ability to analyze complex clinical scenarios and exercise excellent clinical judgment in
   responding to multifaceted mental health situations.
3. Strong clinical expertise in crisis intervention, especially in suicide and violence risk assessment and
   intervention.
4. Knowledge of and adherence to the highest standards of legal and ethical practice.
5. The ability to readily form and sustain relationships of trust with late adolescents/young adults.
6. Knowledge of late adolescent/young adult developmental and mental health issues.
7. Knowledge and sensitivity regarding multicultural issues; commitment to an environment of inclusion and
   diversity.
8. Strong oral and written communication skills.
9. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a counseling center team and with individuals and
   groups across the campus community.
10. Experience and competence with electronic records and electronic forms of data collection and
    Management.
11. Ability to conceptualize how outreach relates to the mission and activities of the Counseling Service; skill
    in planning and providing psychoeducational outreach programs.

Preferred Competencies

1. Knowledge of clinical best practices for college counseling centers.
2. An understanding of the administrative, ethical, and legal complexities associated with contemporary administration of a college counseling center.
3. Ability to be innovative in addressing the rising counseling and mental health needs of undergraduate students.
4. The ability to communicate and work effectively with college administration regarding student mental health issues and the Counseling program.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Requires moving around, lifting, and desk work.  Includes exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or the ability to lift, carry, push or pull, or otherwise move objects with a negligible amount of force.
• Physical environment is a pleasant, smoke free office environment; air conditioned in summer.  Student service level varies from quiet to intense across the day and through the semester.
• Position involves potential for significant psychological stress when responding to student mental wellness crises or campus tragedies; which may occur outside of normal business hours.