Staff Psychologist

Posting Title

Overview

The Univeristy 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. 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 role will provide professional mental health services (i.e., counseling and psychotherapy) to the student community, and supervision and training for DC area graduate students in mental health fields.  The staff psychologist also participates in the Counseling Center’s learning assistance, consultative, outreach, educational, assessment/referral, and emergency response programs and services. Direct the Doctoral Internship program after one year of service. 

The projected salary or hourly pay range for this position which represents the full range of anticipated compensation is: $60,000 to $100,000. 

Responsibilities

Counseling and Psychotherapy 

• Provide individual psychotherapy and academic counseling to full-time CUA undergraduates and graduate students who may be experiencing psychological, behavioral, emotional, or learning difficulties.
• Complete required administrative paperwork including writing intake and termination summaries and filing paper copies in the client’s paper file, 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.

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.

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. 

Qualifications

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

Required doctorate in counseling psychology, clinical psychology or related discipline from an APA-accredited program. Licensure or demonstrated immediate eligibility for licensure in the District of Columbia. 

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.

Salary : $60,000 - $100,000