Director of Counseling Services

Alverno College•Milwaukee, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Counseling Services leads the College’s student counseling services and provides direct clinical care to support students’ mental health, personal development, and ability to participate in college life. In a small private college setting, the Director balances an active counseling caseload with responsibility for service planning, daily operations, crisis response coordination, prevention programming, and consultation with campus partners. The Director develops accessible, culturally responsive services consistent with professional standards and the College’s mission, while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate clinical boundaries.

Requirements

Master’s degree in counseling, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, or a closely related clinical mental health discipline, or a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology, from an accredited institution.
Active, unrestricted Wisconsin licensure appropriate for independent clinical practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or psychologist; alternatively, eligibility to obtain the appropriate Wisconsin license before beginning clinical duties.
Maintain licensure in good standing throughout employment.
At least five years of professional clinical counseling experience, including work with college students, emerging adults, or comparable populations.
Demonstrated experience in clinical assessment, short-term counseling, suicide risk assessment, safety planning, crisis intervention, and referral coordination.
Experience coordinating clinical services, developing procedures, managing programs, or leading collaborative initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to provide culturally responsive care to students from diverse backgrounds, identities, and life experiences, including adult learners and students facing barriers to care.
Knowledge of professional ethics, confidentiality, clinical documentation, and legal requirements applicable to counseling services.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound clinical judgment, manage competing priorities, and collaborate effectively across departments.
Strong written, interpersonal, presentation, and organizational skills; proficiency with electronic clinical records and standard office technology.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a college counseling setting, particularly at a small private college.
Experience developing mental health outreach, faculty and staff training, and prevention programs.
Experience with program assessment, budget management, community referral networks, and external mental health service partnerships.
Training in trauma-informed care and experience supporting students experiencing complex or high-risk concerns.
Experience or qualifications to supervise clinical interns, if a training program is established.

Responsibilities

Provide individual, short-term counseling, clinical assessment, treatment planning, and follow-up to enrolled students; offer group counseling and other interventions as student needs and available resources warrant.
Assess presenting concerns, urgency, and suitability for campus counseling.
Use evidence-informed approaches within the scope of professional licensure and competence.
Assist students with concerns such as anxiety, depression, adjustment, relationships, grief, trauma, and substance use; recognize when specialized or more intensive care is needed.
Connect students with community providers, psychiatric services, and other resources for ongoing or specialized treatment; support referral follow-through and continuity of care with appropriate consent.
Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation and explain informed consent, service scope, and limits of confidentiality to students.
Provide timely clinical risk assessment, safety planning, and crisis intervention for students experiencing urgent mental health concerns.
Coordinate emergency referrals and follow-up with community crisis services, hospitals, Campus Safety, and appropriate college personnel, consistent with confidentiality requirements.
Develop and maintain campus mental health crisis procedures, including clear referral pathways and arrangements for after-hours support and coverage during absences or academic breaks.
Participate in the College’s student support or behavioral intervention team and contribute clinical consultation within appropriate information-sharing limits.
Assist with campus recovery and support following a serious incident.
Plan, implement, and evaluate counseling services in relation to student needs, college priorities, and available resources.
Establish an appropriate balance among direct care, crisis response, outreach, and administrative duties.
Develop and maintain policies and procedures for access, scheduling, intake, triage, referrals, documentation, confidentiality, and continuity of care.
Manage the counseling services budget and recommend resource allocations, service improvements, and external partnerships that expand access to care.
Maintain secure clinical records and appropriate access controls; collaborate with Information Technology on counseling systems and data security.
Track service utilization, access, referral patterns, and outcomes.
Prepare aggregate reports and recommendations that protect students’ identities and support service improvement.
Maintain relationships with community providers and oversee counseling-related vendor services and agreements in coordination with appropriate college offices.
Maintain professional licensure and continuing education; obtain clinical consultation and stay current with college mental health practices and applicable professional standards.
If interns or additional personnel are assigned in the future, coordinate their orientation and oversight.
Provide clinical supervision only when qualified and authorized under applicable licensing and training requirements.
Serve as the College’s primary clinical resource on student mental health.
Consult with faculty and staff on recognizing concerns, supporting students, making referrals, and responding to distress.
Collaborate with Student Success, Residence Life, Accessibility Services, Athletics, Campus Safety, academic departments, and other campus partners to coordinate student support while preserving clinical confidentiality.
Coordinate with external health care providers and communicate with families or other supports when authorized by the student or otherwise permitted or required.
Consult with appropriate college offices on the counseling service’s responsibilities related to Title IX, the Clery Act, and other applicable requirements, including the role of confidential counseling and limits on disclosure.
Participate in relevant college committees and planning efforts; advise leadership on student mental health needs, service capacity, and emerging concerns.
Develop an annual outreach and education plan addressing student mental health, resilience, suicide prevention, help-seeking, and reduction of stigma.
Provide workshops and training for students, faculty, staff, and student leaders on identifying distress, responding appropriately, and connecting students with support.
Partner with campus departments on orientation, wellness programs, and other initiatives that support student belonging and success.
Maintain clear, accessible information about counseling services, confidentiality, appointments, community referrals, and emergency resources on the College’s website and in relevant materials.
Perform other duties consistent with the position’s purpose, professional qualifications, and scope of practice.
Support the College’s mission and follow applicable college policies and professional standards.