Mental Health Clinician

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

12h

About The Position

Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics is seeking a Mental Health Clinician for the Department of Integrated Behavioral Health. The position provides assessment, triage, and comprehensive clinical mental health services tailored to the high-pressure environment and needs of student-athletes. The clinician may be hired at one of several levels: Mental Health Counselor - Senior Professional, Psychologist - Advanced Professional, or Mental Health Counselor - Principal Professional. The clinician provides individual, group, and crisis counseling; conducts screenings and crisis interventions; coordinates safety and treatment plans; and serves as the Integrated Behavioral Health contact for assigned athletic teams. The role also involves consulting with coaches, athletic trainers, and staff while maintaining clinical confidentiality; coordinating care and referrals with internal and external providers; delivering workshops and wellness initiatives; maintaining confidential records; participating in an after-hours on-call rotation; and assisting with intern or trainee supervision and mentorship as needed. The position requires a master's degree or higher in Counseling or a related discipline and an applicable professional license, or the ability to obtain one within six months of hire. Requirements vary by appointment level. The position requires PA State Police, PA Child Abuse History, and federal FBI fingerprint criminal background clearances in addition to applicable background checks.

Requirements

Master's degree or higher in Counseling or a related discipline.
Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Psychologist, or related licensure; alternatively, ability to obtain the applicable license within six months of hire.
Strong clinical skills in assessment, mental health counseling, and crisis management.
Understanding of college athletics culture and the unique needs of athletes.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple team needs independently.
Understanding of professional boundaries and ethics.
Ability to problem-solve and handle sensitive information and nuanced situations.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental team.
Strong communication and rapport-building skills with students, coaches, and staff, and ability to use high-level discretion.
Ability to work well with a diverse group of clients.
For Mental Health Counselor - Senior Professional: master's degree, 6 or more years of relevant experience, and Pennsylvania licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
For Psychologist - Advanced Professional: Ph.D. or Psy.D., 3 or more years of relevant experience, and Pennsylvania licensure as a Licensed Psychologist.
For Mental Health Counselor - Principal Professional: master's degree, 8 or more years of relevant experience, and Pennsylvania licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Required clearances: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check, in addition to applicable background checks.

Nice To Haves

Experience, including internship experience, providing mental health counseling and performance-enhancement services to athletes, preferably in a university or college counseling center.
Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential or progress toward it.
Experience in specialty areas such as substance misuse and disordered eating.
Experience working in competitive athletic environments.

Responsibilities

Provide individual, group, and crisis counseling to student-athletes.
Conduct mental health screenings, manage crisis interventions, and develop immediate safety or treatment plans.
Serve as the designated Integrated Behavioral Health contact for specific athletic teams.
Consult with coaches, athletic trainers, and staff about student-athlete mental health while balancing communication with clinical confidentiality.
Coordinate care with sports medicine, psychiatric providers, and off-campus specialists, including referrals and follow-ups.
Develop and deliver targeted mental health training, stress-management workshops, and wellness initiatives for teams and staff.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical records in compliance with university, state, and federal laws.
Participate in an after-hours on-call rotation.
Assist with supervision or mentorship of interns and trainees as needed.