Mental Health Counselor

Distinctive Schools of IL • Chicago, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Counselor will serve as a specialized clinician within the school's student support system and Distinctive Schools Clinical Services team. This role is dedicated to providing direct, trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services that promote student well-being, engagement, and success. Operating within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, the Mental Health Counselor works collaboratively with students, families, educators, administrators, community partners, and other stakeholders to identify and address social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs that may impact a student's ability to thrive in school. The Mental Health Counselor provides comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment services, including individual counseling, group counseling, crisis response, consultation, and care coordination. Unlike traditional school counseling roles that focus on academic advising, scheduling, and career planning, this position centers on clinical mental health support and the reduction of barriers to learning. The Mental Health Counselor collaborates with school teams to support student attendance, emotional regulation, behavioral health, school connectedness, and overall wellness while helping to build the mental health capacity of families and staff through education, consultation, and resource linkage.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in a clinical mental health discipline (Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology)
• Valid Illinois state licensure corresponding to a clinical field (e.g., LCPC, LCSW, LPC, LSW, MFT, or PEL with an applicable clinical endorsement).
• Experience working with youth populations in trauma-informed environments.
• Strong familiarity with urban education systems and the unique systemic barriers impacting BIPOC families is highly preferred.
• Proficient in cloud based software solutions - GoogleSuite
• Travel to campuses and professional trainings as needed

Responsibilities

• Manage a dedicated clinical caseload of high-need students, delivering structured, evidence-based, and trauma-informed one-on-one therapy tailored to diagnosed mental health needs.
• Design and facilitate clinical group therapy and skill-building sessions for students navigating shared challenges, such as anxiety, stress, self-regulation, and peer conflict.
• Executing formal student risk assessments and handling clinical crises, working under the direct supervision of the Director of Clinical Services.
• Design and deliver professional development and training sessions for teachers and school staff on mental health literacy, helping them identify early warning signs of distress and effectively support student wellness in the classroom.
• Lead educational workshops and outreach initiatives for parents and caregivers to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and reinforce behavioral interventions at home.
• Partner with instructional staff and Deans to weave foundational SEL concepts (self-management, emotional regulation, and responsible decision-making) into universal school culture.
• Utilize student information platforms to identify students experiencing chronic absenteeism driven by mental health factors and deploy targeted clinical interventions to promote school re-engagement.
• Implement clinical monitoring metrics to evaluate individual student milestones and behavioral skill development.
• Work with the Director of Clinical Services to track, analyze, and report on program performance metrics.
• Fulfill role of the Mandated Reporter and report all incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to Department of Family and Child Services
• Assist in Crisis Intervention/Prevention practices within each school which includes preventative measures such as mental health screenings for possible social-emotional or behavioral issues and following the network protocol in cases of emergencies (i.e. school violence, deaths, and suicidal ideation).
• Participate in school meetings, student support teams, and professional development activities
• Serve as a liaison between the school and community organizations
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match Fully match up to 3% 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level