School counselor

TREE OF LIFE FAMILY SERVICES LLC • Sterling, VA

14d • $22 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

Tree of Life Family Services, LLC is seeking Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT) Counselors to provide school-based behavioral health support to children and adolescents throughout Loudoun County, Virginia. Counselors help students develop emotional regulation, coping, communication, social, and problem-solving skills and support their behavioral functioning and success at school. The role is caseload-based, and scheduled hours depend on assigned students, service authorizations, school schedules, student needs, and program operations. Counselors may start with a smaller caseload and fewer hours, with potential for increased hours as caseloads grow, including a possible full school-day schedule.

This is an hourly, nonexempt W-2 position that may be part-time or full-time depending on caseload and program needs. Candidates must generally be available Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM; this availability does not guarantee eight paid hours per day. The position is primarily school-based, with documentation, communication, virtual meetings, and other duties completed as assigned. There is no routine office-work requirement, but in-person office activities may be required. Counselors are generally not scheduled during school holidays, breaks, weather closures, or other school closures, and unscheduled periods are generally unpaid. Summer services may be offered, but summer hours and assignments are not guaranteed.

Before independently providing Medicaid-funded TDT services or receiving a student caseload, the counselor must have an active Virginia QMHP-Trainee registration, active QMHP registration, or another qualifying Virginia behavioral health credential. Applicants with a pending QMHP-Trainee application may be considered during recruitment, but must obtain and provide active registration before receiving a caseload. Direct-service start dates and school assignments may also depend on credential verification, onboarding completion, school placement, and caseload availability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, human services, or a related behavioral health field.
• Active Virginia QMHP-Trainee registration, active QMHP registration, or another qualifying Virginia credential before independently providing Medicaid-funded TDT services.
• A pending QMHP-Trainee application does not replace active registration; applicants must provide active registration before receiving a TDT caseload.
• Ability to build rapport with students while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to engage children in therapeutic, developmentally appropriate, interactive interventions.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Dependability, punctuality, professionalism, and comfort working independently in a school environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with families, school personnel, supervisors, and treatment providers.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and responsive during behavioral or crisis situations.
• Ability to adapt professionally to changes in student needs, school operations, regulatory and payer requirements, documentation standards, credentialing requirements, and program procedures.
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to assigned school locations throughout Loudoun County.
• Reliable access to a computer for clinical documentation, communication, virtual meetings, training, and other required responsibilities.
• General availability Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
• For candidates with pending QMHP-Trainee applications: monitor the application and checklist, follow up with the Board about outstanding items, respond promptly to Board requests, keep Human Resources updated, and provide active registration or current DHP credential verification once issued.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with children and adolescents is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual therapeutic interventions, behavioral support, and skill-building services to assigned students.
• Engage students in purposeful, interactive, developmentally appropriate therapeutic activities connected to individualized treatment goals.
• Conduct individual student sessions and required classroom observations.
• Implement individualized treatment goals and monitor student progress.
• Conduct required weekly family sessions and maintain professional communication with parents and guardians.
• Coordinate care with school personnel and other treatment providers at least monthly and as needed.
• Collaborate with teachers, school social workers, administrators, families, and other members of the student’s treatment team.
• Complete accurate, timely clinical documentation in accordance with company standards and applicable requirements.
• Participate in treatment planning, case consultation, and student-related meetings as required.
• Provide appropriate crisis intervention and de-escalation support and follow established company and school crisis and safety protocols.
• Participate in required virtual TDT staff meetings, generally held every other week.
• Participate in required clinical supervision, generally held every other week on alternating weeks.
• Follow company policies and procedures and applicable DBHDS, Medicaid, Virginia Board, school, safety, documentation, and professional requirements.
• Maintain professional boundaries and represent Tree of Life professionally within the school community.
• Arrive punctually, remain available during assigned school hours, and promptly communicate absences, emergencies, or scheduling concerns.
• Follow the work schedule and school assignment communicated by Tree of Life and remain familiar with the Loudoun County Public Schools academic calendar.

Benefits

• Opportunity for advancement and potential for increased hours and additional responsibilities based on credentials, qualifications, performance, caseload growth, and program needs.
• TDT-specific orientation, training, clinical supervision, and ongoing professional development.
• Flexible schedule, with assigned hours determined by caseload and program needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time