Senior Mental Health Counselor

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences•Yakima, WA

34d•$67,200 - $107,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Mental Health Counselor provides comprehensive psychological services to PNWU students, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, assessment, psychoeducation, and referral, so that students can sustain the wellbeing needed to thrive in demanding health sciences programs and go on to serve rural and medically underserved communities. Exercising independent clinical judgment within professional and ethical standards, the counselor manages a caseload with a high degree of autonomy and serves as a trusted consultant and educator to students, faculty, and staff. As a senior member of the counseling team, this role coaches and develops counseling associates, practicum students, and peers through clinical supervision, consultation, and mentorship, and helps build a cohesive, psychologically safe clinical environment grounded in trust. The counselor builds productive, trust-based relationships across the university and with community partners, resolves conflict and navigates emotionally charged situations with directness and compassion, and contributes to a student-focused culture that keeps student success and community health at the center of its work.

Requirements

A master’s degree in counseling, clinical or counseling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field, AND current Washington State licensure that authorizes independent counseling or therapy practice (for example, LMHC, LICSW, LASW, LMFT, or licensed Psychologist), AND five or more years of relevant clinical counseling experience with adults, including experience mentoring, supervising, or providing clinical consultation to other clinicians, OR An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the position.
Experience with high-achieving graduate students in professional health sciences programs.
Skill in applying varied therapeutic and psychoeducational modalities, and in program development and implementation; skill in coaching, developing, and providing clinical supervision and developmental feedback to associates, trainees, and peers; skill in independent clinical decision making, problem solving, and exercising sound judgment in ambiguous or high-stakes situations; ability to maintain professional composure and manage emotional dynamics in emergent and crisis situations; skill in building and maintaining trust-based relationships and in communicating and resolving interpersonal conflict directly and with compassion; ability to adapt to differences in culture, communication style, and lived experience, and to create inclusive environments where diverse perspectives are valued and heard; ability to collaborate across departments and disciplines to support students, and to build a cohesive, psychologically safe clinical team environment; knowledge of regulations governing confidentiality in therapeutic relationships, including FERPA and HIPAA; knowledge of local social services and external referral resources, and of advising and counseling practices; skill in effective written and oral communication with a range of stakeholders, including public speaking, and proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite and electronic records; and skill in maintaining data and records and developing reports to assess effectiveness of counseling services.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field, qualified to independently provide counseling or therapy in Washington State.
Current status as a Washington State approved clinical supervisor, and prior experience providing formal clinical supervision.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group counseling to currently enrolled students, helping them identify and address personal, developmental, and clinical concerns affecting their wellbeing and education, including the appropriate use of assessment methods. Hold students to high expectations while providing the support needed to succeed and manage emotional dynamics through crisis and periods of transition.
Provide clinical supervision, consultation, and developmental feedback to counseling associates, practicum students, and trainees; mentor peers and newer clinicians to grow their skills; and provide clear clinical guidance that advances the team’s collective capability.
Develop and implement outreach, prevention, and psychoeducational programming that fosters student success and addresses the needs of all students, including those from rural and underserved communities.
Consult with faculty, staff, students, and other professionals to support students; build productive, trust-based relationships across departments; and resolve interpersonal concerns constructively and with compassion.
Develop and maintain a networking relationship with community referral resources, and coordinate referrals to psychiatric and other medical resources as needed.
Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date clinical files, written reports, and job-related data commensurate with current professional and disciplinary standards.
Understand and comply with relevant FERPA, HIPAA, and confidentiality standards, and model ethical practice for students, peers, and supervisees.
Represent counseling services on departmental, student affairs, or university committees and working groups.
Contribute to program review, accreditation activities, and continuous improvement of counseling services.
Additional duties consistent with the scope, level, and primary responsibilities of the position may be assigned.