Position Title:   Mental Health Counselor

                           Full Time, 9 ½ months

                           Anticipated starting salary: $46,313

Reports To:      Director of Counseling Services

Description of Mission Impact:

Houghton University provides an academically challenging, Christ-centered education in the liberal arts and sciences to students from diverse traditions and economic backgrounds and equips them to lead and labor as scholar-servants in a changing world.

Counseling Services at Houghton University supports and empowers students to pursue emotional growth and wellness through meaningful therapeutic relationships and equipping students with personalized skills and resources designed to accelerate their God-given potential. Counselors provide individual and group mental health services to students through counseling, consultation and coordination of programs and services.  This includes providing training and education, as well as crisis intervention. Counseling Services exist to help break down barriers that impede a student’s success in college in the areas of academic, social/emotional and career/vocational opportunities.

Essential Functions:

• Maintains professional standards of confidentiality and ethics in conjunction with established guidelines of appropriate professional associations.
• Provides individual and group counseling and psychotherapy.
• Participates in weekly staff meetings
• Facilitates student focused psychoeducational programs and trainings

Success Profile:

The successful candidate will exhibit the following qualities:

Pace: The typical counseling caseload ebbs and flows throughout the semester based on student need and the realities of the academic calendar.  Consequently, the counselor must be able to responsibly balance times of low client load with heavy client load throughout the semester.  The counselor must be able to manage clinical care, documentation, and program delivery. Typical caseload is set at a rate of 65% of available hours.

Decision-making: Professional counselors must be able to make critical decisions regarding client health, wellbeing, and treatment, prioritizing work flow and evaluation of crisis care.  Sound clinical judgment that is both ethical and efficacious is necessary.  

Communication: Strong communication skills in both written and verbal contexts is essential.  The ability to assess and conceptualize clinical issues and articulate these to both client and supervisor is important.  Public speaking skills relevant for trainings, professional development and psychoeducational groups is important.

Collaboration/Individual Contributor: The ability to work with clients and other stakeholders such as parents, peers, faculty and health care providers is essential to this position.  Possessing the ability to collaborate across Center for Student Success service team providers is an important component of this position.

Statement of Requirements:

• Professional:
• Minimally the candidate will possess a Master’s degree in the field of Counseling, Psychology, Social Work (with LCSW credential), or Marriage and Family Therapy.
• Broad counseling and psychotherapy skills; candidates with experience in brief therapy models and trauma informed care preferred.
• New York State Licensure or eligibility for appropriate NYS Licensure
• Three to five years’ experience with the college student population.
• Personal:
• Christian integrity and character, supportive of the Wesleyan Church theological and doctrinal positions.
• Disciplined, optimistic, enthusiastic and high energy self-starter
• Organizational skills, particularly with ability to multi-task with flexibility to manage a changing schedule
• Ability to interact well with students, staff, faculty, administration, and external audiences
• Exemplary communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong work ethic and cooperative demeanor

Houghton University is fully committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body.  Successful candidates will evidence similar commitments.

Houghton University is a Christ-centered, liberal arts and sciences institution of The Wesleyan Church, an evangelical holiness denomination rooted in the teachings of John Wesley. All employees are expected to share a set of values, convictions, and commitments that guide our life together. The University expects that all faculty and staff will respect the University’s Vision of our Common Life, Doctrinal Statement, Wesleyan beliefs and core values, and adhere to its lifestyle expectations.

 Application Procedure: 

 To apply please submit the following materials via email to:   jobs@houghton.edu.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• 3 References
• Answers to the following questions:

           Please review the following documents:

https://www.houghton.edu/a-vision-of-our-common-life/

https://www.houghton.edu/doctrinal-statement/

https://www.wesleyan.org/about/our-beliefs

1. Please provide a brief description of your journey to personal faith in Jesus Christ and subsequent growth.
2. Please identify the church where you currently attend. In what ways are you currently participating in your local church or fellowship?
3. Are there any areas of Houghton’s beliefs or practices that you find challenging or problematic? If yes, please explain.

About Houghton University

Founded in 1883, Houghton University is a Christian liberal arts institution of The Wesleyan Church with a student body representing 40 states and Canadian provinces and 25 foreign countries. US News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” Guide has ranked Houghton among the Tier 1 National Liberal Arts institutions. Additional information on Houghton University can be found at: www.houghton.edu. Houghton University is fully committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body. Successful candidates will evidence similar commitments.

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