Mental Health Therapist

Mental Health Therapist

About Western Kentucky University:

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the second largest undergraduate institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 17,500 students (32% first generation, 18% underrepresented minority) and nearly 2,900 faculty and staff employees.

Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community to embrace diversity by building equitable and inclusive learning, working, and living environments. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our diverse and evolving communities.

Located 65 miles north of Nashville, TN, and just over 100 miles south of Louisville, KY, WKU's main campus is in Bowling Green, KY - a city with approximately 70,000 residents. With an ethnically and diverse population, more than 85 languages are spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.

Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKU's strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided. Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at wku.edu/about.

Job Description:

The Counseling Center (CC) functions as a collaborative partner in the University's mission to nurture student success and prepare a diverse student population to embark on meaningful life endeavors. The CC is committed to inclusive excellence, welcoming a wide range of clients for psychological services and those seeking consultation. The diverse staff of CC strives to serve students in ways that respect and affirm all of their identities and life experiences.  We welcome candidates who will continue to expand WKU's and CC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion outreach. Current CC initiatives include active participation in activities that foster support for new, first-generation, and non-traditional students, in addition to extensive engagement with our University community. Collegial and collaborative relationships within and beyond the Center and a commitment to equity and inclusivity are expectations of the position and essential to our mission. We are especially interested in applications from candidates that seek to further the institution's/department's commitment to diversity and that demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity, as evidenced by prior, successful measures.

Western Kentucky University, Counseling Center, is seeking applicants for a Mental Health Therapist. This position provides clinical services for students in the Counseling Center (CC). This is a 9-month position.

This staff member reports to the Director and Associate Director of the CC and is a member of the Division of Enrollment & Student Experience.  Duties of the position include short-term individual, group, and couples therapy; assessment; consultation; outreach and psychoeducational workshops (sometimes after hours); liaison/consultant relationships with university partners.  All clinical staff positions involve some administrative duties and roles.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties are customary for this position, but are not to be construed as all-inclusive.  Duties may be added, deleted and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

Clinical Services

• Provide culturally competent counseling for individuals, groups, and/or couples (caseload expectations 15-20 clinical hours/week). 
• Provide on-call crisis and walk-in services.
• Clinical experience addressing suicide risk assessment and intervention, crisis response intervention, care coordination, and working with high risk/high acuity clients.
• Participation in campus-wide educational and outreach activities (some may be evening hours).
• Utilize a proactive student development perspective involving an active relationship with the campus community.
• Utilize broad "generalist" clinical skills in assessing and intervening with a wide range of disorders, concerns, and degrees of pathology in treatment utilizing a short-term model of care.

Provide outreach, consultation, psychoeducational training, and liaison services

• Engage in third-party consultation with faculty, staff, families, students, and others about mental health concerns impacting students.
• Collaborate with the entire CC team to assist with external (e.g., classroom, departments, groups) requests for departmental presentations and training(s).
• Create and participate in outreach and psychoeducational programming in classrooms, programs (some evening and weekends), and within the university community.
• Perform liaison activities and work collaboratively with staff in offices outside the CC to identify student needs and develop, provide, and/or coordinate mental health services to meet those needs. May be assigned to specific functional areas.
• Design and conduct psychoeducational materials (written and virtual) to students, faculty, staff, parents, and community relating to mental health.
• Represent the department on divisional, university, and community committees to promote awareness of the CC and our services to students, faculty, staff, parents, and external constituents.
• Train divisional and university staff about issues related to college mental health, counseling services, skills for appropriate response.

Oversee the Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program

• Providing care, housing, maintenance training, record keeping, scheduling and transportation of the AAT dog.
• Coordination of the animal's attendance in therapy and at university related events.
• Provide education and awareness about the purpose and care of AAT animals.

Administration and Support

• Coordinate or oversee various activities and/or functions in the Center (e.g., group services, outreach programming, electronic record-keeping systems/Titanium®).
• Maintain accurate client records within legal and ethical guidelines of the profession; complete documentation and case management in a timely manner; familiarity with Titanium® software.
• Provide service to the Counseling Center, Division of Enrollment & Student Experience, and University by participating in committee work.
• Engage in professional development activities within the department, division, and university, such as seminars, conferences, retreats, and in-services.
• Be knowledgeable of and support CC policies and procedures, as well as divisional & WKU goals and objectives.
• Consult with Director and/or Associate Director regarding all major decisions which affect the CC. 

Knowledge and Skills Considered Essential for Success:

• Knowledge of brief/short-term treatment modalities, developmental theory, psychiatric medications, crisis intervention and suicide assessment helpful.
• Experience within a college or university counseling center; background treating late adolescents and young adults is preferred.
• Candidates should have a demonstrated history of collegial working relationships and a collaborative style.
• Candidates should be self-motivated, self-directed, and a demonstrated commitment to high professional ideals.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Problem solve, work independently on tasks, create team cohesion, and meet deadlines.
• A collaborative spirit of warmth, acceptance, respect, and trust towards colleagues.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Clinical Social Work.
• Minimum of two years extensive clinical experience in a university or college counseling center or similar setting.

Licensed as LPCC, LCSW, LMFT, or licensed psychologist, licensed psychological associate or practitioner.

In addition, candidates should be generalist clinicians with training and experience in a wide range of student mental health and presenting concerns, and have specific interest and experience in providing counseling to traditional college-age as well as non-traditional students. Collegial and collaborative relationships within and beyond the Center and a commitment to equity and inclusivity are expectations of the position and essential to our mission.

Additional Information:

Salary Grade:  109      Salary Range:  $32,000 - $36,000

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services (EEO). To request an accommodation, report/express a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU''s Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Mr. Joshua Hayes, EEO Director/Title IX Investigator/University ADA Coordinator, via email at joshua.hayes@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5121.

The University is also required to investigate complaints of sex and gender-based harassment, also a form of discrimination, and has designated the Title IX Coordinator as the individual responsible for coordinating the investigation and response to such complaints. The Title IX Coordinator for the University is Ms. Deborah Wilkins, who can be contacted via email at deborah.wilkins@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5396. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU''s https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php

Application Instructions:

The following items must be submitted through the electronic talent management system:  

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Statement of philosophy and theoretical approach to working with clients in a university college counseling center (one page, please)

You will receive email confirmation that your submission has been received. The candidate review process will generally begin as materials are received. The expected hire date is on or about March 1, 2021.