Mental Health Counselor

Position Summary & Responsibilities

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) seeks a collaboratively-minded individual to serve as a Mental Health Counselor, joining our group of committed faculty and staff passionate about art, education, and community. The Mental Health Counselor is integral to the Student Life team, holistically supporting students while providing individual and group counseling services at Maine College of Art & Design. The position reports to and collaborates with the Dean of Student Life on student challenges, issues, and concerns related to mental health. The Counselor is responsible for the daily operations and leading high-quality mental health services; the counseling and administrative supervision and training of counseling staff; development, communication, and counseling policies and procedures. The position will develop and maintain collaborations across campus and with community partners to provide referrals to community-based providers. Maine College of Art & Design recognizes that diversity is integral to the academic experience and strives to foster an inclusive culture defined by respect, equity, and social responsibility. All employees are expected to actively support these values.

• Providing initial individual and group counseling to undergraduate and graduate students

• Ensuring a safe, welcoming, respectful, and encouraging environment for all students

• Assessing students to determine need and appropriate interventions and treatment

• Assessing students in crisis and recommending a course of action. Guide and support students and others in crises, as well as those returning from hospitalizations

• When appropriate, refer students to other services, internally or externally

• Providing information about mental health topics and wellness to individual students and the MECA&D community

• Consulting with other college counselors; seeking professional consultation and clinical supervision as needed

• Participating on committees within MECA&D as appropriate and participating in department meetings as needed

• Tracking counseling data and sharing this general information

• Engaging in continuing education and professional development activities and sharing learning with co-workers and interns

• Providing counseling supervision for MECA&D's Counseling & Wellness practicum and intern students-masters level

• Collaborating with the Student Life team, develop wellness programming initiatives based on student needs

• Participating in college wide activities, such as commencements, orientations, open houses, and admitted student days

Qualifications

• Master's degree in mental health, counseling, psychology, social work, or related field required

• Possess relevant state licensing and liability insurance and be in good standing to provide clinical counseling required.

Experience

• 1 year of post-licensure experience as a Mental Health Counselor is required. 2+ years post-licensure experience as a Mental Health Counselor is preferred

• Experience working with diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to supporting an inclusive and equitable community preferred

• Experience managing crises and assessing for risk and suicidal ideation and intent preferred

• Previous supervisory experience is preferred

• Experience in diagnosis and treatment planning is preferred

• Experience managing crises and assessing for risk and suicidal ideation and intent is preferred

• Experience in diagnosis and treatment planning is preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to develop rapport, collaborate, and build relationships with students, the counseling team, and the MECA&D community

• High personal performance standards and personal integrity

• Excellent clinical skills

• Ability to apply counseling theories and techniques

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

• Ability to handle information with tact and diplomacy

• Ability to use a holistic approach to mental health

• Ability to communicate effectively with students and other members of the MECA&D community as well as parents and off-campus providers

• Ability to interpret and advocate for student concerns to appropriate individuals while maintaining confidentiality

• Ability to work independently and also to work as part of a team;

• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced work setting

• Ability to show respect and sensitivity when working with students of diverse backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations. Willingness to seek additional knowledge about diverse populations

• Knowledge of area resources and providers and ability and willingness to refer students when appropriate

• Willingness and ability to seek additional information related to student issues and mental health diagnoses and treatment as needed

• Ability to understand and support other areas of the college and to negotiate creative, mutually effective solutions

• Ability and willingness to be flexible

• Ability to manage budgets and use funds responsibly

• Strong organizational and decision-making skills

• Strong team/consensus-building skills

• Ability to resolve conflicts effectively

• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed

• Effective assessment and documentation skills

Compensation & Benefits

This is a year-round, full-time, exempt position. Based on experience, compensation ranges from $65,000 to $70,000.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vacation, sick time, and retirement benefits.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately and will be accepted until a hire is made. Application materials must be sent digitally in a single PDF, not to exceed a 25MB file size.

Please email the document to employment@meca.edu. Place "Mental Health Counselor [Last Name, First Name]" in the subject line.

The PDF must include

• An application/cover letter that describes how the candidate's experience, accomplishments, and qualifications intersect with the listed position description
• A resumé/curriculum vitae
• A diversity statement
• A list of four references with contact information, one of which should be a prior supervisor and/or professor