Behavioral Health Counselor , University Health Services

Behavioral Health Counselor 3 (4459C), University Health Services - #88959

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and Mac Arthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond.

Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

University Health Services serves the campus as a comprehensive campus-based health center providing fully accredited medical care, counseling and psychological services, and innovative health promotion programs for students, faculty, and staff.

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Counselor 3 serves as a member of the Ally Care Team (ACT), which is comprised of behavioral health clinicians and support staff. This position provides behavioral health consultations, care navigation, and episodic therapy to students, staff, and faculty on campus. The Behavioral Health Counselor 3 is responsible for providing these services within an integrated medical, mental health, and campus model.

Duties include brief therapy, medical and staff consultations, care navigation support, de-escalation, intervention and assessment (including 5150 evaluation), support with non-critical welfare checks, and postvention support.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is:
October 9, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

DIRECT PATIENT CARE - 75%

• Work collaboratively during designated shift with the other team member to provide on-site behavioral health assessment, intervention, brief therapy, and consultation:
  Quickly assess the needs of individuals or communities presenting with acute behavioral health needs, and collaboratively create a response plan.
• Practice self-awareness and cultural humility as a member of a diverse team; be conscientious and sensitive to interpersonal dynamics with other team members.
• Demonstrate strong ability to remain calm and attentive during high-acuity encounters, as well as to work through several separate encounters during a single shift.
• Demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high-acuity, campus-based response position.
• Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, harm reduction, and person-centered behavioral health assessment, brief intervention, de-escalation, and episodic therapy for individuals on the UC Berkeley campus footprint experiencing non-violent acute behavioral health needs.
• Provide consultation to medical providers, campus partners, and staff regarding behavioral health concerns and care navigation.
• Assess for suicidality, homicidal intent, violence risk, grave disability, and substance use using appropriate measurements, including C-SSRS, Mini Mental Status Exam, and others.
• Complete 5150 Application as appropriate.
• Coordinate transportation and care with receiving hospital.
• Provide on-site support/psychological first aid and coordination after campus traumas (e.g., campus death).
• Make appropriate referrals/linkage based on clinical needs.

COLLABORATION - 10%

• Documents client progress, treatment…