Director of Counseling Services

Overview

The Director of Counseling Services provides visionary and strategic leadership for the Institute's Counseling Services within the Student Wellness Center. This Director leads a student-centered, community-focused clinical service model that emphasizes accessible brief therapy, effective crisis intervention, and strong outreach efforts. The Director oversees all clinical, administrative, personnel, and budgetary functions of Counseling Services, ensuring services are accessible, culturally responsive, and aligned with the Institute's mission and current mental health best practices for higher education.

This position serves as the primary mental health expert and consultant for the campus community and plays a critical role in the integrated care model.

Note: The following responsibilities are organized into three core areas, ranked by strategic importance for this role.

• Strategic Leadership, Reform, and Integration (40%)
• Lead the comprehensive review and reform of the Counseling Center's clinical service model to meet the needs of a diverse, community-focused college counseling center. Prioritize implementing brief, time-limited, solution-focused interventions, crisis management, and rapid triage/referral systems.
• Integration and
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Serve as a key member of the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Center's leadership team. Develop and enforce collaborative protocols with Health Services, Health Promotion, and other campus partners to ensure seamless, holistic student care.
• Policy and Assessment:
  Develop, implement, and assess departmental goals, policies, and procedures. Utilize data (e.g., utilization, satisfaction, demographic trends) to drive continuous quality improvement and ensure services are culturally humble and equitable.
• Crisis System Leadership:
  Oversee the department's comprehensive crisis intervention and emergency management system, including the 24/7 on-call rotation (which may involve direct participation or oversight of a contracted service). Serve as the primary consultant on all student psychological emergencies, high-risk cases, and mandated hospitalizations/return assessments.
• Campus Consultation and
  
  Risk Management:
  
  Serve as the lead mental health consultant for the Institute. Actively participate in the Behavioral Intervention/Assessment and Care Team (BIT/ACT) and work closely with Student Affairs, Residential Life, and Academic Leadership to manage student risk and coordinate institutional responses. Administer and interpret applicable laws (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA) impacting clinical practice.
• Clinical and Administrative Duties (35%)
• Staff Oversight:
  Provide direct administrative and clinical supervision to all licensed professional counseling staff. Oversee group case management, clinical records, and statistical reporting.
• Personnel Management:
  Direct the workflow, develop performance standards, conduct performance evaluations, and oversee personnel actions (hiring, promotion, disciplinary actions) within the department.
• Budget Management:
  Develop, administer, and monitor the departmental budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Clinical Practice Standards:
  Ensure all clinical activities adhere to legal, ethical, and professional standards of care. Maintain strict standards for clinical records, confidentiality, and professional development for staff.
• Clinical caseload:
  Expected to carry a small caseload of students
• Community Engagement and Outreach (25%)
• Campus Liaison:
  Serve as the primary liaison between Counseling Services and the Pratt community. Establish and maintain effective communication with administrators, faculty, and professional staff regarding student mental health needs and best practices for supporting students in distress.
• Outreach and Training:
  In partnership with staff, develop and provide proactive mental health literacy, well-being, and suicide prevention training programs for students, faculty, and staff. Participate in key institutional programs, including New Student Orientation and Residential Life Staff Training.
• Referral Network:
  Supervise the development of and maintain strong professional relationships with appropriate external mental health referral agencies and practitioners to support students needing specialized or long-term care.
• Institutional Engagement:
  Participate in Institute-wide committees, task forces, and strategic planning initiatives, ensuring the student mental health perspective is integrated into broader campus policy.

Doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.

D.) in Counseling Psychology, Doctorate in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or a related field is required.

Current, unrestricted license as a Health Service Provider (e.g., Psychologist) in New York State (or immediate eligibility to obtain NY licensure upon hiring).

Minimum of five (5) years of progressive administrative and supervisory experience in a college or university counseling center, with a demonstrated record…