School Counselor or Mental Health Therapist

School Counselor or Mental Health Therapist

• Position Type:
  Off-Site Teaching/ Secondary General Education
• Date Posted: 8/25/2026
• Location:
  
  Polk Alternative Education Center
• Date Available:
  
  School Year
• Provide diagnostic assessments/evaluations for students with behavior challenges that significantly impact their academic success.
• Assist school personnel to identify and understand variables which negatively affect a student's academic performance (including mental illness, trauma, and other Adverse Childhood Experiences) and recommend strategies which best support the student.
• Coordinate therapy services and other referrals in collaboration with school nurse and community service providers by facilitating communication to promote continuity of care for students and families.
• Assess and de-escalate crisis situations: assessing for suicide ideation, homicidal ideation, and child's level of safety while working with the family and school throughout the process.
• Deliver services on site as needed.
• Provide individual/group counseling as needed.
• Provide support groups and/or parent education for families as needed.
• Provide direct observation of children within the classroom. Participate in 1:1 interventions as necessary in order to encourage student success in meeting classroom expectations.
• Assist school personnel and family to identify issues which impede the child's successful social and emotional behavior and create an individual behavior plan that addresses these issues.
• Promote services to students and their families within the context of multicultural understanding and competence that enhance families' support of students' learning experiences.
• Consult on such issues as attendance, confidentiality, ethnicity and diversity, mental health, substance use, behavior management, discipline, crisis intervention and child abuse and neglect.
• Ensure all paperwork is completed in a timely and accurate manner while adhering to confidentiality and other professional ethical standards.

• Endorsement in Counselor 5-12 or Masters degree in mental health counseling, psychology, social work or related field from accredited college or university required.
• Maintains appropriate professional licensure to practice in the State of Iowa such as LISW or LMHT.
• Minimum of two years experience assessing children's mental health needs related to challenging behaviors and developing/implementing plans, preferably in a school setting.
• Demonstrated successful cross-sector collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team to coordinate care for individual students.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with school staff, community service providers, students, and families to achieve successful outcomes.
• Applicants who hold or are eligible to obtain a valid School Psychologist license/certificate are encouraged to apply.
• Experience with students and families from diverse backgrounds, understanding the impact of race and poverty upon students and families.
• Position requires a valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle.

• Ability to advocate for students in accessing needed resources.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community.
• Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written communication.
• Commitment to help program youth and their families identify their strengths.
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity.
• Orientation to continuous problem solving and positive life outlook.
• Ability to recognize sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge of, and…