Mental Health Counselor

Mental Health Counselor

UWC-USA is a two-year, co-educational boarding school in Montezuma, New Mexico, founded in 1982. The school educates approximately 220 students, ages 16–19, from more than 70 countries, emphasizing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, experiential education, community service, and environmental stewardship.

The Mental Health Counselor reports to the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health and provides comprehensive mental health services that promote student well-being and support full participation in the UWC-USA experience. The counselor provides assessment, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, psychoeducation, and referral services while collaborating closely with Health Services, Residential Life, Academic Affairs, and external healthcare providers. The counselor maintains accurate and confidential clinical documentation and contributes to a comprehensive campus approach to student mental health and well-being.

Estimated caseload is 25 clients with weekly sessions. The schedule for counseling sessions will be set in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health to include evening and weekend availability, with a possible mix of in-person and telehealth delivery. On-site accommodation is available for two nights per week.

• Provide comprehensive mental health assessments for students presenting with emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, or psychological concerns.
• Provide short-term individual counseling using evidence-based therapeutic approaches appropriate for adolescents and young adults.
• Facilitate psycho educational and therapeutic groups as appropriate.
• Develop treatment plans and regularly evaluate student progress.
• Provide crisis assessment, stabilization, and intervention for students experiencing acute mental health concerns.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments, safety planning, and follow-up care in accordance with school policy.
• Coordinate referrals for psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, specialized treatment, hospitalization, in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health, or community-based services when indicated.
• Support students returning to campus following hospitalization, medical leave, or therapeutic treatment.
• Provide services on a schedule set in consultation with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health, including some evening and weekend work.

• Collaborate with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health, Health Clinic staff, physicians, Residential Life staff, faculty, advisors, and administrators.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case consultation while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Communicate with students, parents/guardians, healthcare providers, and national committees, as appropriate and consistent with applicable privacy laws and school policy.
• Consult with faculty and Residential Life staff regarding student mental health concerns and behavioral support.
• Assist in developing and monitoring individualized support plans for students experiencing ongoing mental health concerns.

• Participate in the school's crisis response system.
• Respond to mental health emergencies, including suicidal ideation, self-harm, trauma, severe emotional distress, and psychiatric crises.
• Assist in determining appropriate levels of care, including emergency evaluation and hospitalization when necessary.
• Participate in post-crisis planning, reintegration planning, and follow-up support.

• Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential clinical documentation in accordance with professional standards, applicable laws, and school policies.
• Complete assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, safety plans, referrals, and discharge summaries as required.
• Maintain documentation using Therapy Notes and other approved documentation systems.
• Assist with program evaluation and collection of non-identifiable utilization data.

• Provide individual mental health education and wellness counseling to students.
• Support campus programming related to mental health, stress management, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, consent, sleep, substance use harm reduction, resilience, and adjustment to boarding school.
• Assist with orientation programming and ongoing student well-being initiatives.
• Collaborate with peer education programs and student leaders to promote mental health awareness and help-seeking behaviors.
• Support campus suicide prevention, resilience, and well-being initiatives.

• Maintain current professional licensure and comply with continuing education requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision, peer consultation, and professional development.
• Maintain current knowledge of adolescent mental health, evidence-based clinical practice, and applicable behavioral health regulations.
• Foster collaborative relationships with local behavioral health providers,…