DOC Mental Health Counselor SW​/C II Gender Affirming Care; Sterling

Position located in Sterling, Colorado. This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

Who May Apply: This position is open to Colorado state residents only. However, vacancies that are located within 30 miles of the state border are exempt from the residency requirement. Therefore, applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado for Sterling.

Colorado Department of Corrections Mission: We are a team of dynamic and diverse professionals building a safer Colorado by cultivating transformative opportunities for those under our supervision.

Our vision ... Building a safer Colorado for today and tomorrow.

CORE Values

• Community Safety
• Dignity, Diversity and Respect
• Opportunity
• Collaborative partnerships

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and build greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.

In addition to a rewarding, meaningful career, state employment offers:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans. Member Contribution Rates. Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as Safety Officers and are eligible for increased PERA benefits.
• Medical and dental health plans;
  State of Colorado Benefits
• Paid life insurance;
• Short and long-term disability coverage;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick time;
• Employee wellness programs;
• Tuition Reimbursement;
• Training opportunities and more.

For questions regarding this job announcement please reach out to Brenda Valdez at  or

Due to the State's current hiring freeze, this position will not be filled until January 1, 2026, or after, unless a hiring freeze waiver/exemption has been approved. The following announcement has been approved for recruitment through the waiver/exemption process during the temporary hiring freeze.

• Provides professional mental health services to inmates to include formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, gender affirming care and clinical interventions;
• Assures accurate Information System mental health needs levels, including Psychiatric and Developmental Disability needs level codes;
• Provides group, brief, and individual therapy, and crisis intervention to include participation in 24 hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation;
• Assures both emergency and non-emergency transfer for inmates experiencing acute mental health needs;
• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in mental health care and treatment of inmates;
• Assures continuity of care for inmates by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies;
• Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive inmate mental health records;
• Monitors inmate treatment and listens to inmate concerns and provides counseling and direction;
• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control;
• Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self protection skills.

• Applicant must possess a master's degree from an accredited institution in one of the following mental health fields: counseling, social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy. You must attach a copy of your transcripts that contain your name, name of the accredited institution, type of degree received and date degree was conferred.
• Possession of a current, valid permit or license from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as one of the following:
  Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, Psychologist Candidate or Psychologist will substitute.

• Graduation with a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field such as counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy or psychology from a program accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT or COAMFTE) or American Psychological Association (APA).
• License eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Work, Licensed…