| Position Title |
Behavioral Health Counselor |
| About the University |
Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties. |
| About the Department |
The Student Health Center is a primary care medical clinic specializing in college health. The Student Health Center is staffed by a team of board certified family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and support staff. We provide an extensive array of services including preventive health care and management of health concerns, illnesses and injuries. We strive to support student success academically, physically and emotionally. We exist to assist our students to stay well during their college years, get well if they become ill so as to minimize time away from their studies, and to be well lifelong.
The Student Health Center and Enrollment & Student Services Division support Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. |
| About the Position |
The Behavioral Health Counselor provides a range of clinical mental health services in a primary care setting. The Behavioral Health Counselor conducts mental health assessment, triage, and direct treatment with brief solution focused and evidenced-based therapeutic interventions. They regularly provide risk assessment and crisis intervention mental health services to patients experiencing acute behavioral health issues, to include safety planning and facilitation of placement in a higher level of care or referral for urgent psychiatric evaluation. The Behavioral Health Counselor also provides informal teaching and consultation to other health professionals, families, and campus and community partners. They may engage in outreach and participate in the training of masters level interns.
This is a 9-11 month cyclic position (40 hours per week, 9-11 months per year).
80% DIRECT SERVICE
- Screens and evaluates patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders. Facilitates patient engagement in clinically indicated follow-up care.
- Provides brief solution-focused counseling interventions using evidence-based techniques such as the collaborative assessment and management of suicide risk (CAMS), behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.
- Accepts primary responsibility for risk assessments and brief interventions with patients experiencing mental health crises. Develops plans with patients, campus partners, natural supports and emergency services to mitigate those risks.
- Supports psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on treatment adherence, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
- Facilitates referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).
- Works collaboratively and coordinates care with primary care, psychiatric services, emergency services, outpatient services, campus partners, other treatment team members, etc.
10% ADMINISTRATIVE
- Documents delivery of services in the medical record. Completes all paperwork to agency standards and within required timelines.
- Follows agency policies and procedures consistent with state mental health statues, ethical guidelines, best practices, HIPPA and FERPA.
- Attends staff and workgroup meetings.
10% CONSULTATION AND TRAINING
- Educates and consults with other staff, trainees, and campus partners about behavioral health issues. Participates in campus teams and consultation groups.
- Serves on internal and external committees.
- Performs other administrative duties under the direction of the Coordinator of Behavioral Health or Medical Director.
- Position may also include outreach opportunities.
|
| Required Qualifications |
1) Master’s degree in clinical or counseling psychology, clinical social work, or related mental health field.
2) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), licensed in Washington State with current registration by the position start date.
3) Experience in diagnosis and treatment of patients with complex mental health conditions.
4) Experience providing risk assessment and crisis response.
5) Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders (e.g., motivational interviewing, problem-solving treatment, behavioral activation).
6) Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team setting.
7) Demonstrated competency working with diverse populations.
|
| Preferred Qualifications |
1) Experience in college mental health.
2) Relevant clinical experience in primary care or hospital settings.
3) Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders that is within appropriate scope of practice for type of provider filling role.
|
| Conditions of Employment |
All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations. |
| Salary |
Hiring range for position is $72,070 - $82,880/year. Through longevity position tops out at $93,690/year.
|
| Benefits Information |
Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.
|
| Application Instructions |
A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and specifically address the required and preferred qualifications.
Please include the names and contact information of three professional references.
|
| Closing Date Notes |
Application review begins December 4, 2023; position is open until filled. |