Behavioral Health Resident in Counseling

Department: University Life

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary:  Grant funded salary range $58k-$60k; commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

Student Health Services (SHS) provides healthcare services at George Mason University. SHS provides primary care services and health promotion to eligible students at Mason, including, but not limited to, initial and follow up assessment, history taking, physical exam of patients, utilization of differential diagnosis, appropriate interventions, consultations and referrals as indicated, and basic emergency treatment and stabilization. Staff provide services to faculty, staff, and visitors on an as needed basis.

About the Position:

The Behavioral Health Resident in Counseling serves as a member of our integrated team of professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, nurses, and on-site behavioral health staff. The Behavioral Health Resident in Counseling provides brief interventions and brief psychotherapy to students during and after their medical appointments in the clinic or via telehealth. The Behavioral Health Resident in Counseling provides a spectrum of evidence-based services to assist patients to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic alcohol and drug use and mental health concerns. The Behavioral Health Resident in Counseling refers students who need more intensive treatment to local resources under the clinical supervision of the Associate Director of Behavioral Health Services. This position is funded through a 2-year grant from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

Responsibilities:

• Routinely conducts evidence-based screens, brief interventions, and brief therapy for common mental health problems, problematic health behaviors, and risky or harmful use of substances including alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medications. 
• Creates and periodically updates integrated care plans in consultation with patients and the healthcare team, linking multiple services, healthcare providers, and community resources to meet patients' needs, which can include coordinating services with other Mason student support offices, involving Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Services, and the Student Support and Advocacy Center. 
• Ensures the flow and exchange of information among the healthcare team, patient, and referrals, and timely documentation of all interactions in the electronic health record.
• Completes and tracks responses to referrals to providers and programs at George Mason University and in the community, along with conducting brief follow up services with students to support and monitor program outcomes and effectiveness. 
• Adapts health interventions to the work-flow and pace that typically characterizes the provision of primary care, including rapid assessment, brief treatment, and a high daily volume of patient contacts utilizing motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and problem-solving therapy, while ensuring to promote best practices at SHS by participating in regular training in areas of mandated reporting, cultural competency, and suicidal behavior identification, prevention, and treatment. 
• Establishes rapport and maintains effective working relationships with diverse individuals, including patients, family members, and other providers. 
• Attends SCHEV orientation and participates in cohort meetings with other counselors and social workers working toward licensure, as well as collects requested data for SCHEV and distributes at regular intervals. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population; and
• In order to comply with grant requirements, must be eligible to obtain certification to practice as a Resident in Counseling in Virginia and be actively working towards full licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Must have earned no more than 1000 hours toward their LPC.

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary healthcare team;
• Proficiency in using electronic health records (EHR);
• Ability to work effectively with young adults and/or college students; and
• Knowledge of Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and/or Problem-Solving Therapy.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Behavioral Health Resident in Counseling at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

This position is not eligible for international via sponsorship

Posting Open Date:  March 17, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  March 31, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes