Counsellor

UBC; Electoral Area A; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

UBC is seeking a Counsellor to support the Faculty of Education's students with mental wellbeing, offering short-term counselling and referrals within a collaborative care framework. The role includes developing wellness programming and providing crisis response as needed.

Reports to the Director of Counselling Services and the Associate Dean for operational matters related to Education student wellbeing. This leave replacement position emphasizes equity, diversity, and culturally appropriate

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology or a related field.
• Eligible for professional certification in British Columbia.
• Minimum of five years of experience in clinical counselling plus experience supervising Master’s level practicum students.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provides single session and brief counselling by phone, video and in person to support Education students.
• Develops and delivers wellness programming for Education students.
• Assists in crisis response and referral to stepped care resources as needed.
• Maintains networks with UBC and external resources for student wellbeing.
• Prepares reports and may participate in committees and working groups.

Education

Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology or a related field

Job description

Job Details

Job Title: Counsellor. Job Category: M& P - AAPS. Job Profile: AAPS. Salaried - Counsellors/Psychologists, Level B. Job Family: Group Staff - Non Union. Department: Team D. Services: Counselling Services, Student Health and Wellbeing. VP Students. Compensation Range $8,087.08 - $12,117.08 CAD Monthly. The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Job End Date: December 31, 2027. Posting End Date: November 16, 2026. Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks. Please note this position is a leave replacement for a fixed term duration.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Provides services and programming to the UBC Faculty of Education to support students’ mental wellbeing and help them succeed in their program. Provides single session/short term counselling, triage and referral to stepped care including Counselling Services, Student Health Service, external resources and emergency services as appropriate. Offers consultation to faculty and staff including response to crises. Promotes mental wellbeing for students at in the Faculty of Education through the development and delivery of wellness programming.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Director, Counselling Services, Student Health and Wellbeing, for oversight of clinical work. Reports to the Associate Dean, Teacher Education Office, Faculty of Education for operational matters, and for direction of non-clinical work with respect to Education student wellbeing.

Work Performed

Works closely with Health Promotion and Education as well as faculty student services professionals to develop and deliver mental wellbeing programming for Education students throughout their time in their academic program including orientations, outreach programs, workshops, seminars, groups and other resources that help students normalize stress, understand how to manage stress and maintain mental wellbeing, and how to seek support when needed. Also supports UBC student societies in their wellbeing events. Considers and supports culturally appropriate wellbeing programming for all students as well as mental health programming to meet the unique needs of specific student populations. Conducts assessment to clarify students’ mental health needs and to inform wellness planning and treatment. Works within an integrated, collaborative stepped care system of mental health support, providing referral for registered UBC students to resources on and off campus as needed including self-directed online resources, peer support, coaching, group programs, individual counselling, medical care and crisis intervention. Provides single session and brief counselling by phone, video and in person to support students in the Faculty of Education who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Builds and maintains a network of UBC and external resources specific to needs of students in the Faculty of Education. Provides consultation and support to staff, faculty and student peer leaders on student mental health concerns including crises. Develops and delivers orientations, presentations and training on how to support students' mental wellbeing for faculty and staff. May assume the Wellbeing Liaison role. Participates in meetings with Faculty of Education student services professionals as well as Counselling Services case management and administrative meetings. Facilitates, in connection with UBC Counselling Services as appropriate, the operation of counselling programs within the faculty (e.g. group counselling, etc.). Prepares reports, publications and other documents as required, and may be asked to sit on and participate on committees and working groups in the Faculty of Education.

Works closely with communications professionals to develop content for and promote wellbeing programming for Education students. Responsible for ensuring student wellbeing web resources are up to date and accurate. May provide group supervision for project staff and/or students involved in peer programs, work-study programs, and/or volunteer assignments.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Must be able to act with a considerable degree of autonomy and independence in the provision of mental health support to students while adhering to the ethical standards of the profession. Poor professional judgment or unethical practice would be extremely detrimental to student wellbeing and in some cases could be life threatening. It would also have a significant negative impact on public relations and the reputation of the Faculty of Education, Counselling Services, the University and in some cases result in legal liability for the University.

Supervision Received

Acts independently within established clinical and ethical guidelines. Works within a model of collegial consultation and collaboration, under the direction of the Director of Counselling Services and under the direction of the Associate Dean, Teacher Education Office , Faculty of Education.

Supervision Given

May provide supervision for project staff and/or students involved in peer programs, work-study programs, and/or volunteer assignments. May delegate administrative work to program assistants.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology or a related field.
• Eligible for professional certification in British Columbia.
• Minimum of five years of experience in clinical counselling plus experience supervising Master’s level practicum students.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eligible for registration as a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Social Worker in British Columbia or as a Canadian Certified Counsellor.
• University or college counselling experience an asset.
• Training and experience in single session, triage, stepped care and brief therapy preferred.
• An expressed commitment and experience with equity-deserving student populations.
• Proven sensibility and appreciation of the role that gender, race, disability, gender identity, sexuality, social background play in the experience of health and wellbeing.
• Commitment to serving the needs of a broadly diverse student population.
• Demonstrated ability to provide services that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of specific student populations including indigenous students, international students, graduate students, racialized students, students with disabilities and LGBTQ+ students.
• Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and experience in program development, consultation and outreach.
• Strong interest in and commitment to effective problem solving and continuous improvement of programs and services.
• Possession of personal attributes that facilitate teamwork and the development of effective working relationships with a wide range of students, faculty, and staff.
• Appropriate course-work and training in mental health assessment, individual and group counselling; program evaluation, adolescent and adult development; learning theory; career development, cross-cultural counselling and diversity, personality theory and diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology.
• Knowledge of the unique issues facing university students and university life.
• Expertise and experience in treatment of a wide range of concerns that post‑secondary and professional program students may experience including stress, depression, anxiety, substance use, relationship difficulties, eating / body image issues, career / life planning, transition issues and sexual violence.

About UBC

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and Diversity Statement

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [e-mail].