Counsellor (1 of 2)

Vancouver Island University; Nanaimo; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution is seeking a compassionate Counsellor to provide essential support to students facing emotional and mental health challenges. This role involves one-on-one counselling, crisis intervention, and mental health assessments while ensuring confidentiality and best practices. The Counsellor will work closely with various campus and community partners, contributing to wellness initiatives and fostering an inclusive environment. If you are passionate about enhancing student well-being and making a meaningful impact, this is an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated team committed to supporting diverse student needs.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field and registration with a governing body required.
• Strong crisis management and communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual counselling and crisis intervention services to students.
• Collaborate with campus and community partners to support student wellness.

Skills

Crisis Management

Effective Communication

Relationship Building

Teamwork

Cultural Sensitivity

Problem Solving

Education

Master's degree in Counselling Psychology

Registration with CCPA or BCACC

Job description

We're seeking a compassionate and culturally responsive Counsellor to support students navigating emotional, developmental, and mental health challenges.

Reporting to the Director, Student Services, and with operational guidance from the Manager, Health & Wellness Clinic, the Counsellor provides one-on-one counselling, crisis intervention, and mental health assessments, while maintaining strict confidentiality and best practices.

This role also involves collaborating with campus and community partners, offering expert guidance to students, faculty, and staff, and contributing to wellness initiatives across the institution. If you're passionate about student well-being and building inclusive, supportive environments—this is your opportunity to make a real impact.

Duties:

• Provide culturally sensitive individual counselling, assessment, and crisis intervention services to enrolled students presenting with emotional, developmental and mental health issues.
• Assess and respond appropriately to emergent situations.
• Liaise with and refer students to other services and resources within the university and the community as needed to coordinate treatment.
• Maintain confidential counselling records in keeping with industry best practices.
• Act as a resource on counselling and mental health issues to students, faculty, and staff within the university.
• Participate in a wide range of activities, including student support; institutional, faculty and departmental committee meetings and other initiatives; and professional activities in keeping with their disciplines in and outside the institution.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Social Work from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Registration with an appropriate governing/legal body or association (i.e. CCPA or BCACC).
• Demonstrated excellence in crisis management, intervention, and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated relationship-building and teamwork skills.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Awareness and understanding of trauma-informed approaches.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience and knowledge of programs and services in a post-secondary educational institution.
• Experience with and knowledge of Indigenous values, needs and traditions.
• Experience and training in brief psychotherapy models.
• Demonstrated understanding of group processes and experience counselling groups.
• Strong knowledge base of psychiatric disorders.
• Knowledge of local agencies and services for referral.
• 3 years relevant clinical counselling experience post master's degree.
• Experience with supervision of master's level practicum counselling students.

Note:

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter.