Counsellor in Residence

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Vancouver seeks a Counsellor in Residence to support mental wellbeing of residence students. This role involves providing individual counselling, facilitating group therapy, and developing programs aimed at improving mental health. Candidates should have a Master's in Counselling Psychology and at least five years of clinical experience. The position offers a competitive salary and emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its work environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counselling Psychology or related field with professional certification eligibility.
• Minimum of five years experience in clinical counselling, including supervisory experience.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide counselling to support residence students with mental health concerns.
• Facilitate group therapy programs for students in residence.
• Conduct triage and referral to appropriate support resources.
• Develop and implement mental wellbeing programs for residence students.

Skills

Counselling

Crisis management

Group therapy facilitation

Education

Master's degree in Counselling Psychology

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Counsellors/Psychologists, Level B Job Title Counsellor in Residence Department Strategic Initiatives | Residence Life Management | Student Housing and Community Services Compensation Range $7,622.83 - $11,886.67 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.

Posting End Date January 4, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date Ongoing

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 Description Summary

The Counsellor in Residence provides services and programming for residence students, to support their mental wellbeing. Provides counselling, triage and referral to UBC and community resources as well as emergency services as appropriate. Provides consultation as well as support for Residence Advisors to support residence students’ mental wellbeing.

Organizational Status

The CiR position has a dual reporting structure: Operational and administrative oversight will be led by an Associate Director in Student Residence and Clinical oversight will be provided by an Associate Director in Counselling Services. Works collaboratively with Student Residence professional staff as well as with the team of professionals in Counselling Services actively participating in and contributing to the development and delivery of effective mental well-being programs and services in Student Residence.

Work Performed

• Provides counselling to support residence students who are experiencing mental health concerns.

• Facilitates group therapy programs for students in residence

• Conducts triage as needed and referral to the most appropriate level of support utilizing a stepped care approach, including UBC and community resources as well as emergency services as indicated.

• Develops and implements programs and consultation services for residence students to support student mental health and wellbeing.

• Works closely with Student Residence professionals to develop and deliver mental wellbeing programming for residence students throughout their time living in UBC Vancouver student residences including orientations, outreach programs, workshops, seminars, groups and other resources that helps students normalize stress, understand how to manage stress and maintain mental wellbeing, and how to seek support when needed.

• Supports Residence Advisors in their wellbeing events.

• Responds to mental health crises within the residence system, involving consultation to Residence Advisors as well as coordinating and/or providing direct counselling services for students impacted.

• Proactively conducts “soft reach-outs” to students identified in Student At-Risk reports, Interaction Logs, or otherwise identified by residence professional staff.

• Occasionally promotes the Counsellor in Residence program by participating in tabling during move-in day and other peak periods, in addition to sending email communications to students living in residence.

• Participates in meetings with residence professional staff, Counselling Services case management and administrative meetings.

• Prepares reports, publications and other documents as required. Works closely with Communications to develop content for and promote well-being programming for student residents.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Must be able to act autonomy and independence in the provision of psychological assistance 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 Student Housing and Community Services, Counselling Services, and the University, and in some cases may 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 Associate Director of Counselling for clinical supervision and Associate Director of Student Residence for administrative/operational guidance. The Counsellors in Residence are also provided peer clinical supervision and additional guidance through Counselling Services.

Supervision Given

May provide supervision to Master level practicum students.

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

• University or college counselling experience with specific focus on residence life an asset.
• Training and experience with single session and brief therapy, of the Stepped Care model.
• Demonstrated ability to provide services that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of specific student populations including Indigenous students, international students, and graduate students. Commitment to serving the needs of a broadly diverse student population
• 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 students may experience including stress, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, eating/body image issues, career/life planning, transition issues, sexual violence and ADHD.
• Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and experience in program development, consultation and outreach.
• 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.
• Strong interest in and commitment to effective problem solving and continuous improvement of programs and services.