Counsellor – Student Affairs and Services

Saint Mary's University; Halifax; On-site; CAD 81,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Defined Contribution Pension plan

Vacation

Personal days

Flexible Workplace

Professional development

Holiday closure

Summer hour schedule

Employee Transit EPass through Halifax

Job summary

Saint Mary's University in Halifax invites applications for a Counsellor within the Student Affairs and Services team. The role provides individual and group counselling, crisis response, and culturally grounded support for Indigenous, Black, international, and other student populations. The position emphasizes anti-racist practice and collaboration across campus to promote mental health awareness.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Arts, Education, Science or Social Work with a concentration in counselling or psychology.
• Minimum 3 years direct counselling experience, preferably in a post-secondary setting.
• Registration in good standing with a Nova Scotia regulatory body (NSRP/NSCCT/NSCSW).
• Current knowledge in counselling, including trauma-informed practice.
• Experience working in an anti-oppressive and anti-racist framework.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual personal and group counselling/psychotherapy using a brief therapy model to support diverse student populations.
• Assess and respond to emergency situations and provide crisis response.
• Design and assign individually tailored practice skills for clients.
• Integrate culturally grounded approaches to ensure culturally relevant support for all students.
• Accept and facilitate client referrals both internally and externally.
• Consult with the Manager of Counselling and other Clinicians on client cases.
• Support a wide variety of student clients from an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens.
• Make decisions regarding clients' mental status and risk level.
• Conduct initial intake appointments and determine the best course of action.
• Support design of educational workshops and promotional materials for counselling.
• Collaborate with campus partners to educate employees and students about mental health topics.

Skills

Counselling skills

Crisis intervention

Cultural competence

Anti-racist/anti- oppressive mindset

Education

Master's degree (counselling/psychology)

Job description

Date Posted: October 6, 2026

Posting Deadline: October 20, 2026

Department: Student Affairs and Services

Type of Employment: Permanent, Full-Time

Group Affiliation: APC Group, Group 7 ($80,889 - $104,245 annually)

At Saint Mary's University, you will be surrounded by a talented and dedicated team of professionals committed to accessibility, diversity, and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University's success. We are currently looking to fill the position of Counsellor to join our Student Affairs and Services team.

In support of the University's commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, the Scarborough Charter, and in accordance with the University Employment Equity and Diversity policy, preference will be given to candidates who identify as Indigenous or Black. All applicants are asked to self-identify in their cover letter. Indigenous applicants are required to document their Indigenous identity in their application and should be aware that the University may verify the community connections of applicants.

What We Offer

As a team member at Saint Mary's, we are proud to offer many benefits. Some of these include:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Defined Contribution Pension plan
• Vacation
• Personal days
• Flexible Workplace
• Professional development
• Holiday closure
• Summer hour schedule
• Employee Transit EPass through Halifax Transit

Job Information And Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Manager, Counselling, the Counsellor will:

• Provide individual personal and group counselling/psychotherapy using a brief therapy model to support all student populations including Indigenous students, Black/African Nova Scotian students, international students, students with disabilities and students who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, among others.
• Assess and respond to emergency situations and provide crisis response.
• Design and assign individually tailored practice skills for clients.
• Integrate culturally grounded approaches in the counselling process to ensure culturally relevant support for all students.
• Accept and facilitate client referrals both internally and externally.
• Consult with the Manager of Counselling and other Clinicians on client cases.
• Support a wide variety of student clients from an anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens.
• Be responsible for decision making regarding clients' mental status and risk level (i.e. parental notification).
• Conduct initial intake appointments and determine the best course of action (i.e. continuing with The Counselling Centre or referring students to a more appropriate resource).
• Support the design of educational workshops and promotional materials for counselling, as needed.
• Assist with the creation of and collaboration with campus partners to educate employees and students about mental health topics.

Experience And Education Requirements

To be the successful Counsellor you will have:

• A Masters degree in Arts, Education, Science or Social Work with a concentration/specialization in counselling or psychology.
• A minimum of 3 years direct experience, which can include practicum; preferably in a post-secondary counselling setting.
• Registration (candidate status acceptable) and in good standing with a regulatory body in Nova Scotia (NSRP, NSCCT, NSCSW).
• Current knowledge in the field of counselling, including trauma-informed practice, gained through study and professional experience.
• Experience working in a culturally competent and culturally responsive manner using an anti-oppressive and anti-racist framework.
• Experience navigating and/or addressing systemic oppression, including knowledge of how such factors impact students in a post-secondary environment.
• Strong assessment skills and experience with crisis counselling.
• Knowledge of racial trauma and culturally grounded healing would be considered an asset.
• Awareness of the lived experience of Black and Indigenous students or personal lived experience as a Black or Indigenous person would be considered an asset.

At Saint Mary's University equity and diversity are integral to excellence and enrich our community. As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and respect, we welcome applications from women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity and others who might contribute to the growth and enrichment of our community.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].