Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 97,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Toronto Health & Wellness seeks a Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator to provide counselling and life coaching to Black, Indigenous and Racialized students in a fully in-person setting. You will work within the embedded mental health care team, under the Director, and deliver individual counselling and psycho-educational workshops.

The role includes conducting intake assessments, facilitating discharge planning, developing referrals, and offering consultation to faculty, staff and

Qualifications

• MSW and registered with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Minimum five years related experience in community mental health or outpatient settings.
• Experience with Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students with mental health issues.
• Experience addressing oppression, racism, homophobia, transphobia and ableism.
• Strong communication, judgment, and discretion.
• Ability to liaise with equity-seeking student and campus organizations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Assess the mental health of clients and provide counselling.
• Determine risk of self-harm or harm to others and intervene.
• Update and maintain patient records.
• Lead seminars and/or workshops.
• Follow PHIPA rules and procedures.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Crisis counselling

Cultural competence

Risk assessment

Interpersonal skills

Education

MSW

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator

Date Posted: 08/21/2026
Req ID: 49933
Faculty/Division: Vice-Provost, Students
Department: Health and Wellness
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00046836
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us

Student Life connects life to learning. We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate in university life actively and find connection and community while discovering new ways of thinking and being in the world. We provide resources, support and engagement opportunities that are inclusive and accessible, ensuring every student can build experiences that set them up for a lifetime of success.

Consisting of an interdisciplinary team of health professionals and support staff, Health & Wellness at the University of Toronto aims to support graduate and undergraduate students in reaching their academic goals, engage students in their development and learning, and support their health and well-being by providing health education, clinical and consultation services. Health and Wellness (HW) provides counselling to students with a wide range of concerns ranging from relationship problems to debilitating depression and anxiety, suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress, and eating disorders.

The University of Toronto is acting on the recommendations of its Institutional Anti-Black Racism Task Force that address anti-Black racism and promote Black inclusion and excellence within the tri-campus community. It is a priority for the University to have diversity among its staff that support our diverse undergraduate and graduate student population. This search seeks to rectify the under-representation of Black student-supporting staff within this department of the University. From among the best qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Black. Recognizing the complexities of identity, this preference will extend to Black persons from Africa or of African descent.

Your opportunity

The Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator is a Registered Social Worker and is an integral member of the embedded mental health care team in HW. With a focus on the University’s black student community, a member of the mental health care team, and under the direction of the Director, Professional Practice & Quality Assurance, provides counselling services for Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students in accordance with and within an anti-oppressive and anti-racist framework. The incumbent provides life coaching, personal counselling and solution/ goal focused psychotherapy to students in accordance with the University of Toronto Health and Wellness, vision, mission, and strategic plan, and is expected to demonstrate quality and effectiveness in work habits. In addition to personal counselling the incumbent will act as a consultant to faculty, staff, and students on counseling and related matters, conducts workshops and relevant training. Inherent in this role are the knowledge, skills and attitudes specific to critical thinking and decision making, ability to analyze and assess presenting mental health concerns and collaborate with the medical team in the management of these mental health concerns, and flexibility and decision making in fluid situations with unpredictable outcomes. The Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator will conduct screening/intake assessments; facilitate discharge planning; develop and facilitate community referrals and refer to the university or outside community; provide brief counselling to individuals; and run psycho-educational workshops.

Your responsibilities will include

• Assessing the mental health of clients


• Providing clinical counselling for students and making referrals to appropriate resources


• Determining if there is a life-threatening situation, risk of self-harm or harm to others and independently applying appropriate interventions


• Updating and maintaining patient records


• Leading seminars and/or workshops


• Following rules and procedural processes related to Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)

Essential Qualifications

• MSW and is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.


• Minimum five (5) years related experience. Related experience should be in a Community Mental Health setting, and/or Outpatient Mental Health Unit where the incumbent has performed client intakes/assessments, crisis counselling, brief or short-term counselling to individuals, and psycho-educational workshops.


• Experience working with Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students living with mental health issues , including but not limited to depression, anxiety, social relationships, eating disorders, self-injurious behavior, trauma, psychiatric diagnoses, difficult family dynamics, etc.


• Experience with navigating and/or addressing oppression, racism, homophobia, transphobia and/or ableism and/or connection to Black, Indigenous, and Racialized communities, including newcomer and disability communities.


• Extensive experience with mental health and illness, behavioral issues, anger management, and conflict resolution.


• Knowledge and awareness of, the life experiences and needs of Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students.


• Extensive knowledge of, and ability to collaborate and liaise with, equity-seeking student and campus organizations.


• Keyboarding skills and working knowledge of relevant software is required (e.g. Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.


• Good judgement and sensitivity, flexibility and resourcefulness.


• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and senior academic administrators about issues facing students in crisis and make recommendations.


• Able to exercise patience, tact, judgment and discretion.


• Demonstrated ability to relate to students, staff, and faculty in ways that build confidence and trust.

Assets (Nonessential)

• Life coaching, mindful based therapies and alternative evidenced based therapies.


• Skill in working with university-aged young adults, and individuals in crisis.


• Experience working with post-secondary students and knowledge of university and community mental health resources.

To be successful in this role you will be

• Approachable


• Communicator
  
• Diligent


• Intuitive


• Patient


• Perceptive

NOTE: This is a fully in-person position with some evenings required.

Closing Date: 09/03/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 15 -- $97,348. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $124,491. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Health & Wellbeing
Recruiter: Fiona Chan

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Job descriptions are available upon request for internal applicants.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

Job Segment

Embedded, Social Worker, Information Security, Counseling, Quality Assurance, Technology, Service, Healthcare