Mental Health Counselor

UWC-USA; Montezuma (NM); On-site; USD 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two nights per week on-campus housing

Job summary

UWC-USA in Montezuma, New Mexico, seeks a Mental Health Counselor to provide comprehensive mental health services for a diverse student body. You will conduct assessments, short-term counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals, collaborating with Health Services and Residential Life.

The role requires some evenings/weekends, with on-campus presence and possible telehealth. On-site housing is provided two nights per week.

Qualifications

• Experience counseling adolescents/young adults.
• Experience with suicide risk assessments and crisis intervention.
• Strong assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical documentation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health assessments for students with emotional or behavioral concerns.
• Offer short-term individual counseling and group therapy as appropriate.
• Facilitate psychoeducational/therapeutic groups and develop treatment plans.
• Conduct crisis assessment, stabilization, and intervention.
• Coordinate referrals for specialty evaluation and treatment as needed.
• Support students returning from hospitalization or medical leave.
• Deliver services on a schedule including some evenings and weekends; some telehealth.

Skills

Counseling for adolescents/youngAdults

Suicide risk assessment

Crisis intervention

Assessment & diagnosis

Treatment planning

Clinical documentation

Confidentiality & boundaries

Team collaboration

Independent work

Cultural competency

Excellent communication

Education

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Licensed Professional Art Therapist (LPAT)

Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)

Psychological Associate

Tools

Therapy Notes

Google Suite

Job description

UWC-USA: Mental Health Counselor

Start Date: August 3, 2026

• Position: Mental Health Counselor
• Department: Health Services
• Reports to: Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health
• Travel Required?: Some
• FLSA Status / Appointment Type: Full-Time | On-campus | 10-month (August to May)
• Campus-provided Housing?: Two nights per week
• School-provided Cell Phone?: No
• Remote or On-campus Presence?: On-campus (occasional telehealth)

Position Description

UWC-USA is a two-year, co-educational boarding school in Montezuma, New Mexico, founded in 1982. The school educates approximately 220 students, ages 16–19, from more than 70 countries, emphasizing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, experiential education, community service, and environmental stewardship.

The Mental Health Counselor reports to the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health and provides comprehensive mental health services that promote student well-being and support full participation in the UWC-USA experience. The counselor provides assessment, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, psychoeducation, and referral services while collaborating closely with Health Services, Residential Life, Academic Affairs, and external healthcare providers. The counselor maintains accurate and confidential clinical documentation and contributes to a comprehensive campus approach to student mental health and well-being.

Estimated caseload is 25 clients with weekly sessions. The schedule for counseling sessions will be set in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health to include evening and weekend availability, with a possible mix of in-person and telehealth delivery. On-site accommodation is available for two nights per week.

Position Responsibilities

Clinical Services

• Provide comprehensive mental health assessments for students presenting with emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, or psychological concerns.
• Provide short-term individual counseling using evidence-based therapeutic approaches appropriate for adolescents and young adults.
• Facilitate psychoeducational and therapeutic groups as appropriate.
• Develop treatment plans and regularly evaluate student progress.
• Provide crisis assessment, stabilization, and intervention for students experiencing acute mental health concerns.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments, safety planning, and follow-up care in accordance with school policy.
• Coordinate referrals for psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, specialized treatment, hospitalization, in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health, or community-based services when indicated.
• Support students returning to campus following hospitalization, medical leave, or therapeutic treatment.
• Provide services on a schedule set in consultation with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health, including some evening and weekend work.

Care Coordination and Communication

• Collaborate with the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health, Health Clinic staff, physicians, Residential Life staff, faculty, advisors, and administrators.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case consultation while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Communicate with students, parents/guardians, healthcare providers, and national committees, as appropriate and consistent with applicable privacy laws and school policy.
• Consult with faculty and Residential Life staff regarding student mental health concerns and behavioral support.
• Assist in developing and monitoring individualized support plans for students experiencing ongoing mental health concerns.

Crisis Response

• Participate in the school's crisis response system.
• Respond to mental health emergencies, including suicidal ideation, self-harm, trauma, severe emotional distress, and psychiatric crises.
• Assist in determining appropriate levels of care, including emergency evaluation and hospitalization when necessary.
• Participate in post-crisis planning, reintegration planning, and follow-up support.

Documentation and Clinical Records

• Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential clinical documentation in accordance with professional standards, applicable laws, and school policies.
• Complete assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, safety plans, referrals, and discharge summaries as required.
• Maintain documentation using Therapy Notes and other approved documentation systems.
• Assist with program evaluation and collection of non-identifiable utilization data.

Prevention, Education, and Outreach

• Provide individual mental health education and wellness counseling to students.
• Support campus programming related to mental health, stress management, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, consent, sleep, substance use harm reduction, resilience, and adjustment to boarding school.
• Assist with orientation programming and ongoing student well-being initiatives.
• Collaborate with peer education programs and student leaders to promote mental health awareness and help‑seeking behaviors.
• Support campus suicide prevention, resilience, and well-being initiatives.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain current professional licensure and comply with continuing education requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision, peer consultation, and professional development.
• Maintain current knowledge of adolescent mental health, evidence-based clinical practice, and applicable behavioral health regulations.
• Foster collaborative relationships with local behavioral health providers, hospitals, and community agencies.
• Participate in Health Team meetings, faculty meetings, professional development, and school committees, if assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health.

All UWC-USA employees are expected to support the UWC mission and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive campus environment. This includes upholding safeguarding practices, demonstrating professionalism, and fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Required Qualifications

Must possess, or be eligible to obtain prior to employment, one of the following New Mexico behavioral health licenses:

• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Professional Art Therapist (LPAT)
• Licensed Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)
• Psychological Associate (where authorized under New Mexico regulations)

Applicants working toward independent licensure who are legally authorized to practice under approved clinical supervision are encouraged to apply.

Skills and Experience

• Experience providing counseling services to adolescents or young adults.
• Experience conducting suicide risk assessments and crisis intervention.
• Strong assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative clinical environment.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, racial, ethnic, gender, LGBTQ+, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Licensure and accreditation to bill Medical Insurance. Applicants working toward independent licensure who are legally authorized to practice under approved clinical supervision are also encouraged to apply.
• Experience in a boarding school, college counseling center, or adolescent residential setting.
• Experience working with internationally diverse populations.
• Experience supporting students with anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, suicidality, self-harm, neurodiversity, substance use, and identity development.
• Experience facilitating psychoeducational or therapy groups.
• Training in trauma-informed care.
• Training in evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, TF-CBT, or similar modalities.
• Experience using electronic health record systems.
• Experience using Google Suite (GMail, GoogleSheets, GoogleDocs, GoogleForms, etc.)

Working Conditions

Physical Demands

• Sitting for extended periods.
• Walking throughout campus.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional evening or after-hours crisis response.

Hazards

• Exposure to students experiencing acute emotional distress.
• Crisis intervention situations.
• Potential exposure to communicable diseases while working within Health Services.
• Secondary trauma and compassion fatigue associated with clinical practice.

This position description is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities. UWC-USA reserves the right to modify duties as needed in alignment with institutional priorities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UWC-USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Application Materials

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of current professional license (or documentation demonstrating eligibility for New Mexico licensure prior to employment)
• Proof of individual malpractice insurance
• Cover letter outlining interest in the position, relevant experience, therapeutic orientation, and availability