Mental Health Counselor (Part-Time)

Mt. Hood Community College; Gresham (OR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Mt. Hood Community College seeks an experienced mental health counselor to provide accessible, student-centered support within the Career Planning and Counseling Center on the Gresham campus.

The role includes brief in-person counseling, crisis assessment, safety planning, and referrals to campus and community resources, with collaboration across faculty counselors and staff. Documentation is confidential and aligned with college standards.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling, social work, psychology, or closely related behavioral health discipline.
• Two years of experience providing mental health counseling.

Responsibilities

• Provide brief mental health counseling with trauma-informed, student-centered approaches.
• Conduct crisis assessment and safety planning including suicide risk.
• Deliver appointment-based, in-person counseling with follow-up scheduling.
• Assess needs and determine level of care with referrals to campus/community resources.
• Maintain confidential documentation per college standards.
• Collaborate with faculty counselors and College personnel.
• Participate in CARE/Behavioral Intervention or Title IX processes as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of campus/community resources and connect students accordingly.
• Provide mental health outreach and education as needed.

Skills

Trauma-informed counseling

Crisis intervention

Cultural responsiveness

Collaborative approach

Education

Master’s degree in counseling or related field

Tools

Electronic counseling records

Job description

Job Summary

Provides accessible, student-centered mental health support to MHCC students in close collaboration with faculty counselors and staff within the College’s Career Planning and Counseling Center (CPCC). Provides brief, short-term in-person mental health and crisis counseling including assessment and intervention for students, safety planning, consultation, and connection to appropriate campus and community resources. Refers students to community-based or higher levels of care when their needs exceed the scope of short-term college counseling. Also assists students with related personal, academic, developmental, or resource-navigation concerns as appropriate.

Essential Duties

1. Provides brief mental health counseling and support to students experiencing personal, emotional, relational, situational, academic, or other concerns that may affect their well-being and educational success. Uses culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and student-centered approaches when working with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
2. Provides crisis assessment and intervention, including assessing risk related to suicide, self-harm, or other immediate safety concerns. Develops safety plans, supports stabilization, and facilitates appropriate follow-up or referral.
3. Provides primarily appointment-based, in-person counseling within the Career Planning and Counseling Center. May provide same-day initial intake, assessment, and support for students presenting in distress when appropriate, with follow-up counseling scheduled through the Center’s standard appointment process.
4. Assesses student needs and determines appropriate level of care, including referral to community mental health providers, crisis resources, medical providers, or other specialized or longer-term services when appropriate.
5. Maintains timely, accurate, and confidential counseling documentation using College-approved systems for scheduling, case documentation, and recordkeeping, in accordance with applicable professional, ethical, and College standards.
6. Collaborates and consults with faculty counselors and other appropriate College personnel regarding student support, crisis response, and continuity of care while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
7. Participates in consultation with CARE/Behavioral Intervention, Title IX, or other College support processes as appropriate, consistent with the counselor’s role, professional responsibilities, and applicable confidentiality requirements.
8. Maintains current knowledge of campus and community mental health resources, and assists students in connecting with services that meet their individual needs.
9. Provides consultation, educational programming, outreach, or other mental health-related support to the College community as time and assignment needs allow.

Additional Duties

1. Participates in Counseling Center meetings, case consultation, training, and other activities necessary to support coordinated student services.
2. Works collaboratively with Counseling Center staff and other College departments to support student access, persistence, and well-being.
3. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling, social work, psychology, or a closely related behavioral health discipline from an accredited institution.
• Two (2) years of experience providing mental health counseling.
  • Relevant supervised clinical internship or practicum experience may be counted toward the experience requirement.
• Current Oregon licensure in good standing as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or psychologist; or current Oregon-recognized pre-licensure/associate status that permits the individual to provide mental health counseling under an established supervision arrangement; OR equivalent out-of-state licensure in good standing and ability to obtain Oregon licensure prior to start date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Community college or higher education counseling experience.
• Experience providing brief or short-term mental health counseling.
• Experience providing crisis intervention, suicide-risk assessment, safety planning, and referrals to community or higher levels of care.
• Experience using electronic counseling records, scheduling, or clinical documentation systems.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills in English and Spanish, or other language that meets community needs such as Russian, Vietnamese, or Arabic.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of current practices in brief mental health counseling, crisis intervention, suicide-risk assessment, safety planning, and referral.
• Ability to assess student needs and respond appropriately to students experiencing emotional distress or mental health concerns.
• Ability to provide culturally responsive and inclusive counseling to students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Knowledge of professional ethics, confidentiality, boundaries, and appropriate counseling documentation.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with students, counselors, College employees, and community providers.
• Ability to use appropriate technology and counseling systems for scheduling, documentation, and communication.

Working Conditions

This is an onsite position. Work is performed primarily in person on the MHCC Gresham campus within the Career Planning and Counseling Center. The position is student-facing and requires regular availability to provide on-site counseling and mental health/crisis coverage based on Center needs.
The position involves frequent computer use and sitting, with regular movement throughout the office and campus. Work may involve responding to students experiencing significant emotional distress or urgent mental health concerns.

Salary Placement

Initial salary placement will be within the posted range or pay rate of the position, and is based on applicable education and/or years of relevant full-time equivalent experience at the sole discretion of the College and in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. Please include all relevant education and full and part-time experience (including unpaid and volunteer experience) in your application that you want the College to review towards potential placement. Hired employees will not have an opportunity to update past education and/or experience or appeal initial placement after the time of hire.