Professional Counselor (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DMHAS SW Mental Health; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) seeks a Licensed Professional Counselor to join the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) Young Adult Services (YAS) unit in Bridgeport, CT.

You will provide clinical counseling, crisis intervention, and recovery‑oriented support to young adults living with severe mental illness, co‑occurring disorders, and trauma histories.

Qualifications

• Licensure as a professional counselor in CT.
• Experience in clinical counseling and crisis intervention.
• Experience delivering recovery‑oriented clinical services to young adults.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management and supportive counseling.
• Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans.
• Deliver crisis intervention and group/individual counseling as needed.
• Collaborate with treatment teams and community providers.

Skills

Licensure as a professional counselor

Crisis intervention

Case management

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Recovery‑oriented services

Tools

Word

Outlook

Job description

Introduction

Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)? Make a makingful impact in community-based Young Adult Behavioral Health Care! The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Professional Counselor to join the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) within the Young Adult Services (YAS) unit in Bridgeport, CT. In this role, you will provide clinical counseling, care coordination, crisis intervention, and recovery‑oriented support to young adults living with severe mental illness, co‑occurring disorders, complex trauma histories, and medical comorbidities. This is a unique opportunity to support clients in stabilizing, developing essential life skills, and transitioning toward healthier, independent living.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• ADDRESS: 1635 Central Ave., Bridgeport, CT
• UNIT: Young Adult Services (YAS)
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (First Shift)
• POSITION NUMBER: 26688

WHY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

• Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer
• Enjoy endless opportunities for professional growth and development
• Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team of dedicated behavioral health professionals
• Provide meaningful, person-centered clinical services that empower the individuals we serve
• Help clients build stability, strengthen recovery skills, and achieve their personal goals
• Make a positive impact within Connecticut's public behavioral health system
• Thrive in a collaborative environment where teamwork, communication, and shared learning are valued

ABOUT US

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self‑sufficiency in those we serve. SWCMHS provides a broad range of mental health services across the southwest region of the state, with locations in Bridgeport and Stamford. SWCMHS offers inpatient, outpatient, ACT, and community support services for adults with serious behavioral health needs, as well as specialized services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The system also operates mobile crisis intervention, homeless outreach, and several housing support programs, including Shelter Plus Care. The Young Adult Services (YAS) program provides developmentally appropriate, recovery‑focused clinical and community supports for young adults ages 18–25 with significant behavioral health needs. YAS helps clients build stability, independence, and long‑term wellness through services such as therapy, residential supports, vocational and educational assistance, and psychiatric care.

PLEASE NOTE

A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• As a member of a multi‑disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services, provides case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs;
• Develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients;
• Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability;
• Develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews;
• Provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning;
• Makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs;
• Interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services;
• Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records;
• Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies;
• Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients;
• Maintains counseling treatment and standards as required;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment;
• family and interpersonal relationship dynamics;
• values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional counseling work;
• community resources;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with abuse and neglect reporting, notification and follow-up to immediate protective service plans
• Experience in a hospital or congregate care setting
• Experience using Microsoft applications within healthcare setting, including Word and Outlook
• Experience providing community based, recovery-oriented clinical services to young adults with severe and chronic mental illness, co‑occurring disorders, complex medical comorbidities, histories of trauma, and histories of legal involvement.
• Experience providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy
• Experience with crisis intervention.
• Experience with electronic health record (e.g., WITS)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (aa-jj) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.