Staff Counselor, Student-Athlete Wellness & Performance

Loyola University Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Loyola University Chicago’s Wellness Center seeks a Staff Counselor to provide confidential, high-quality mental health services to Division I student-athletes. The role partners with coaches and athletic staff to support personal, academic, and athletic excellence.

The position emphasizes crisis management, outreach, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, with evening hours and potential for after-hours coverage as needed.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or related field, with demonstrated experience and skill in individual and group mental health counseling and outreach activities.
• Experience in providing psychological/counseling services to college student-athletes and an understanding of collegiate athletic culture.
• Minimum of 2 years of post-graduate, supervised experience with a college or young adult population required.
• Licensed or license eligible within one year as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Psychologist in the state of Illinois.
• Ability to work evening hours as occasionally required.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality confidential and culturally competent counseling and psychological services for Loyola student-athletes.
• Provide initial visit intakes, group counseling and brief individual psychological counseling focused on student-athlete success.
• Provide mental health screenings for all student-athletes.
• Maintain clinical records and necessary statistics of psychotherapeutic and other client contacts in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
• Consult with psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and/or team physicians in conjunction with prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medication as appropriate.
• Consult with parents, physicians, coaches, athletic-trainers, faculty/staff when appropriate, in order to provide quality care to student-athletes.
• Make referrals to off-campus therapists, clinics, and hospitals, when appropriate.
• Experience teaching mental skills training (e.g. imagery, motivation, relaxation, concentration) to individual student-athletes and/or teams.
• Has knowledge and familiarity with collegiate athletics culture.
• Has knowledge and familiarity with, and will abide by, NCAA Division I athletics rules and regulations.
• Understands psychological issues related to injury and rehabilitation in competitive athletes.
• Ability to attend team practices to increase visibility and foster relationships with coaches/student-athletes on occasion.
• Provides crisis and risk assessment, urgent and emergent counseling services as needed.
• Develops safety plans and facilitates psychiatric hospitalizations as necessary.
• Conducts outreach and other student learning and wellness programs, as requested.
• Serve on Athletics Wellness Team with Head Team Physician, Head Athletic Trainer, Athletics Dietician, and Associate Athletic Director.
• Provides psycho-educational in-person as well as web-based and/or social media outreach programming geared toward student-athletes.
• Provides consultation and education for coaches, administrators and staff regarding student-athlete well-being, academic success, athletic performance, and emerging team needs.
• Participates in campus-based mental health initiatives organized by the Wellness Center.
• Stays current on relevant research and best practices regarding psychological services to the college student-athlete population.
• When schedule allows, provides initial visit intakes, group counseling and brief individual psychological counseling for Loyola students.
• When schedule allows, provides after-hours, weekend and holiday coverage 24/7 on a rotating basis with other Wellness Center staff members.
• May serve on Wellness Center and/or Student Development and university committees by request or as appointed by the Director of Counseling.
• Organizes and presents in Wellness Center team meetings and clinical case conferences to staff members based on areas of specialty and clinical expertise.

Skills

Counseling

Student-athlete focus

Mental health

Crisis management

Education

Master's degree in psychology

Job description

Loyola University Chicago’s Wellness Center seeks a Staff Counselor to provide confidential, high-quality mental health services to Division I student-athletes. The role partners with coaches and athletic staff to support personal, academic, and athletic excellence.

The position emphasizes crisis management, outreach, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, with evening hours and potential for after-hours coverage as needed.