The Placement Exchange Job Board

Department: Counseling & Psych Serv
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Job Summary:

Law School-based professional offering mental health services to the Law School community with a particular focus on providing services to Law Students. The Embedded Staff Therapist will conduct psychological assessments and provide brief individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, referrals, and outreach and educational programming, all with a particular focus on Law School students. Expertise in the mental health issues facing Law Students, lawyers and in racial trauma counseling are highly preferred. The role has a direct reporting relationship to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and a dotted line to the Law School’s Dean of Students.

While a standard work week for this position is 37.5 hours, the specific work hours for this position will vary to accommodate the need for mental health services for Law Students. The Embedded Staff Therapist in this position, in collaboration with supervisors, will determine a work schedule that may include 4-8 evening hours (after 5pm) per week depending on the time of the academic year. In addition, this position requires some additional evening hours and occasional weekend duties. The Embedded Staff Therapist may provide 2-3 evening or weekend outreach events for Law Students per term, as well as perform occasional crisis support on a rotating schedule with all other CAPS clinicians.

Please note: Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.

About Student Affairs: Student Affairs at Northwestern University envisions building a just, healthy, and meaningful student learning experiences by pursuing equity, justice, and belonging. This work happens with all of us as people holding multiple identities. Through the frame of collective impact, we strive to center the voices, experiences, and needs of our most marginalized communities. This calls for both individual and collective responsibility and work that supports universally designed solutions that benefit not just individuals, but the full community. Learn more about the Division of Student Affairs here: https://www.northwestern.edu/studentaffairs/about/strategic-plan/strategic-themes.html

Specific Responsibilities:

Clinical Services 65%

• Provide individual and group psychotherapy for Law Students, including mental health issues facing Law Students and racial trauma counseling. Understanding of mental health challenges common in the legal profession.
• Provide triage, initial assessments, crisis management, daytime walk-in emergency services, and assume some after-hours responsibilities for emergency services/response for Law Students (Law Students also have access to the CAPS after-hours emergency service).
• Maintain clinical records and necessary statistics of psychotherapeutic and other client contacts with Law Students in Titanium Electronic Record System for Law Students.
• Consult with psychiatrists in conjunction with prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medication use for Law Student psychotherapy clients.
• Consult with parents, physicians, faculty, academic deans, off-campus counseling services, other campus offices and students, when appropriate, and with appropriate authorization, in order to provide quality, holistic care to Law Students.
• Consult with CAPS therapists regarding clinical cases as needed.
• Make referrals to off-campus therapists, clinics, or hospitals, when appropriate.
• All clinical services rendered will follow CAPS policies and procedures.

Outreach and Education Programming 20%

• As dotted-line report to the Dean of Students in the Law School, and in collaboration with the Dean of Students and other members of the Law School leadership team, focus on Law Student specific education and outreach. Assess and summarize Law Student needs and unique challenges faced by Law Students and lawyers. This includes consulting with the Dean of Students and broader student services team on trends and needs among the Law Student community.
• Conduct other outreach and educational programming, including orientation sessions for new Law Students, and Law faculty and staff education workshops on supporting Law Students’ mental health needs.
• Liaise with Law Student groups, attending periodic meetings of the various organizations to provide support and psychoeducation regarding mental health and wellness.
• Partner with Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement on outreach and programming for diverse students at the Law School.
• Provide various student learning programs and do needs assessments with students, faculty, and staff at the Law School to ensure relevant programming is being offered to the Law School community.

Training 5%

• Supervise and participate in training experiences only for masters and doctoral level graduate trainees who will assist at the Law School.
• Provide case management and consultation to trainees who assist at the Law School.
• Provide crisis management supervision to trainees who assist at the Law School.

Other Duties 10%

• Attend and participate in weekly CAPS staff meetings, Law School focused case conferences, and relevant in-service trainings.
• Attend and participate in regular Law Student services staff meetings and other meetings as appropriate.
• Regularly advise the Dean and Dean of Students regarding mental health trends in the Law School and recommend actions to proactively address student needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Hold a completed Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related field from an accredited program or doctoral level degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical or counseling psychology from an APA accredited program.
• Candidates with doctoral degrees must have completed a doctoral internship at an APA accredited site.
• Currently licensed or eligible to be licensed as an independent mental health provider (e.g., licensed clinical psychologist, licensed clinical professional counselor, or licensed clinical social worker) by the State of Illinois (i.e., at time of application, must have completed all licensure requirements including successfully passing any examinations and completing any clinical supervision hours required for licensure by the State of Illinois).
• Illinois license must be obtained no later than 6 months after hire date.
• Experience with and commitment to working with diverse clients, including individuals from ethnically/racially diverse backgrounds, individuals representing varying sexual orientations, international students, and working cross-culturally.

Minimum Competencies:

• Candidate’s must demonstrate strong culturally appropriate clinical skills and a well-integrated understanding of short-term therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, community consultation, and outreach programming.
• Candidate’s must demonstrate a commitment to providing culturally appropriate and responsive services to clients with historically marginalized and oppressed identities related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, ability, and socioeconomic status.
• Demonstrates comfort and skill with using basic computer software (such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as other Windows based programs).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise and experience in racial trauma counseling
• Expertise and experience in counseling law students or lawyers.
• Expertise and experience counseling in a university setting.

Preferred Competencies:

• Knowledge/expertise in one or more of the following areas: working with LGBTQIA, international, low income, first generation, undocumented, DACA students, or students with mixed status family; substance abuse and eating disorder assessment and treatment; evidence-based treatment for anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and perfectionism.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the impact these have on equity, access, and opportunity in higher education/the workplace.
• Demonstrates commitment to co-create an inclusive community and actively participate in related professional development, including openness to feedback and ongoing self-examination.
• Familiarity with multicultural theory and competence including the concepts of anti-racism, decolonization, and liberation.
• Has thorough knowledge of clinical applications for contemporary issues in psychology and student affairs, especially as related to individual and cultural diversity.
• Strong creativity and problem-solving skills.

Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position and addresses how you meet the specific job requirements.
• A current resume

Benefits: At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development: Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

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About Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.

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