Clinical Counselor 12mo - Counseling and Mental Health Services

Reporting to the Director of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), the Clinical Counselor provides a full-range of individual and group psychological services to students from diverse multicultural backgrounds, addressing complex psychosocial, personal, and family issues. This role represents CAPS as a member of the University faculty and may include additional professional services based on individual skills, interests, and agency needs.

About the Role

This is a full-time, twelve-month position classified as “temporary,” with the expectation of annual renewal contingent on performance, departmental needs, and budgetary constraints. The position involves a mix of in-person and remote work (via Zoom), with mostly in-person requirements—full remote work is not an option. The successful candidate will maintain a clinical caseload of students representing the diversity of SF State’s student population, dedicating 60-65% of their time to direct services.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake and assessment/triage for students.
• Provide brief individual, group, and couples counseling using time-limited treatment models.
• Develop and deliver outreach programs and workshops.
• Facilitate referrals and crisis intervention.
• Offer consultation services to the university community.
• Demonstrate adherence to the User Friendly Principles (P530C) and Principles of Conduct for a Multi-Cultural University (P30D).
• Engage in safe work practices for oneself, others, and the office environment.
• Occasional evening, after-hours, and weekend coverage for university events or emergency/crisis situations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Possession of an appropriate terminal degree (e.g., Doctorate in behavioral sciences, counseling, psychology, or a related field) or a California license as a Psychologist, Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (MFT, LCSW).
• Current, valid, and unrestricted California license to practice as a therapist (MFT, LCSW, or Psychologist) from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology, or eligibility to sit for licensure by the anticipated start date. Out-of-state licenses must comply with California Board of Psychology regulations.
• Knowledge of organizational development, planning, and structure; principles of administrative, personnel, and fiscal management; and professional counseling techniques and strategies.
• Understanding of Student Services and Academic Affairs programs in higher education, with experience working with multicultural student populations.
• Demonstrated ability to counsel students using professional techniques, plan and conduct workshops, and address the needs of a diverse student body.
• Skills in data collection, analysis, problem-solving, and applying statistical and research methods.
• Ability to establish cooperative working relationships, prepare clear oral and written reports, and interview skillfully.
• Commitment to continually expanding knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of research in Student Services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a multicultural urban setting.
• Clinical experience with students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (PoC).
• Experience in outreach and consultation services, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and/or PoC students.
• Effectiveness in multicultural counseling approaches with ethnically and culturally diverse clients.
• Knowledge of clinical issues common in university settings (e.g., substance abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, trauma debriefing).
• Proficiency in time-limited, short-term counseling approaches for complex personal and interpersonal issues.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across cultures, interest groups, and departments.
• Experience in psychological incident debriefing and navigating complex legal and ethical issues.
• Experience working with immigrant and international student populations.
• Proficiency in a second language.

Core Competencies

• Bias toward collaboration and teamwork.
• Effective oral, written, and nonverbal communication skills.
• Customer/client focus with an emphasis on problem-solving and resolution.
• Personal effectiveness and credibility, demonstrated through interpersonal and professional confidence.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Work Environment

• Own work area in a high-visibility setting, occasionally under pressure.
• Competent interaction with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to work remotely as needed.

San Francisco State University (SFSU) is a major public urban university committed to quality teaching, broad access to education, and preparing students to thrive in a global society. The university emphasizes academic excellence, creativity, diversity, and social justice.