Mental Health Counselor

About the role

The Mental Health Counselor will serve as a specialized clinician within the school's student support system and Distinctive Schools Clinical Services team. This role is dedicated to providing direct, trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services that promote student well-being, engagement, and success.

Responsibilities

• Tier 2 & Tier 3 Clinical Interventions & Therapy
• Manage a dedicated clinical caseload of high-need students, delivering structured, evidence-based, and trauma-informed one-on-one therapy tailored to diagnosed mental health needs.
• Design and facilitate clinical group therapy and skill-building sessions for students navigating shared challenges, such as anxiety, stress, self-regulation, and peer conflict.
• Execute formal student risk assessments and handle clinical crises, working under the direct supervision of the Director of Clinical Services.
• Mental Health Literacy, Partnership & Training
• Design and deliver professional development and training sessions for teachers and school staff on mental health literacy, helping them identify early warning signs of distress and effectively support student wellness in the classroom.
• Lead educational workshops and outreach initiatives for parents and caregivers to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and reinforce behavioral interventions at home.
• Partner with instructional staff and Deans to weave foundational SEL concepts (self-management, emotional regulation, and responsible decision-making) into universal school culture.
• Data-Driven Progress Monitoring & Impact Tracking
• Utilize student information platforms to identify students experiencing chronic absenteeism driven by mental health factors and deploy targeted clinical interventions to promote school re-engagement.
• Implement clinical monitoring metrics to evaluate individual student milestones and behavioral skill development.
• Work with the Director of Clinical Services to track, analyze, and report on program performance metrics.
• Crisis Intervention
• Fulfill role of the Mandated Reporter and report all incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to Department of Family and Child Services.
• Aid in Crisis Intervention/Prevention practices within each school which includes preventative measures such as mental health screenings for possible social-emotional or behavioral issues and following the network protocol in cases of emergencies (i.e. school violence, deaths, and suicidal ideation).
• Additional responsibilities
• Participate in school meetings, student support teams, and professional development activities.
• Serve as a liaison between the school and community organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements or Qualifications (minimum)

• Education: Masters Degree in a clinical mental health discipline (Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology)
• Qualifications: Valid Illinois state licensure corresponding to a clinical field (e.g., LCPC, LCSW, LPC, LSW, MFT, or PEL with an applicable clinical endorsement). Experience working with youth populations in trauma-informed environments. Strong familiarity with urban education systems and the unique systemic barriers impacting BIPOC families is highly preferred.
• Technology demands: Proficient in cloud based software solutions - GoogleSuite. Travel to campuses and professional trainings as needed.

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match - Fully match up to 3% 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more