Behavioral Health Counselor

Position Title Behavioral Health Counselor About the University Western Washington University, with over 16,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties. About the Department

The Student Health Center is a primary care medical clinic specializing in college health.  The Student Health Center is staffed by a team of board certified family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and support staff.  We provide an extensive array of services including preventive health care and management of health concerns, illnesses and injuries.  We strive to support student success academically, physically and emotionally. We exist to assist our students to stay well during their college years, get well if they become ill so as to minimize time away from their studies, and to be well lifelong.

The Student Health Center and Enrollment & Student Services Division support Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. About the Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor provides a range of clinical mental health services in a primary care setting. The Behavioral Health Counselor conducts mental health assessment, triage, and direct treatment with brief solution focused and evidenced-based therapeutic interventions. They regularly provide risk assessment and crisis intervention mental health services to patients experiencing acute behavioral health issues, to include safety planning and facilitation of placement in a higher level of care or referral for urgent psychiatric evaluation. The Behavioral Health Counselor also provides informal teaching and consultation to other health professionals, families, and campus and community partners. They may engage in outreach and participate in the training of masters level interns.

This is a 9-11 month cyclic position (40 hours per week, 9-11 months per year).

80% DIRECT SERVICE

1. Screens and evaluates patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders. Facilitates patient engagement in clinically indicated follow-up care.
2. Provides brief solution-focused counseling interventions using evidence-based techniques such as the collaborative assessment and management of suicide risk (CAMS), behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.
3. Accepts primary responsibility for risk assessments and brief interventions with patients experiencing mental health crises. Develops plans with patients, campus partners, natural supports and emergency services to mitigate those risks.
4. Supports psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on treatment adherence, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
5. Facilitates referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).
6. Works collaboratively and coordinates care with primary care