Counsellor/ Psychotherapist

**Date**:Jul 3, 2023

**Location**: Waterloo, CA

**Company**:Wilfrid Laurier University

**Department**: Student Affairs

**Job Type**: Limited Term

**Full-time/Part-time**: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year)

**Campus**: Waterloo

**Reports to**:Manager, Counselling Services

**Employee Group**: WLUSA

**Application Deadline**:July 17, 2023

**Requisition ID**:6464

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

**Position Summary**:
The Student Wellness Centre at Laurier Waterloo is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that provide physical, emotional and mental health support for students.

The Student Wellness team includes counsellors/psychotherapists, registered nurses, dietician, family physicians, mental health nurse. Wellness education is a separate team under the wellness umbrella. Reporting to the Acting Manager, Student Wellness Centre, the counsellor/psychotherapist role provides clinical and therapeutic support to registered Laurier students using a short-term, goal-directed, stepped care model. Specific clinical duties include collaborating with each student to determine individual student goals, identifying challenges, and appropriate resources/support to maximize personal and academic success at Laurier.

Specific clinical duties may include intake, assessment, intervention, evaluation, safety planning, crisis intervention and response, and short-term counselling/psychotherapy.

Counsellors embrace a multi-disciplinary team and working environment, and appreciate the values of collaboration, communication and the opportunity to work closely with students.

**Accountabilities**:
**Intake, Risk Assessment Management**:

- Facilitate intake process with students, including responding to questions, ensuring proper documentation and providing positive and welcoming first point of contact
- Conduct risk/safety assessments for immediate risk of suicide, homicide, self or other harm
- Ensure timely, effective and deescalating response to risk and crisis concerns
- Work collaboratively with Mental Health Nurse, Special Constable Service, Counselling Acting Manager, Director, Student Wellness Centre where required
- Create safety/wellness plans for management of suicidal/self/other harm risk as needed
- Ensure student is provided with take-away resource, facilitated referral and clearly identified next-steps for personal support and safety
- Ensure familiarity with crisis resources/supports
- Facilitate external referral for students whose issues require specialized treatment or intensive psychotherapy

**Personal Counselling/Psychotherapy**:

- Maintain an active caseload and collaborate with students to identify treatment goals that are appropriate for short-term therapy
- Create a collaborative, individualized treatment plan recognizing students’ strengths and needs in accordance with professional standards and best practices
- Provide professional counselling appropriate to address students’ personal, developmental, and psychological/psychiatric issues.
- Complete risk assessment and management plans with all students presenting in crisis, with suicide risk
- Provide timely crisis intervention, safety planning, support, documentation, and referral as required
- Ensure Student Wellness Centre Director and team members are aware of students who may be at risk of harm, significant deterioration, or otherwise require support from the Wellness Centre
- Assist students whose needs are outside the Wellness Centre scope of practice to identify and access other support services and facilitate referral
- Facilitate group counseling / peer support groups as required

**Documentation**:

- Complete documentation in a timely manner per department policy to ensure effective safety monitoring for students at risk
- Use shared electronic