Counsellor

**Schedule**
35 hours per week, M-F, 8:30-4:30, evenings and weekends as needed. At least one evening shift (12:00 to 8:00). In addition, to provide the best service for students, our expectation is that counsellors will provide 5 direct clinical hours a day.

**Education Level**
Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, or a related field of study.

**Career Level**
Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

**Unit/Project Description**:
The Student Wellness Centre is an integrated and interdisciplinary Centre where students can get all their health and counselling needs met on campus. Physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, counsellors and social workers staff the SWC. We also have some allied health team members affiliated with the Centre as well. The SWC provides support and services to the university campus in these three key areas: medical, counselling and mental health, and wellness education. The SWC sees a diverse range of clinical issues including at risk students.
**Job Summary**:
The Counsellor is responsible for promoting student development, student success, and student retention by designing, and providing a comprehensive range of psychological and educational services to aid students in achieving improved academic performance, enhanced personal and social effectiveness, and appropriate educational and career plans.
**Purpose and Key Functions**:

- Identify, assess, develop, and implement effective treatment plans.
- Conduct in-depth counselling and therapy interviews and utilize existing theoretical models to interpret information.
- Provide assessments of mental health and risk factors and coordinate referrals with professionals within the Student Wellness Centre and the community.
- Aid clients in identifying and solving emotional and interpersonal problems that may be affecting their academic success, well-being, and bio-psycho-social development.
- Provide psychological counselling services such as personal counselling, group counselling, and crisis counselling.
- Interact and assess the level of risk when students present with indications of harm to self or others, or suicidality.
- Consult with others regarding how to manage difficult or disruptive behaviours.
- Engage in problem solving to work through ethical dilemmas.
- Facilitate conflict resolution sessions.
- Provide debriefing to clients after a trauma has occurred.
- Advocate on behalf of students for special academic consideration.
- Nurture and support clients and encourage them to develop self care while finding a balance between multiple demands.
- Persuade clients to seek appropriate professional help and to attend appointments.
- Develop and deliver presentations, information, and training sessions to others.
- Develop and deliver group counselling and psychotherapy materials.
- Write case notes including client’s history and treatment plans.
- Write referral reports to other health professionals including general practitioners, psychiatrists, and other specialists.
- Plan and coordinate a variety of events and activities.
- Review, assess, and recommend changes to enhance the effectiveness of service delivery models.
- Maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of client records.
- Participate in professional development activities and remain current with frequent developments in a specialized field of study.

**Requirements**:
Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, or a related field of study.
Requires 3 years of relevant experience.
**Additional Information**:
This positions requires the counsellor to work a 35 hour week, including at least one evening shift (12:00 to 8:00). In addition, to provide the best service for students, our expectation is that counsellors will provide 5 direct clinical hours a day.

**How To Apply**

**Employment Equity Statement**

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

- Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
- Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
- School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

**Hybrid Work Language**

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexib