The Counseling Center strives to enhance the overall educational experience by assisting students with the opportunities, demands, and challenges of university life. As students grow and develop, they do so in a values-based institution that offers a unique learning and living environment to enable students to discover excellence and experience success. The Counseling Center assists students with defining and accomplishing personal and academic goals by serving as a multidisciplinary, campus-based mental health organization dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of students consistent with the Christian-Catholic teaching on the anthropology of the human person. In pursuing an active and fulfilling college life, a student can experience difficulties with adjusting to, and balancing, new roles and responsibilities. The Center provides a broad range of direct clinical/counseling, educational, learning assistance, consultative, outreach, training, assessment, and emergency response programs and services.

In support of all aspects of the mission of the department, division, and University, the Director provides dynamic leadership in implementing, coordinating and supporting comprehensive, student-centered initiatives that reflect institutional thinking, foster student well-being and promote the holistic development of students. The Director ensures that programs and services are implemented with attention to high standards, quality, collaboration and fiscal soundness.

As a Student Affairs professional, the Director serves as a management leader and educator for essential university programs and services; serves as an institutional resource for staff and students; supports and promotes the mission and vision of Catholic University; and contributes positively to the community of research, teaching, learning and service to the Church, the nation and the world.

The Director is responsible for ensuring that the highest level of mental health services is provided to students. The Director must express a strong commitment to integrating best mental health practices with the anthropology of the human person as understood by our Catholic faith. The Director ensures that all Counseling Center staff treat the mental health needs of students consistent with the Mission and Values of the University. The Director will regularly collaborate with the Department of Psychology and the National Catholic School of Social Work and develop partnerships for the well-being of the students at large. The Director will keep the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students apprised of all meetings and substantive progress or challenges in the collaboration of the departments.
The Director oversees and provides professional mental health services (i.e., counseling) to the student community, and supervision and training for DC area graduate students (intern, extern and practicum) in mental health fields. The Director participates in and provides leadership for the Counseling Centers learning assistance, consultative, outreach, educational, assessment/referral, and emergency response programs and services.

Counseling

The Director will be a servant leader and will communicate clearly the core values, mission and vision of the University; will build trust through humility and openness, setting clear expectations and having the ability to demand accountability while lending support wherever it is needed. The Counseling Center should be an integration of openness, friendliness, professionalism and respect for others. Refine, develop and implement systems and processes to ensure that the Counseling Center continually provides outstanding therapy and support to students and a first-class experience for trainees. Responsible for the implementation of all departmentally-sponsored and driven programs and services.

a. Provide individual counseling both in person and via teletherapy to CUA undergraduates and graduate or law students who may be experiencing psychological, behavioral, emotional, or learning difficulties.
b. Complete required administrative paperwork including writing intake and termination summaries and filing records and forms in the clients paper file when needed, entering typed progress notes for every session into the client database, and writing individual trainee evaluations.
c. Oversee Titanium database usage and ensure that records are complete and documentation current, especially as relevant to risk management.
d. Evaluate in a continuous manner current best practices in college mental health and implement strategic initiatives based upon student body needs.

Outreach, Consultation, and Educational Programming
a. Participate in forums and workshops to address the developmental needs of students to maximize the potential of students to benefit from the academic environment and experience.
b. Provide counseling and learning assistance information to prospective students, current students, families, faculty, and staff.
c. Educate university community members regarding legal and ethical issues in mental health and higher education, and in the provision of counseling services.
d. Participate in orientations and training for institutional professionals and paraprofessionals, including but not limited to emergency first responders, service providers, and educators.
e. Consult with students, faculty, staff, parents, and outside mental health professionals regarding issues related to CUA students mental health.
f. Provide outreach for crisis preparedness, response and recovery.
g. Represent the Counseling Center by serving on various University committees (e.g. Orientation Planning Committee; search committees for new staff members in other offices within the Division of Student Affairs, etc.).
h. Regularly collaborate with the Department of Psychology and the National Catholic School of Social Work and develop partnerships for the well-being of the students at large.
i. Maintain professional skills/licensure through participation in continuing education activities, such as those found at national and local conferences and symposia.

Assessment and Referral
a. Assess, evaluate and make treatment recommendations to new clients presenting with concerns including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, disordered eating, relationship problems, family concerns, and academic difficulties, etc.
b. Refer students to resources both internal (e.g., the Counseling Centers Staff Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner; Student Health Services; Office of Disability Support Services; Office of the Dean of Students) and external (e.g., private practitioners or community agencies), in order to meet student needs that exceed the scope of services (or resources) of the Counseling Center.

Supervision and Training
a. Ensure that all Counseling Center staff are appropriated trained and supervised so that treatment of the mental health needs of students are consistent with the Mission and Values of the University.
b. Serve as designated individual and/or group supervisor for graduate student therapists. Guide trainees in the planning and implementation of effective and appropriate treatment interventions.
c. Watch and evaluate videotapes of treatment sessions conducted by trainees; Evaluate and edit trainees intake and termination summaries and progress notes.
d. Assist in the recruitment of advanced graduate students in the mental health professions.

A Master's Degree and a minimum of 5 years of practitioner experience preferably at an institution of higher education; demonstrated counseling management and supervisory experience in a clinical program. Doctorate in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, or related discipline from an APA-accredited program preferred. Licensure or demonstrated immediate eligibility (within three months) for full, independent licensure in the District of Columbia.

Strong clinical and supervisory skills. Strong knowledge of fundamental counseling and learning assistance roles, responsibilities, practices, essential programs and services. Ability to plan, organize, and set priorities. Strong knowledge of the clinical, legal, and ethical aspects of treating college students. Awareness of college student development, health, and welfare issues. Ability to translate knowledge and competencies into action and achievement. Strong service orientation and ability to relate effectively with diverse individuals and groups at all levels of an organization. Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with all key stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to be productive, deliver high quality work, take initiative, use good judgment, and solve problems. Strong ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and handle heavy workloads under pressure and within time deadlines. Ability to produce quality results, with limited resources. Knowledge and skills with automated computer systems; skills with use of university systems within three months of appointment.