What are the responsibilities and job description for the Professional Counselor position at Smith County?
The Professional Counselor provides professional mental health counseling services to youth housed at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. The Professional Counselor works within a secure juvenile justice environment and collaborates with detention staff, probation officers, medical personnel, educators, and other treatment professionals to assess, treat, and support youth. Services are trauma-informed and focused on behavioral health stabilization, rehabilitation, and successful reintegration.
- Provide individual and group counseling services to youth
- Conduct psychosocial assessments, mental health screenings, and clinical evaluations
- Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans
- Provide crisis intervention, risk assessments, and de-escalation services as needed
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical documentation and records
- Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and case reviews
- Collaborate with juvenile probation officers, detention staff, and community providers
- Ensure compliance with ethical standards, state regulations, and county policies
- Provide referrals and coordinate continuity of care upon youth release
- Maintain required licensure and continuing education requirements
- Experience working with adolescents preferred
- Experience in juvenile justice, detention, residential treatment, or trauma-informed care preferred
- Ability to work effectively in a secure detention or correctional environment
- Knowledge of adolescent development, behavioral health disorders, and evidence-based treatment approaches
- Strong assessment, counseling, and clinical judgment skills
- Ability to manage crisis situations calmly and professionally
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Strong organizational skills and attention to details
- Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a closely related mental health field from an accredited institution