Professional Counselor (40 Hour) Office/On-Site #260911-6355FP-001

Introduction

Are you a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)?

Make a makingful impact in community-based Young Adult Behavioral Health Care!
The State of Connecticu t Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a Professional Counselor to join the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) within the Young Adult Services (YAS) unit in Bridgeport, CT. In this role, you will provide clinical counseling, care coordination, crisis intervention, and recovery‑oriented support to young adults living with severe mental illness, co-occurring disorders, complex trauma histories, and medical comorbidities. This is a unique opportunity to support clients in stabilizing, developing essential life skills, and transitioning toward healthier, independent living.


Position Highlights

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• ADDRESS: 1635 Central Ave., Bridgeport, CT
• UNIT: Young Adult Services (YAS)
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (First Shift)
• POSITION NUMBER: 26688
  
  
  

Why The State Of Connecticut

• Explore our comprehensive State Employee Benefits Overview to see what we offer
• Enjoy endless opportunities forprofessional growth and development
• Embrace a healthy work/life balance tailored to all employees
  
  
  

Discover The Opportunity To

• Be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team of dedicated behavioral health professionals
• Provide meaningful, person-centered clinical services that empower the individuals we serve
• Help clients build stability, strengthen recovery skills, and achieve their personal goals
• Make a positive impact within Connecticut's public behavioral health system
• Thrive in a collaborative environment where teamwork, communication, and shared learning are valued
  
  
  

About Us

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-s ufficiency in those we serve.


SWCMHS provides a broad range of mental health services across the southwest region of the state, with locations in Bridgeport and Stamford. SWCMHS offers inpatient, outpatient, ACT, and community support services for adults with serious behavioral health needs, as well as specialized services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The system also operates mobile crisis intervention, homeless outreach, and several housing support programs, including Shelter Plus Care.

The Young Adult Services (YAS) program provides developmentally appropriate, recovery‑focused clinical and community supports for young adults ages 18–25 with significant behavioral health needs. YAS helps clients build stability, independence, and long‑term wellness through services such as therapy, residential supports, vocational and educational assistance, and psychiatric care.


Please Note

• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
• All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace .
  
  
  

Selection Plan

For Assistance In Applying
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply ! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.


Before You Apply

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 , resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov .
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
  
  
  

After You Apply

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics .
• This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.
  
  
  

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Alyssa Hovanec at Alyssa.Hovanec@ct.gov

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!


PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency behavioral health program as part of a multi-disciplinary team at one or more locations this class is accountable for independently providing clinical counseling services.


EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• As a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team or within a network of community based behavioral health services, provides case management, needs assessment and supportive counseling in addressing client strengths, weaknesses and needs;
• Develops, implements and maintains individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for clients;
• Works with treatment teams to assist individual patients in achieving social and emotional stability;
• Develops psychosocial assessments through clinical interviews;
• Provides clinical treatment services such as: triage, crisis intervention, individual and/or group counseling, screening and planning;
• Makes use of available community services and facilities to assist clients in meeting identified needs;
• Interprets and synthesizes client information, professional observations and evaluation reports in order to form professional judgments about services;
• Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of treatment plans, documents treatment in clinical records;
• Completes reports in accordance with agency and accrediting bodies;
• Consults and collaborates with other behavioral health providers to improve delivery of services to clients;
• Maintains counseling treatment and standards as required;
• Performs related duties as required.
  
  
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• principles, methodology, casework and techniques of counseling, interviewing and psychosocial assessment;
• family and interpersonal relationship dynamics;
• values, sanctions, purposes and ethics of professional counseling work;
• community resources;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to devise and implement a treatment plan with measurable goals that address client needs.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience
Licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Connecticut.


Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with abuse and neglect reporting, notification and follow-up to immediate protective service plans
• Experience in a hospital or congregate care setting
• Experience using Microsoft applications within healthcare setting, including Word and Outlook
• Experience providing community based, recovery-oriented clinical services to young adults with severe and chronic mental illness, co-occurring disorders, complex medical comorbidities, histories of trauma, and histories of legal involvement.
• Experience providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy
• Experience with crisis intervention.
• Experience with electronic health record (e.g., WITS)
  
  
  

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license to practice professional counselor work pursuant to Sec. 20-195 (aa-jj) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have knowledge of sign language and communication ability with the deaf and hearing impaired in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to have ability in Spanish oral and written communication in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
  
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS
Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive clients.



Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.