Staff Psychotherapist (Liaison to Cultural Centers) 

Anticipated Start Late Fall 2023 or Early Spring 2024

Position Description: Cal Poly Humboldt Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is collecting applications for a Staff Psychotherapist or Psychologist with a particular focus on identifying and supporting the mental health needs of students of color. This full-time position will include providing direct clinical services (individual and couples counseling, group psychotherapy, and crisis intervention) as well as outreach, and other duties assigned. Outreach and campus engagement will involve close collaboration with our University’s Cultural Centers of Academic Excellence. Depending on experience and qualifications of the candidate, the clinician may also be involved in ongoing training and support efforts to strengthen cultural competency among CAPS staff. 

Professional Duties:

• Clinical services - Provide individual and couples counseling, single-session therapy, group psychotherapy, and crisis intervention.

• Outreach services - Engage in outreach presentations and workshops with a focus on supporting the mental health of students of color; foster relationships with University’s Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence; and provide consultations with faculty, staff, and students.

• Training activities - Provide individual and group clinical supervision and training of post-graduate residents and practicum trainees in the university’s master’s in counseling program

• Other professional duties as assigned - For example, depending on the qualifications and interest of the successful candidate, the position may involve training and support for CAPS staff to increase cultural competency and to develop cultural humility, consultation with CAPS leadership on improving access to services for students of color, engagement in additional administrative and professional activities.

Rank and Salary: This is an open rank position and outstanding candidates at both the SSP AR I and SSP AR II rank will be considered.  Rank and salary are dependent on the successful candidate's experience, qualifications and degree of assigned leadership tasks.  The expected salary range is $66,000 to $83,000 for the academic year position (which is paid over a 12-month period).  Early career (e.g., non-licensed or recently licensed candidates) are expected to be hired at the lower end of this pay scale ($66,000 to $71,000) and candidates with longer-standing mental health licensure and experience are expected to land higher on the pay scale ($72,000 to $83,000). 

Minimum Qualifications:

Degree- 

• A master’s or doctorate degree in the field of clinical or counseling psychology or applied (clinical) social work.

• California license-eligible (as a Psychologist, LMFT, or LCSW) by date of appointment (e.g. potential for licensure within a year of hire).

Experience-  

• Experience in time‐limited psychotherapy and crisis intervention with young adults.

• Competence in the assessment and treatment of AOD issues, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

• Professional and lived experience with communities of color, knowledge of historic and current issues facing people of color, expertise in both outreach to, and engagement with, historically underserved groups.

• The ability to conceptualize cases and provide diagnoses within a sociocultural context.

• Solid team player with good communication skills.

• Ability to keep up with the fast pace of the center and maintain timely case documentation.

Preferred:

• Professional license to practice as a mental health clinician.

• Previous experience providing psychological services in a university or college counseling center.

• Interest and experience providing clinical supervision, particularly with counseling students just learning to be therapists.

• Specialization in time-limited approaches to therapy (such as, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

• Experience and interest in leading psychotherapy or psycho-educational groups.

• Strong skills in suicide risk assessment and management and working with “high risk” issues more generally.

• Bilingual (ability to conduct services in both English and Spanish).

General Information:  

As an institution, Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to eliminating the equity gap in all student populations with dynamic, student-centered practices and policies that fully engage the campus community. The ideal candidate will share Cal Poly Humboldt’s commitment to helping its racially and socioeconomically diverse students succeed in their degree and career objectives.

We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, ability and orientations. Therefore, we prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, and students who are also committed to closing equity gaps.

Cal Poly Humboldt is part of the 23-campus California State University system. The University has a comprehensive arts and sciences curriculum, which is recognized nationally for its high academic quality. Founded in 1913, Humboldt is one of the premier public institutions in the western United States; it is a residential and rural campus with an enrollment of approximately 5,800 students. The campus has planned for significant enrollment growth over the next several years and expects to nearly double in student population.  The main campus is located in Arcata, California, in the northwestern part of the state along the coast, situated among redwood trees in an area that offers unmatched scenic beauty, moderate climate and opportunities for outdoor activities. The community of Arcata is largely a college town with a weekly farmer’s market, many restaurants and bookstores and independent shops.  The surrounding Humboldt County locale has a population of around 130,000. The community offers an excellent range of businesses, services and cultural activities/performances. The local schools are ranked in the top performance percentiles, both nationally and in the state. Additional information about Cal Poly Humboldt  can be found at: http://www.humboldt.edu.

The primary location of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is the Student Health & Counseling (SHC) building on campus. The CAPS facility (2nd floor, above medical services) includes 13 clinician offices, a reception area and waiting room, a group room, and a shared conference room and staff kitchen / break room. CAPS has a secondary location across campus in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSS) building that serves as our primary training site for practicum trainees.  CAPS includes ten licensed clinicians, and several therapists-in-training, working as a team. Peer consultation is emphasized and constantly utilized in a supportive and collegial atmosphere. The staff is especially interested in clinicians who will support this type of work environment. Most of our professional staff members are involved in supervising trainees. Professionals at CAPS represent a range of theoretical orientations.

Background Check: Cal Poly Humboldt conducts Live Scan criminal history background checks for all new hires, including current counselors applying for vacant counselor positions. Live Scan fingerprinting costs will be borne by the University. Confidential background check results are reported to Human Resources.

Application: For consideration, applicants must include a letter of interest describing relevant skills and experience, reasons for interest, and the unique qualities you would bring to Humboldt.  In addition, please submit a detailed resume/C.V., and names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three professional references. 

In your Letter of Interest, please address:

1. Your interest and experience in supporting the mental health needs of people of color, 

2. Share how you incorporate principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your clinical work.   

Application Deadline: This position has an anticipated start of late Fall 2023 or early Spring 2024; will remain open until filled. Early response is encouraged. For any questions about the position, candidates are welcome to utilize fax (707-826-5735), e-mail (humboldtcaps@humboldt.edu), or post.

Evidence of required degree(s), certifications(s), or licenses(s) will be required prior to the appointment date. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position. All CSU employees are obligated to respond to and report incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The successful candidate for this position will be mandated to receive relevant training on an annual basis. The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Cal Poly Humboldt is a Title IX/Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. If accommodations need to be made during the recruitment and interview process, please contact Human Resources at (707) 826-3626 or hr@humboldt.edu.