Staff Therapist, Mental Health Navigator - University Counseling Service

Clinical Therapist, Mental Health Navigator

The Staff Therapist, Mental Health Navigator provides psychological services to assist the student body in attaining their educational, interpersonal, and academic goals. Psychological services include case management and care coordination; referral; managing insurance and referral databases; managing external referral relations; individual assessment and counseling; psycho-educational outreach programming and consultation to students, staff, faculty, administrators, and parents/families; supervision and training to graduate students in the mental health professions; and engage in maintenance of records.

Specific Job Duties & Tasks:

• Provides case management and referral services to clients.
• Provides care coordination support and bridging care to students with acute and complex mental health care concerns.
• Supervises, evaluates, and assists trainees in various content areas.
• Conducts workshops and outreach services designed to provide mental health education to students, staff, faculty, administrators, and parents/families.
• Develops cooperative working relationships with selected UI units including UI Health Care, UI Care Team, Student Health, UI Early Intervention Team (EIT), and Excelling @ Iowa program in Academic Support and Retention.
• Manages active and supportive relationships with external referrals including private practitioners, hospitals, insurance companies, and other critical constituencies as they are relevant.

About University Counseling Service: As part of the Division of Student Life, University Counseling Service provides support and mental health services to the University of Iowa campus community. UCS has an inter-disciplinary staff of psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, graduate interns, practicum students, and administrative professionals. Our training and interest span a broad range of counseling approaches. Our mission is to provide compassionate psychological services, training, and outreach that fosters the mental health of students, nurtures student success, and contributes to a safe, welcoming, and respectful campus community.

About the Division of Student Life: The Division of Student Life is comprised of staff that embrace new ideas and thoughts, works together to keep our students safe, and provides them with life-changing experiences. The Division of Student Life includes 15 departments that span from Recreation Services to the Office of Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement and everything in between. We believe in working together as one team to achieve our mission: fostering student success by creating and promoting educationally purposeful services and activities within and beyond the classroom.

Required Education and Licensure: Master's degree in Social Work with clinical focus from a CSWE-Accredited program, or Master's degree in Counseling from a CACREP-Accredited Program. Social Worker: Licensed as an LISW or LMSW in the State of Iowa by date of hire. Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor: Licensed as an LISW, LMSW or LMHC in the State of Iowa by date of hire. Possession of a valid State of Iowa license as a social worker or mental health counselor within 3 yrs. of hire. License must be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Required Qualifications:

• Social Worker: Licensed as an LISW or LMSW in the State of Iowa by date of hire. Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor: Licensed as an LISW, LMSW or LMHC in the State of Iowa by date of hire. Possession of a valid State of Iowa license as a social worker or mental health counselor within 3 yrs. of hire. License must be maintained as a condition of continued employment.
• Extensive knowledge of evidence and theory based mental health case management, supportive referrals, crisis assessment, and intervention, and diagnostic and psychosocial assessment.
• Extensive proficiency in planning and delivering outreach programs and consultation services.
• Working knowledge of providing supervision to trainees.
• Extensive proficiency in the application of communication techniques and relationship building skills that develop the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Extensive proficiency in collaborating and interacting with individuals and groups while valuing the unique contribution of individuals.
• Working proficiency with office support tools and electronic medical records software (e.g., word processing, email, presentation software and spreadsheets, electronic health records); preferably Microsoft Office and Titanium EHR.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Working proficiency in empirically validated treatment modalities.
• Working proficiency with serious and complex mental health concerns and with mental health crises.
• Knowledge and experience with infusing technology into the delivery of mental health services.
• Interest and/or experience in counseling center research.
• Knowledge of local mental health providers and systems.
• Experience with campus mental health.

Application Details: In order to be considered, applicants must upload a resume and cover letter and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. This position is eligible for sponsorship, however, if your H-1B petition is subject to the September 19, 2025, Presidential Proclamation, please note that the department will not cover the $100,000 payment associated with H-1B sponsorship, either at the time of hire or for international travel purposes. We encourage you to explore alternative pathways for work authorization. Our team is available to help identify options that may be suitable for your situation. For questions or additional information, please contact Ruth Appleton at ruth-appleton@uiowa.edu.