Student Mental Health Counselor

The Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School is currently seeking a Student Mental Health Counselor for our Norwood Campus, located at 1015 Norwood Park Blvd.

The Goodwill Excel Center is the first free, public charter high school in Texas that provides adults ages 18-50 the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, complete an in-demand professional certification, and begin postsecondary education. There are seven campuses within the charter district. Two campuses are in Austin: one at the Goodwill Community Center and one in South Austin in partnership with American YouthWorks. The other five campuses are located within correctional facilities across the state. For more information on the Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School, visit .

The Student Mental Health Counselor will serve as the primary clinical interventionist for the Goodwill Excel Center, with the ultimate goal of reducing maladaptive behaviors and improve the health, daily functioning, and emotional well-being for students so that they can make progress toward achieving educational goals and career pathways. The Mental Health Counselor will work from a trauma-informed approach to provide evidence-based individual and group counseling sessions to students. They will assist in program development for mental health services, including program referral processes, ongoing documentation and data collection, and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of student outcomes both immediate, ongoing and longitudinally. The Student Mental Health Counselor will also provide crisis intervention and assist participants in finding appropriate outside resources based upon individual need.

Role and Responsibilities

• Utilize specialized clinical knowledge and advanced skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions, and addictions for students at the Goodwill Excel Center.
• Provide appropriate trauma-informed, person-centered, systematically-focused, evidence-based, best practice therapeutic interventions to participants.
• Provide treatment methods and interventions for youth and adults that include but are not limited to individual and group therapy with potential opportunities for couple, marital, or family therapy.
• Perform interviews and utilize various diagnostic assessments to identify presenting problems and gather relevant psychological history and facts that will assist in determining most appropriate intervention(s).
• Collaborate with students to identify therapy goals and develop treatment plan.
• Provide individual and group counseling in accordance with evidence-based practices with a focus on issues related to education and employment such as stress management and parenting skills.
• Facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups around student issues such as domestic violence, grief and loss, trauma, self-harm, reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals, resource navigation for refugee students, and other high risk issues.
• Remain on call for crisis intervention throughout school week and on scheduled school days according to current school calendar and bell schedule.
• Work collaboratively with external and internal entities to ensure appropriate referral and facilitate participant's success in achieving and maintaining the maximum possible level of independent functioning to achieve academic and socioemotional metrics.
• Appropriately conduct termination as students exit program to refer clients to community counseling resources for identified mental health issues that require longer term treatment.
• Develop and present training seminars that are tailored to clients and employee of the Goodwill Excel Center and Goodwill Central Texas.
• Develop school-specific processes and protocols for intakes, assessments, case notes, community contacts, services rendered, treatment plans, and discharge planning.
• Document all assessments, sessions, and planning in a timely, ethical, and quality manner in Electronic Clinical Database.
• Effectively manage data at all levels to demonstrate educational and mental health outcomes for students enrolled (current, prior, or alumni) in the Goodwill Excel Center as a result of therapeutic and crisis interventions.
• Conduct regular metrics with students served to demonstrate both quantitative and qualitative in nature.
• Analyze data outcomes on individual, group and school-wide levels to inform current and future practice.
• Prepare thorough, accurate, and timely reports that demonstrate both quantitative and qualitative student data that can be presented to school and company boards as well as grant funders and other community funders.
• Creatively conceptualize development and growth of mental health services and service provision at the Goodwill Excel Center for current and future students.
• Use personal vehicle to drive to community locations to facilitate and coordinate wraparound care for students and/or participate in position-related trainings and collaboration.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain participant confidentiality and prepare reports as requested.
• Maintain licensure, attend professional development trainings, and adhere to Code of Ethics as required by licensing board.
• Read and understand complicated and detailed correspondence and reports, regulations, and policy directives.
• Participate in required internal clinical trainings with Manager of Goodwill Counseling Services and clinical team.
• Work a varied/flexible schedule to best meet the needs of Goodwill Excel Center Students.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• LCSW or LPC. LMSW or LPC-I with less than a year from full licensure will be considered.
• Texas Driver's License, good driving record, liability insurance and vehicle in good working condition.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working in social services and/or counseling.
• Must be able to understand work instructions in English.
• Must have good analytical, critical thinking, interview, interpretation and communication skills.
• Must be efficient in computer operation, networking, and communication.
• Must be an energetic self-starter, comfortable working in a busy, diverse environment.
• Able to successfully pass background check and fingerprinting requirement.
• Possess an in-depth knowledge of community crisis intervention and post-counseling service referral sources.
• Must possess understanding of marginalization and how it impacts those Goodwill serves and employs.
• Exhibit respect for diversity of thought and have experience to advance it in teams/organization.
• Must demonstrate a maturity of practice using the 7 pillars and principals of servant leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with high school age students in urban, non-traditional, and/or adult education setting.
• Experience with counseling/mental health provision in the school setting.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Arabic and English.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Goodwill Central Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Background Check Requirement:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. This may include verification of employment history, education, criminal background, and other information relevant to the position.