Enrollment Management & Student Affairs at Pacific University is dedicated to fostering student development in support of a more just, sustainable, and caring world. Guided by our core values—equity and inclusion, care, community, and learning—we center holistic student wellbeing, cultivate a sense of belonging, and champion equitable practices. 

The Student Counseling Center (SCC) is committed to improving students’ well-being by co-creating nurturing spaces for students to heal, grow, and develop belonging. We recognize that well-being encompasses cultural, emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual development. We are committed to affirming and honoring the full diversity of our students and their intersecting identities. We acknowledge the impact of systemic oppression on mental health and actively work toward a more inclusive and equitable center, welcoming dialogue and feedback from our community. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The SCC is seeking a full-time Staff Therapist/Psychologist to provide culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate mental health services to Pacific University’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. This position provides short-term individual therapy, crisis assessment and intervention, consultation, clinical case management, community referrals, and other clinical services within the SCC’s scope of practice.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Clinical Services at the Student Counseling Center, the Staff Therapist/Psychologist works collaboratively with a multidisciplinary clinical team and campus partners to promote student wellbeing and strengthen access to mental health support. The position may also provide clinical supervision and professional development for graduate-level practicum trainees, depending on the employee’s credentials and experience.

The Staff Therapist/Psychologist serves students across Pacific University locations through in-person and virtual services. The position is expected to maintain a regular presence in both the Forest Grove and Hillsboro clinics while providing telehealth services, when clinically appropriate, to eligible students located in Oregon.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Services

• Provide culturally responsive and affirming clinical services to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, experiences, and presenting concerns.
• Conduct initial consultations, clinical assessments, crisis assessments, and safety planning.
• Provide short-term individual therapy and, depending on student need and clinician expertise, group therapy or other clinical interventions within the SCC’s scope of practice.
• Participate in scheduled drop-in and crisis coverage and provide timely assessment, intervention, consultation, and follow-up for students experiencing mental health emergencies.
• Develop treatment plans collaboratively with students and provide referrals to community mental health, medical, or other support services when students’ needs fall outside the SCC’s scope or would be better served through specialized or longer-term care.
• Coordinate care, with appropriate student authorization, with healthcare professionals, campus partners, community providers, and student support systems.
• Provide third-party consultation to faculty, staff, students, families, and other support persons regarding students who may be experiencing distress, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Clinical Documentation and Case Management

• Maintain timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation in the SCC’s electronic health record system.
• Manage scheduling, case communication, referrals, care coordination, and other administrative responsibilities associated with a clinical caseload.
• Maintain clinical records and protect student information in accordance with applicable laws, professional ethical standards, university policy, and SCC procedures.
• Participate in case consultation, clinical review, disposition planning, and other processes that support continuity and quality of care.

Clinical Training and Supervision

• Depending on licensure, credentials, and experience, provide primary or secondary clinical supervision to graduate-level practicum trainees.
• Collaborate with SCC staff to support trainee onboarding, case consultation, professional development seminars, and evaluation.
• Contribute to a training environment that supports ethical practice, cultural humility, reflective learning, professional identity development, and responsiveness to the needs of diverse student communities.
• Participate in continuing education necessary to maintain professional credentials and strengthen clinical practice. An annual professional development stipend is provided by the SCC.

Consultation, Outreach, and Campus Collaboration

• Develop collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, academic programs, student organizations, and other campus partners to strengthen coordinated support for student mental health and wellbeing.
• Serve as a mental health consultant or liaison to assigned university programs, committees, or student communities.
• Participate in outreach, consultation, and community-engagement activities that increase awareness of SCC services, reduce barriers to care, and respond to the needs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
• Contribute clinical expertise to campus discussions and initiatives related to student mental health, belonging, access to support, and student success.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues whose roles, professional perspectives, and approaches to supporting students may differ.

Assessment, Quality Improvement, and Center Operations

• Participate in the review and development of SCC policies, procedures, protocols, and clinical practices.
• Contribute to assessment, program evaluation, accreditation, and continuous-improvement efforts designed to strengthen service quality, access, and student outcomes.
• Use clinical data, student feedback, professional standards, and an equity-informed perspective to identify opportunities for improving services and reducing barriers to care.
• Participate in staff meetings, case consultation, professional development, strategic planning, and other center responsibilities.
• Maintain flexibility in response to changing student needs, clinical priorities, campus conditions, and staffing needs.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Participate in an occasional rotating secondary on-call consultation role during evenings, weekends, or holidays when the Director is unavailable.
• Provide limited administrative or operational support during staff absences or periods of increased need.
• Participate in occasional evening or weekend outreach, orientation, crisis-response, or community-engagement activities.
• Serve on university committees or working groups as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

JOB SCOPE:

• Scope of responsibility aligns with the Essential Functions described above.
• The Staff Therapist/Psychologist performs duties with a high level of professional judgment and clinical autonomy while operating within SCC procedures, university policies, applicable laws, and professional ethical standards.
• The position independently assesses clinical needs, develops treatment and safety plans, provides intervention, coordinates referrals, and determines when consultation or escalation is necessary.
• The position manages a clinical caseload while contributing to crisis coverage, consultation, outreach, training, assessment, and center operations.
• The Staff Therapist/Psychologist is expected to collaborate effectively across disciplines while maintaining the confidentiality, boundaries, and independent clinical judgment required of a mental health professional.
• The position may oversee designated projects in collaboration with the SCC Director, Associate Director, SCC colleagues, and campus or community partners.
• No budget authority.
• This is an in-person position with limited remote work permitted only with prior approval. The primary office location is the Forest Grove campus, with regular service and presence in the Hillsboro clinic and virtual service to eligible students located in Oregon.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY:

• Supervises Support-Level Staff: This position may supervise support-level student workers, peer educators, interns, and/or practicum students, including hiring, scheduling, task delegation, and performance feedback.
• Depending on licensure, credentials, and experience, the position may provide clinical supervision to graduate-level practicum trainees.