Staff Counselor/Counseling and Sport Psychology Services

Position Function:

Provision of general mental health services (evaluation, treatment, and education) to student athletes. Assist with coordination and provision of consultation and relevant training to coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletic department staff. The position is responsible for supporting implementation of philosophies, policies, and procedures of counseling and sport psychology service operations for student-athletes. Additionally, the position is responsible for supporting and completing administrative tasks and responsibilities for clinical mental health services and the overall function of the department.

Salary Grade : 14

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.

Position Function:

Provision of general mental health services (evaluation, treatment, and education) to student athletes. Assist with coordination and provision of consultation and relevant training to coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletic department staff. The position is responsible for supporting implementation of philosophies, policies, and procedures of counseling and sport psychology service operations for student-athletes. Additionally, the position is responsible for supporting and completing administrative tasks and responsibilities for clinical mental health services and the overall function of the department.

Salary Grade : 14

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Maintain clinical and sport-performance caseload comprised of student-athletes for both individual and group service provision.
   
2. Provide clinical services for student-athletes including evaluation, treatment planning, progress monitoring, re-evaluation and possible referral.
   
3. Assist with providing consultation and outreach services to coaches, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning, nutrition and other administrative personnel regarding the psychological well-being of individual student-athletes and team members.
   
4. Engage in counseling-related activities including, but not limited to, maintaining counseling records, administering and interpreting psychological tests/inventories, referrals, and managing various organizational aspects of counseling cases.
   
5. Enter clinical documentation in electronic medical records system.
   
6. Assist with facilitating higher level of care services for emergency mental health presentations when appropriate to support campus and sport reintegration efforts.
   
7. Assist with coordination of service delivery for special cases to include substance use, disordered eating, and severe-persistent mental illness education and treatment.
   
8. Consult with MSU athletic department personnel, parents, physicians, and campus partners for holistic care initiatives in support of the student-athlete experience.
   
9. Assist with providing daytime, evening, and weekend crisis intervention and emergency services in situations involving individual student-athletes or teams with support from Student Counseling Services as needed.
   
10. Provide response for urgent care and after-hours crisis calls.
    
11. Coordinate and maintain good standing with licensure and accreditation organizations.
    
12. Understand and comply with state statutes governing the ethical provision of mental health care, as well as those rules governing the NCAA and SEC.
    
13. Participate in continuing education and professional association activities related to performance of job functions and the maintenance of skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology, Counseling, or Social Work with 1-2 years of prior experience in a counseling environment or a closely related field, including internships or equivalent roles.

Certification or Licensure Requirements:
1. Licensed as a psychologist or license-eligible in the State of Mississippi within two (2) years of employment, or
2. Licensed in the State of Mississippi as a counselor or social worker within two (2) years of employment.
3. Licensure must be maintained as a condition of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in clinical mental health, social work, or a related field or PhD or PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology, clinical mental health or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education with 1 or more years of experience within a college counseling center.
   
2. Advanced training in Sport Psychology, such as certification as a mental performance coach as outlined by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology or equivalent experience.
   
3. 1-2+ years post-doctoral experience providing mental health services to athletes or serving as a primary mental health provider/consultant to a sport organization.
   
4. 2-4+ years post-master’s experience providing mental health services to athletes or serving as a primary mental health provider/consultant to a sport organization.
   
5. Experience providing evidence-based sport performance consultation to athletic teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of psychotherapy and clinical/counseling psychology.
   
2. Knowledge of sport psychology and performance enhancement.
   
3. Knowledge of exercise science, kinesiology, and motor skill development.
   
4. Knowledge of rules governing the NCAA and SEC.
   
5. Ensures all assigned tasks are in compliance with University, SEC, and NCAA rules.
   
6. Knowledge of academic and psychological testing standards and principles.
   
7. Personal qualities and skills that enable effective interaction with the sport medicine staff, athletic department, colleagues, administrators, faculty, and student-athletes.
   
8. Commitment to diversity and demonstrated competency in multicultural counseling skills.
   
9. Knowledge of and adherence to professional, legal, ethical, and professional standards endorsed by licensing professional organization.
   
10. Ability to conceptualize, diagnose problems, and implement appropriate treatment solutions.
    
11. Ability to make accurate judgments concerning the physical, emotional, and educational welfare of student-athletes.
    
12. Ability to educate and present to the athletic department community a wide variety of psychological topics.
    
13. Ability to present and represent Mississippi State University at local, national, and international conferences.
    
14. Knowledge of community-based mental health resources.
    
15. Strong work ethic.
    
16. Ability to work evenings and weekend hours.
    
17. Ability to travel.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. Frequent externally imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be anticipated; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.
   
2. Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
   
3. Job Requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 10 pounds
   
4. Vision requirements: ability to see information in print and/or electronically
   
5. Hearing requirements: Heavy telephone contact requires ability to hear and respond to telephone conversations

Instructions for Applying:

Please attach your Resume and cover letter to the Application.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.