COUNSELOR

Position Title: Counselor

Full Time, 9 ½ months

Anticipated starting salary: $46,313

Reports To: Director of Counseling Services

Description of Mission Impact:

Houghton University provides an academically challenging, Christ-centered education in the liberal arts and sciences to

students from diverse traditions and economic backgrounds and equips them to lead and labor as scholar-servants in a

changing world.

Counseling Services at Houghton University supports and empowers students to pursue emotional growth and wellness

through meaningful therapeutic relationships and equipping students with personalized skills and resources designed to

accelerate their God-given potential. Counselors provide individual and group mental health services to students through

counseling, consultation and coordination of programs and services. This includes providing training and education, as well

as crisis intervention. Counseling Services exist to help break down barriers that impede a student’s success in college in the

areas of academic, social/emotional and career/vocational opportunities.

Essential Functions:

• Maintains professional standards of confidentiality and ethics in conjunction with established guidelines of

appropriate professional associations.

• Provides individual and group counseling and psychotherapy.

• Participates in weekly staff meetings

• Facilitates student focused psychoeducational programs and trainings
  

Success Profile:

The successful candidate will exhibit the following qualities:

Pace: The typical counseling caseload ebbs and flows throughout the semester based on student need and the

realities of the academic calendar. Consequently, the counselor must be able to responsibly balance times of low

client load with heavy client load throughout the semester. The counselor must be able to manage clinical care,

documentation, and program delivery. Typical caseload is set at a rate of 65% of available hours.

Decision-making: Professional counselors must be able to make critical decisions regarding client health,

wellbeing, and treatment, prioritizing work flow and evaluation of crisis care. Sound clinical judgment that is both

ethical and efficacious is necessary.

Communication: Strong communication skills in both written and verbal contexts is essential. The ability to
assess and conceptualize clinical issues and articulate these to both client and supervisor is important. Public

speaking skills relevant for trainings, professional development and psychoeducational groups is important.

Collaboration/Individual Contributor: The ability to work with clients and other stakeholders such as parents,
peers, faculty and health care providers is essential to this position. Possessing the ability to collaborate across

Center for Student Success service team providers is an important component of this position.

Statement of Requirements:

• Professional:

o Minimally the candidate will possess a Master’s degree in the field of Counseling, Psychology, Social

Work (with LCSW credential), or Marriage and Family Therapy.

o Broad counseling and psychotherapy skills; candidates with experience in brief therapy models and trauma
informed care preferred.

o New York State Licensure or eligibility for appropriate NYS Licensure
o Three to five years’ experience with the college student population.

• Personal:

o Christian integrity and character, supportive of the Wesleyan Church theological and doctrinal positions.
o Disciplined, optimistic, enthusiastic and high energy self-starter
o Organizational skills, particularly with ability to multi-task with flexibility to manage a changing schedule

o Ability to interact well with students, staff, faculty, administration, and external audiences
o Exemplary communication and interpersonal skills
o Strong work ethic and cooperative demeanor

Houghton University is fully committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body.

Successful candidates will evidence similar commitments.

Houghton University is a Christ-centered, liberal arts and sciences institution of The Wesleyan Church,

an evangelical holiness denomination rooted in the teachings of John Wesley. All employees are expected

to share a set of values, convictions, and commitments that guide our life together. The University expects

that all faculty and staff will respect the University’s Vision of our Common Life, Doctrinal Statement,

Wesleyan beliefs and core values, and adhere to its lifestyle expectations.

Application Procedure:

To apply please submit the following materials via email to: jobs@houghton.edu.

(1) Cover Letter
(2) Resume
(3) 3 References
(4) Answers to the following questions:

Please review the following documents:

https://www.houghton.edu/a-vision-of-our-common-life/

https://www.houghton.edu/doctrinal-statement/

https://www.wesleyan.org/about/our-beliefs

1. Please provide a brief description of your journey to personal faith in Jesus Christ and subsequent growth.
2. Please identify the church where you currently attend. In what ways are you currently participating in your local

church or fellowship?

3. Are there any areas of Houghton’s beliefs or practices that you find challenging or problematic? If yes, please
explain.

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