Mental Health Counselor

Location: Hickory, North Carolina 

Position Summary

Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks a full-time Mental Health Counselor to provide individual counseling, crisis response, and outreach programming to students as part of the Counseling and Wellness Center team. This position reports to the Director of Counseling and Wellness and works collaboratively with campus partners to support overall student wellbeing.

Lenoir-Rhyne Counseling and Wellness supports the university’s mission to develop the whole person by fostering students’ personal growth, self-awareness, and insight into their behaviors and identities. We are seeking a clinician who values structured teamwork, brings a steady and supportive presence, and is committed to meaningful student impact within a proactive, student-centered model of care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Clinical Services  

• Provide brief, solution-focused individual counseling within a short-term model, maintaining an active caseload of approximately 20–25 sessions per week.
• Conduct intake assessments and develop collaborative treatment plans.
• Participate in daily rotating crisis coverage during business hours.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation in the electronic health record in accordance with professional and university standards.
• Facilitate group counseling services as interest and experience allow.

Crisis and Consultation

• Provide same-day risk assessment, safety planning, and stabilization as needed.
• Perform comprehensive suicide assessments and initiate appropriate higher levels of care, including hospitalization, when necessary to address imminent safety concerns.
• Consult with faculty, staff, and campus partners regarding student mental health concerns.
• Participate in campus-wide emergency response efforts in the event of critical incidents. 
• Provide appropriate referrals to community providers and external services as needed. 

Outreach and Prevention

• Implement and facilitate outreach programs and psychoeducational workshops developed by center leadership.
• Collaborate with campus partners to increase mental health visibility and prevention efforts.
• Contribute ideas and feedback to support ongoing development of campus mental health initiatives.

Required Qualifications 

• Licensed or associate licensed in North Carolina (LCMHC, LCMHCA, LCSW, LCSWA, or Psychologist). LCAS considered with relevant college counseling experience.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience providing short-term counseling, preferably with young adults.
• Demonstrated competency in risk assessment, crisis intervention, and safety planning.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain professional boundaries within a campus community.
• Ability to work within a structured, team-based environment and receive clinical consultation.
• Commitment to confidentiality and adherence to FERPA, HIPAA, and university policies.
• Comfort facilitating presentations and engaging with student groups.
• Ability to provide case management oversight. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a college or university counseling setting.
• Experience working with student-athletes, first-generation students, neurodivergent students, and/or students from historically marginalized backgrounds.
• Competence in tele-mental health service delivery.
• Interest in group facilitation.
• Experience using social media platforms to support outreach efforts. 

Additional Requirements and Expectations

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Ability to travel with students, faculty, and staff throughout campus.
• Standard office hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with occasional evenings and weekends based on demand.  Subject to change based on university needs.

Behavioral Expectations

• Maintain high integrity, confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Maintain a healthy and safe environment.
• Maintain and contribute to a professional, respectful, courteous, diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
• Treat other individuals with dignity, respect and kindness.
• Adhere to all university policies, procedures, standards, and values, and comply with all federal, state, and local laws.

Position requirements in the above mentioned role indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the job competently. Role descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as requested and acquire new skills and responsibilities. Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify, add, remove or waive the position's responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Application Process

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:

• Cover letter, specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position.
• Resume, including the names and emails of three references. References will only be contacted for finalists, and candidates will be notified in advance.

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation, and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good. 

About Lenoir-Rhyne University  

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds. 

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved. 

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
 

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