Independent Mental Health Counsellor - Jobs in Toronto

Job Description

About the Company:GUS Canada Colleges is a division of GUS Canada and part of the Global University Systems (GUS) network.GUS Canada Colleges operates four institutional brands in Canada and has two public-private partnerships. Our privately owned institutions are the Canadian College of Technology and Business, the Toronto School of Management, the Trebas Institute, and The Language Gallery. Our two public-private partnerships are Niagara College – Toronto and Fleming College Toronto.Through our institutions across the nation, GUS Canada Colleges has welcomed over 27,000 students and is forging a new path for higher education, a path that inspires and prepares our graduates to have a global impact and bring positive change.Position Overview:Mental Health Counsellor offers voluntary support to current students, helping them navigate the complexities of college life and reach their personal and academic potential. This assistance is provided through individual and group sessions, following a stepped-care model.The Counsellor reports to the Executive Director of Operations and Infrastructure and should have expertise in mental health assessment, crisis intervention, suicide risk management, and issues related to abuse and sexual violence.The Counsellor should have a comprehensive understanding of disability, accommodations, and applicable legislation, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ontario Mental Health Act, and the Mental Health and Addiction legislature.Responsibilities: Student Support

• Deliver short-term, solution-focused, single-session, and goal-oriented counseling.
• Support crisis intervention and safety planning by providing community and college resource referrals.
• Uphold essential standards of confidentiality and privacy.
• Conduct psychoeducational or mental health therapy group sessions.

Administration

• Ensure accurate maintenance of student files and records using a dedicated online database and record-keeping system.
• Adapt to a hybrid workplace model, including in-person and virtual individual counseling and group sessions.

Collaboration

• Collaborate cross-functionally with other departments to effectively support the mental health needs of students.
• Engage in communication and consulting with Faculty and other staff to address mental health concerns.
• Correspond with and offer guidance to students, counselors, and stakeholders on a range of counseling-related matters within the context of post-secondary education.

Additionally

• Attend staff and management meetings.
• Keep relevant stakeholders promptly informed about critical supports or interventions.
• Participate in committees and work groups as needed.
• Act as a representative for Counselling Services at community and educational events when requested.
• Perform other duties as required.

Education and Expertise:

• A completed Master’s Degree in social work, counseling, or clinical psychology from a recognized post-secondary institution. If in another discipline, state how the field of study is related.
• Must be a current member, in good standing, with a Regulated Health Profession and Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
• Professional registration is required to practice psychotherapy in the province of Ontario with the Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO), the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO), or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Skills and Competencies:

• Minimum three (3) years of supervised counseling experience in a post-secondary, community, or mental health hospital environment with a short-term, solution-focused approach.
• Experience working with diverse individuals facing emotional or mental health challenges.
• Proficiency in using health records management systems.
• Ability to facilitate psychoeducational and clinical group sessions and conduct workshops for post-secondary students on various topics.
• Familiarity with documentation typically submitted to post-secondary accessibility and counseling offices, such as psychoeducational reports, medical reports, Functional Limitation Assessment Forms (FLAF), and individual education plans (IEP).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct sensitive interviews and intakes, assess high-risk students, and respond to crisis situations in person and virtually.
• Familiarity with PHIPA (Personal Health Information Protection Act) and AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act).
• Knowledgeable in mental health assessments, treatment, and support for young adults in post-secondary settings using the stepped-care service delivery model.
• Able to effectively deliver training and workshops to staff and students.
• Familiar with short-term, goal-oriented, single-session counseling and solution-focused therapeutic interventions.
• Excellent communication and social skills.

Working Conditions:Office-first hybrid work model with a requirement to travel between GUS Canada Colleges campus locations. This position will be expected to work onsite a minimum of 2 days per week or as required based on business needs.Please note – Confirmation of educational credentials in the form of an official Canadian transcript or an official evaluation of international credentials, which determines Canadian equivalency, will be required upon hire. The Company will conduct a criminal background check upon hire.GUS Canada Colleges is an equal opportunity employer, and as such, positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief. GUS Canada Colleges is committed to providing accessible employment practices in compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please notify us, and we will work with you to meet your needs.