Counsellor

Job Summary

Mandate:
Counselling Services, as part of Student Wellness (SWEL), supports student success, engagement, and well-being through direct clinical services, crisis response, consultation, training, and program development.

The Counsellor provides professional psychological services to University of Victoria students presenting with eating disorder and disordered eating concerns within a post-secondary counselling centre model. The role is embedded in UVic Eating Disorder Collaborative, a joint clinical initiative by Counselling and Health teams at UVic Student Wellness Centre and Eating Disorder Program South Vancouver Island (EDP SVI), a community mental health program under the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s Child and Youth Mental Health. Services are delivered using a brief intervention model and are informed by student development theory to meet the needs of a diverse post-secondary student population.

In addition to clinical services, the role supports interdisciplinary case coordination, consultation, and campus education related to eating disorders topics.

As a member of the interdisciplinary Student Wellness team, the Counsellor works collaboratively with the administrative, clinical Counselling and clinical Health teams, as well as those at EDP SVI. The Counsellor develops effective working relationships with faculty, staff, and campus partners in support of coordinated student care. The role contributes to institutional risk mitigation, student retention, and a campus culture of well-being. 70% of the Counsellor’s time is dedicated to service provision; the remaining 30% includes administrative and clinical meetings, record management and clinical documentation, and professional development and other duties as appropriate.

Objectives:

• Provide ethical and culturally responsive counselling services to students presenting with eating disorders or related concerns.
• Deliver integrated, team-based care in collaboration with medical, psychiatric, and community partners.
• Support safe transitions between campus-based and community-based care.
• Contribute to campus-wide wellness and health promotion initiatives related to eating disorders and body image.
• Maintain regulatory compliance and high standards of documentation and professional practice.

Job Requirements

This position requires a level of education, training, and experience equivalent to:

• A graduate degree in Counselling, Psychology or Social Work from a recognized institution, or a graduate degree in a related discipline that is appropriate for university counselling centre clinical practice.
• Three (3) years of post-degree professional practice providing individual and group counselling for young adults with mental health challenges,
  • Demonstrated record of receiving training for, and delivering, brief counselling
  • Professional experiences with eating disorder related topics.
  • Affiliated with a professional association and/or registered in good standing with a professional regulatory body.
  • Demonstrated ability and commitment to reflective counselling and professional practice, including receiving and integrating feedback, and engagement with critical self-reflexivity and cultural humility.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities include:

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of truth, reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion
• Cultural awareness of the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia, including Indigenous perspectives and practices of health, healing and wellness
• Familiarity with challenges faced by Indigenous students in the public post-secondary education, health and mental health care systems
• Familiarity with challenges to accessing appropriate care and support faced by students of diverse identities and backgrounds, including (but not limited to) those who identify as Indigenous (including two-spirit), international, racialized, transgender, gender non-binary/non-conforming, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, first-generation, and/or persons with a disability.
• Outstanding clinical assessment, crisis management, and intervention skills.
• Knowledge of student development theory and the mental health needs of post-secondary populations.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to be creative, resourceful, flexible and to take initiative
• Demonstrated engagement with principles and practices of anti-oppressive counselling and supervision
• Ability to build strong interpersonal relationships and to communicate and collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills, including giving and receiving feedback, conflict resolution, and change management.