Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

The University of Virginia’s Department of Student Health and Wellness is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Director of Counseling and Psychological Services. The Department of Student Health and Wellness (SHW) is part of the Division of Student Affairs and includes five core units—Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Medical Services (MS), Wellbeing, Care and Support Services (CASS), and the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC). The Department is fully integrated and operates in a state-of-the art wellness space opened in Fall 2021. SHW Leadership leads by evidence-based models and is data driven, working closely in collaboration with the Student Health Office of Research Excellence (SHORE). In addition to the five core units, the building includes a teaching kitchen, research space, functional exercise facility, study spaces, a student lounge, private telehealth offices, and rooms dedicated to meditation, yoga, biofeedback, and art.

CAPS offers a broad range of mental health services, including psychological and psychiatric assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, 24/7 crisis consultation and intervention, referral assistance, and psychiatric medication management. CAPS partners with both ProtoCall and TimelyCare to offer robust telehealth and afterhours services. Counselors are also embedded in several schools across Grounds, including Architecture, Business, Commerce, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Policy. CAPS boasts an active outreach and prevention education program for faculty, staff, and student organizations and is home to a thriving APA-accredited internship in Health Service Psychology.

The Director will lead a growing multidisciplinary team of over 40 mental health providers and administrative staff in offering comprehensive mental health services to UVA undergraduate and graduate students. Under the direction of the Chief Mental Health Officer, the Director will provide oversight of all aspects of CAPS operations, ensuring high-quality and accessible services are available to an increasingly diverse student body. The Director will also supervise and regularly consult with a well-established leadership team consisting of five Associate Directors: Counseling, Psychiatry, Outreach and Embedded Services, Training, and Crisis Services. The Director will also work collaboratively with the UVA Health System, an integral partner in providing care to students. 

Key Responsibilities:

Administrative and Leadership (60%)

• Provide thoughtful leadership and direction for CAPS in alignment with SHW, the Division of Student Affairs, UVA Health, and the University’s goals and strategic plans.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive environment that respects the diverse backgrounds and identities of students and promotes cultural competency among staff.
• Develop and implement programs and initiatives to address the evolving mental health needs of the university community, with a focus on meeting an ever-growing demand for services and addressing increases in the acuity and complexity of student mental health concerns.
• Oversee day-to-day counseling center operations, including staffing, budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality mental health services to students, including individual counseling, group therapy, crisis intervention, care management, and psychiatric care.
• Implement best practices in mental health treatment and maintain compliance with laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a diverse multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals, including psychologists, counselors, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and psychiatrists.
• Assist with provider credentialing, serving as the first reviewer for mental health providers’ evaluations and privileging requests.
• Serve as part of the SHW Leadership Team, collaborating closely with the Directors of Medical Services, Disability Access Services, Health Promotion, Care and Support Services, and Well-being.
• Serve on the SHW Patient Care and SHW Behavioral Health Committees or assign a representative as appropriate.
• Help coordinate AAAHC accreditation as pertains to behavioral health and modify and create policies and procedures to align with relevant standards.
• Provide ongoing supervision, support, and professional development opportunities for CAPS staff to enhance clinical skills and expertise.
• Carefully track data trends and conduct evaluations of CAPS programs and services to benchmark against peer institutions, assess quality and effectiveness of programs, and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide guidance and input regarding CAPS training programs, including CAPS APA-accredited internship in Health Service Psychology.
• Lead weekly CAPS Staff Meetings.
• Coordinate Professional Development Luncheons for CAPS Psychology Interns.

Clinical Service (30%)

• Provide direct clinical services, carrying a small caseload of student clients.
• Assist with complex clinical situations, including crisis consultations and hospitalizations.
• Provide afterhours support to on-call staff, as needed.
• Offer clinical supervision to trainees and professional staff.

Outreach and Consultation (10%)

• Collaborate with university partners and student organizations to promote awareness of mental health topics and resources.
• Organize and participate in outreach activities, workshops, and events to educate the university community about mental health issues and available resources.
• Provide consultation to faculty, staff, student, and families regarding mental health concerns and ways to best access resources.
• Serve on Division and University-wide committees, including the University Threat Assessment Team (TAT), as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Licensure: Licensed as a Psychologist, Professional Counselor, or Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If licensed in another state, must be license-eligible to practice in Virginia and able to provide proof of credentials as part of the pre-hire process.
• Education: Master's Degree in Counseling or Social Work or PhD/PsyD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology or a closely related field.
• Skills: Strong clinical skills and expertise in providing psychotherapy to college-age populations. Extensive experience in risk assessment and crisis intervention. Knowledge of best practices in college student mental health. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills. Ability to convey warmth and remain calm during times of crisis. Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership and mental health care delivery.
• Experience: Five or more years of experience in a mental health field, including at least three years of progressive management/administrative experience. Experience as a proven leader, thinker, strategist, and manager with demonstrated ability and effectiveness in developing, implementing, and assessing a range of mental health services in a complex and high demand setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD/PsyD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.
• Familiarity working in an integrated medical setting and collaborating across disciplines.
• Seven or more years of experience, including working in higher education at a professional level.
• Knowledge of models of prevention and health promotion and experience conducting community outreach.
• Expertise and experience in group psychotherapy.
• Experience managing a budget and applying for grants.
• Interest and experience conducting academic research and presenting findings at professional conferences.

About Charlottesville and UVA:

UVA is a world class institution with nationally ranked schools and programs, diverse and distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center and proud history as a renowned research university. Charlottesville is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the edge of Shenandoah National Park, while also being just 2.5 hours to Washington, DC and 3 hours to the ocean. Charlottesville is home to a seemingly endless array of attractions, schools, and businesses to keep you and your family entertained, educated, and well fed for years to come. Learn more about all CVille has to offer.

The hiring range for this role is commensurate with qualifications and experience. This is an exempt-level, benefited position. The successful candidate will pass a background check and health/drug screen. This is a full-time position with UVa benefits. Employees benefits package highlights include:

• 22 days of paid time off, increasing with service; 13+ paid holidays each year, in addition to paid time off
• Parental and Community Service Leave
• Health plan with options to meet healthcare and financial needs available from day one
• Retirement benefits
• Tuition and professional development benefits after six months of employment
• Employee wellness program featuring activities to earn up to $500/year