Posted: Oct 5, 2026
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Staff Counselor, Student-Athlete Focused

Loyola University Chicago - Chicago, IL
Full-time
Application Deadline: Oct 24, 2026
Mental Health Professional
The Staff Counselor, Student-Athlete Focused position within the Loyola University Chicago’s Wellness Center is a clinical role designed to provide responsive, high-impact mental health services to Division I student-athletes and is dedicated to personal, academic and athletic excellence of our student-athletes. The professional in this role will provide psychological counseling, consulting and outreach services to student-athletes and will work closely with coaches, athletic trainers, and administrative personnel regarding the psychological well-being of individuals and teams in a confidential manner.

1. Provide high quality confidential and culturally competent counseling and psychological services for Loyola student-athletes.
  • Provide initial visit intakes, group counseling and brief individual psychological counseling focused on student-athlete success.
  • Provide mental health screenings for all student-athletes.
  • Maintain clinical records and necessary statistics of psychotherapeutic and other client contacts in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
  • Consult with psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and/or team physicians in conjunction with prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medication as appropriate.
  • Consult with parents, physicians, coaches, athletic-trainers, faculty/staff when appropriate, in order to provide quality care to student-athletes.
  • Make referrals to off-campus therapists, clinics, and hospitals, when appropriate.
2. Provides athletic performance consultation to student-athletes/teams
  • Experience teaching mental skills training (e.g. imagery, motivation, relaxation, concentration) to individual student-athletes and/or teams.
  • Has knowledge and familiarity with collegiate athletics culture.
  • Has knowledge and familiarity with, and will abide by, NCAA Division I athletics rules and regulations.
  • Understands psychological issues related to injury and rehabilitation in competitive athletes.
  • Ability to attend team practices to increase visibility and foster relationships with coaches/student-athletes on occasion.
3. Provides crisis management services to student-athletes.
  • Provides crisis and risk assessment, urgent and emergent counseling services as needed.
  • Develops safety plans and facilitates psychiatric hospitalizations as necessary.
4. Provides outreach and consultation to students-athletes, coaches, administrators, athletic-trainers, and other athletics staff.
  • Conducts outreach and other student learning and wellness programs, as requested.
  • Serve on Athletics Wellness Team with Head Team Physician, Head Athletic Trainer, Athletics Dietician, and Associate Athletic Director.
  • Provides psycho-educational in-person as well as web-based and/or social media outreach programming geared toward student-athletes.
  • Provides consultation and education for coaches, administrators and staff regarding student-athlete well-being, academic success, athletic performance, and emerging team needs.
  • Participates in campus-based mental health initiatives organized by the Wellness Center.
  • Stays current on relevant research and best practices regarding psychological services to the college student-athlete population.
5. Participates in regular Wellness Center activities including staff meetings, case conferences, and in-service/professional development training.
  • When schedule allows, provides initial visit intakes, group counseling and brief individual psychological counseling for Loyola students.
  • When schedule allows, provides after-hours, weekend and holiday coverage 24/7 on a rotating basis with other Wellness Center staff members.
  • May serve on Wellness Center and/or Student Development and university committees by request or as appointed by the Director of Counseling.
  • Organizes and presents in Wellness Center team meetings and clinical case conferences to staff members based on areas of specialty and clinical expertise.
Minimum Education and/or Work Experience
  • Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or related field, with demonstrated experience and skill in individual and group mental health counseling and outreach activities.
  • Experience in providing psychological/counseling services to college student-athletes and an understanding of collegiate athletic culture.
  • Minimum of 2 years of post-graduate, supervised experience with a college or young adult population required.
  • Licensed or license eligible within one year as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Psychologist in the state of Illinois.
  • Ability to work evening hours as occasionally required.
Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
  • Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA-accredited academic program.
  • Previous mental health/counseling experience working in a university setting.
  • Previous experience working as a part of an interdisciplinary health care team.
  • Previous experience partnering effectively and collegially within an athletic setting.
  • Has knowledge and familiarity with collegiate athletics culture.
  • Academic or training experience that meets the criteria for being or a viable applicant as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant
  • Understanding and experience working with psychological issues related to injury. and rehabilitation, substance misuse and disordered eating in competitive athletes.
  • Experience teaching mental skills training (e.g. imagery, motivation, relaxation, concentration) to individual student-athletes and/or teams.