Counselor Candidate (Non-Licensed Professional Counselor)

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Counselor Candidate is a pre-licensed mental health professional working under the supervision of a licensed clinical supervisor. This role involves providing direct counseling services to clients, participating in treatment planning, and engaging in professional development as they work toward full licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or equivalent.

POSITION SUMMARY EXPANDED:

Under the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, (“The Unity Bill”) this position is considered a “Safety-sensitive position. “Safety-sensitive” is defined to include “any job that includes tasks or duties that could affect the safety and health of the employee performing the task or others.” Employees working in “safety-sensitive” roles are subject to this exception and subject to disciplinary action in the event of a positive test for marijuana or its metabolites.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a closely related field
• Registered with state board as a counselor candidate / intern / associate (e.g., LPC-C, LPCC-A, or equivalent)
• Eligibility to work toward independent licensure (LPC, LPCC, LMHC, etc.)

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

• Valid certification or registration as a Counselor Candidate or equivalent trainee status as required by the state licensing board.
• CPR and First Aid certification may be required or preferred depending on the work setting.
• Any additional certifications relevant to the specialty area (e.g., trauma-informed care, substance abuse counseling) are a plus .
• Proof of all required License(s) and Certification(s) is due at time of hire.

MINIMUM/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work with diverse populations and adapt to client needs
• Familiarity with evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care is preferred
• Basic computer skills and experience with electronic health records (EHR)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including active listening and empathy.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and build trust with diverse client populations, including individuals from various cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in documentation and case management.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings or weekends, based on client needs and supervision schedules.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITES

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct client intakes and biopsychosocial assessments to gather relevant information for treatment planning.
• Collaborate with licensed counselors to develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans tailored to client needs.
• Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions, utilizing evidence-based therapeutic techniques, under clinical supervision.
• Maintain detailed, accurate, and timely documentation of client interactions, progress notes, and treatment outcomes in compliance with agency policies and regulatory standards.
• Participate actively in weekly clinical supervision to review cases, receive feedback, and enhance counseling competencies.
• Assist with crisis intervention, including assessing client safety and risk, and coordinating with appropriate emergency resources when necessary.
• Engage in case management duties, such as coordinating referrals to community resources and supporting client follow-up.
• Uphold strict confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines as outlined by professional counseling organizations and state laws.
• Attend training, workshops, and professional development activities to stay current with best practices in counseling and mental health.
• Contribute to a multidisciplinary treatment team by sharing insights and collaborating on client care strategies.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Demonstrates active listening techniques.
• Gains support through effective relationships.
• Treats others with dignity and respect; seeks feedback. 
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in care and use of patient and facility property. 
• Demonstrates and understands the importance of and respect for the rights, dignity, and individuality of each patient in all interactions. 
• Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to the needs of patients by complying with facility policies. 

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instruction furnished in written, oral, and/or diagram form.  
• Ability to define and solve problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• English is the primary language.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. 
• Ability to interpret reports, business correspondence, and policy/procedure manuals. 
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, physicians, clients, customers, employees, and the public. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to work inside a clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated laboratory. While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee may be exposed to some hazards such as radiation, bodily fluids that may contain disease, and fumes from laboratory chemicals.