Director of Mental Wellness for Athletics - Utah State University

Overview:

Under the direction of the of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), the Director of Mental Wellness for Athletics will provide counseling and psychological services to the student-athlete community, and will have direct oversight of the mental wellness and mental performance aspect of the USU Athletics Department. This position will be a member of CAPS, but will be primarily housed within USU Athletics. They will maintain dual reporting lines to CAPS Director (primary supervisor) and the Associate Athletics Director – Director of Sports Medicine. This is a 12-month position on the USU-Logan campus.

The Director of Mental Wellness for Athletics will work with approximately 400 student athletes and 21 athletic teams. They must be able to work within a team dynamic and view the student athlete from a holistic perspective. This position will be a valuable addition to, and member of, the Utah State University Athletics Student Athlete Wellness Team (SAWT). The SAWT is a multidisciplinary team that is intricately involved in the health and wellbeing of the student athletes.

 

The Director of Mental Wellness for Athletics will be responsible for coordinating mental wellness programs and support for the USU Athletics Department. They will provide services such as, but not limited to, brief individual therapy, crisis interventions, consultations with coaches and other Athletics staff, mental health assessments, mental health education to student athletes and sports programs, drug and alcohol counseling, eating disorder and disordered eating evaluations, ADD/ADHD evaluations, and other services that fall under the scope of student athlete mental wellness. There will be some weekends and after-hours requirements, depending on the needs of the student athletes.

 

Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities:

Direct clinical services (50%):

• Provides targeted, advanced-level, clinical services primarily to student-athletes for a range of mental health concerns, including psychoeducational evaluations, crisis interventions, individual and group therapy, and intake assessment.
• Maintain timely and accurate records of clinical services.
• Provides on-call emergency coverage as needed.
• Assists in teaching course to incoming student-athletes focused on resiliency skills.
• Participates in and contributes to professional development activities; prepares reports and performs associated administrative duties.
• May be asked to travel occasionally with a team.
• Coordinates or assists with mental performance.

Administrative duties (20%):

• Advises senior administrators on current issues related to mental health and well-being of student-athletes.
• Participates in multiple department committees related to student-athlete health, wellness, and experience.
• Assists in developing long-term strategic plan for the mental health and wellness department within Athletics.
• Serves as a liaison to community and other healthcare providers.

Outreach (15%):

• Designs and coordinates programming for student-athlete development, wellness promotion, and suicide prevention within Athletics
• Supports outreach programming and provides consultation to staff, faculty, parents, and students.
• Provides mental health education to athletic teams, coaches, and staff throughout the year.

Other professional responsibilities (15%):

• Effectively participate in CAPS staff and division meetings/trainings, conferences, peer consultations, and professional development activities.
• Practice all responsibilities in accordance with ethical and professional standards and state laws
• Understand and comply with CAPS and University policies and procedures
• Serve on department, college, division, and/or university committees as assigned.
• Maintain reasonable availability for occasional after-hour consultation and emergency support requests.
• Fulfill all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• For hire as a Clinician I:
  
  • A master’s degree from an accredited social work, counseling or other mental health related program, and current Utah Licensure (or ability to secure licensure by hire date) to practice under supervision (e.g., CSW, ACMHC, AMFT)
• For hire as a Clinician II:
  
  • A master’s degree from an accredited social work, counseling or other mental health related program, and a current Utah Licensure (or ability to secure licensure by hire date) to practice independently (e.g., LCSW, CMCH, LMFT)
  • OR: a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or combined psychology from an APA-accredited doctoral program, and a current Utah licensure (or ability to secure licensure by hire date) as Psychology Resident.
• For hire as Psychologist:
  
  • A doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or combined psychology from an APA-accredited doctoral program, and a current Utah Licensure as Licensed Psychologist (or ability to secure licensure by hire date).
• For all levels:
  
  • Experience in a university counseling setting and/or experience in areas strongly related to mental health needs in a college population (e.g., eating disorders, anxiety disorder, depressive disorders, personality disorders).
  • Generalist base of knowledge and experience in psychotherapy (including teletherapy), (i.e., theories, processes, and elements of therapeutic change) and familiarity with developmental and other non-medical models of treatment and supervision.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensure as a Psychology Resident or Licensed Psychologist.
• Demonstrated experience and interest in conducting psychoeducational assessment (e.g., ADHD, learning disorders, neuropsychological screening)
• Knowledge and experience in performance psychology, or related field.
• Certification as a Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology or actively working toward certification.
• 3-5 years working in a collegiate setting with Student-Athletes.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• “Aware[ness] of and respect [for] cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and [an ability to] consider these factors when working with members of such groups.” (Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct; American Psychological Associations)
• Crisis intervention and suicide risk management skills
• Clinical skills and experience with short-term therapy approaches.
• Knowledge of Division 1 Athletics.
• Basic computer skills (Word, Outlook, Titanium, Zoom, etc.)
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, problem solving, and decision-making skills, as well as a commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth.
• Basic computer skills (Word, Outlook, Titanium, Zoom, etc.)
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, problem solving, and decision-making skills, as well as a commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth.
• Significant knowledge of and experience making discerning judgments regarding complex ethical and legal issues.

Required Documents:

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary:Minimum of $65,000; Commensurate with licensure type and experience, plus excellent benefitADA:

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights:

Counseling and Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is part of USU's Division of Student Affairs. CAPS has been accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS) since 1996. Our mid-size team is composed of professionals from psychology, social work, and counseling. We have robust training programs, including a doctoral internship accredited by the American Psychological Association and practicum in clinical/counseling psychology. CAPS offers a range of services, including individual and group therapy, single-session therapy, assessment, crisis appointments, case management, and outreach presentations.

We strive to create an inclusive environment and provide culturally responsive services for everyone. As a staff, we value clear, respectful, and compassionate communication. Warm collegial relationships exist on a strong foundation of respect and openness. We appreciate individual differences and opportunities to learn from each other. Life-long learning, self-reflection, and openness to feedback are some of the shared values. Changes are embraced and everyone’s input matters. With an open-door policy, we often consult with each other or just talk for fun between sessions. We work hard; at the same time, work-life balance is very important to all of us.

 

UTAH STATE ATHLETICS
Utah State is in its 11th year as a member of the Mountain West and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 126 seasons of competition. USU joined the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1938 until 1961. USU then played as an independent from 1962-77, when it became a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1978. The PCAA changed its name to the Big West Conference in 1988. Following the 2000 season, when the Big West no longer sponsored football, USU spent two years as an independent (2001-02) and two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2003-04) before joining the Western Athletic Conference in 2005 for eight seasons.

Utah State is traditionally one of the strongest academic schools in the Rocky Mountain Region as its nearly 400 student-athletes have a 90 percent graduation success rate and a cumulative 3.39 grade-point average.

On the fields of competition, Utah State’s 16 varsity sports have combined to win 37 conference championships over the past 18 years, while its football team is playing in its 11th bowl game in the past 13 seasons.

Utah State has won National Championships in volleyball (1978) and softball (1980, 1981), while its football team is playing in its 17th bowl game this year. USU men’s basketball has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 23 times in school history, while its volleyball program has played in the NCAA Tournament six times and its soccer program three times.

In all, Utah State sponsors men’s sports in basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track & field. Women’s sports sponsored by USU include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field, and volleyball.

University Highlights:

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination:

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023