Staff Therapist/Psychologist

Job Details: Job Location: Forest Grove Campus - Forest Grove, OR, Salary Range: $68000.00 - $81000.00, Job Category: Faculty and Staff , Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world. We embrace discovery in a close and nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse, sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice.

At Pacific University, we thrive in an extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. We humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, and acquire and share knowledge.

Enrollment Management & Student Affairs at Pacific University is dedicated to fostering student development in support of a more just, sustainable, and caring world. Guided by our core values—equity and inclusion, care, community, and learning—we center holistic student wellbeing, cultivate a sense of belonging, and champion equitable practices. 

The Student Counseling Center (SCC) is committed to improving students’ well-being by co-creating nurturing spaces for students to heal, grow, and develop belonging. We recognize that well-being encompasses cultural, emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual development. We are committed to affirming and honoring the full diversity of our students and their intersecting identities. We acknowledge the impact of systemic oppression on mental health and actively work toward a more inclusive and equitable center, welcoming dialogue and feedback from our community.
 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The SCC is seeking a full-time Staff Therapist/Psychologist to provide culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate mental health services to Pacific University’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. This position provides short-term individual therapy, crisis assessment and intervention, consultation, clinical case management, community referrals, and other clinical services within the SCC’s scope of practice.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Clinical Services at the Student Counseling Center, the Staff Therapist/Psychologist works collaboratively with a multidisciplinary clinical team and campus partners to promote student wellbeing and strengthen access to mental health support. The position may also provide clinical supervision and professional development for graduate-level practicum trainees, depending on the employee’s credentials and experience.

The Staff Therapist/Psychologist serves students across Pacific University locations through in-person and virtual services. The position is expected to maintain a regular presence in both the Forest Grove and Hillsboro clinics while providing telehealth services, when clinically appropriate, to eligible students located in Oregon.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Services

Provide culturally responsive and affirming clinical services to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, experiences, and presenting concerns.
Conduct initial consultations, clinical assessments, crisis assessments, and safety planning.
Provide short-term individual therapy and, depending on student need and clinician expertise, group therapy or other clinical interventions within the SCC’s scope of practice.
Participate in scheduled drop-in and crisis coverage and provide timely assessment, intervention, consultation, and follow-up for students experiencing mental health emergencies.
Develop treatment plans collaboratively with students and provide referrals to community mental health, medical, or other support services when students’ needs fall outside the SCC’s scope or would be better served through specialized or longer-term care.
Coordinate care, with appropriate student authorization, with healthcare professionals, campus partners, community providers, and student support systems.
Provide third-party consultation to faculty, staff, students, families, and other support persons regarding students who may be experiencing distress, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Clinical Documentation and Case Management

Maintain timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation in the SCC’s electronic health record system.
Manage scheduling, case communication, referrals, care coordination, and other administrative responsibilities associated with a clinical caseload.
Maintain clinical records and protect student information in accordance with applicable laws, professional ethical standards, university policy, and SCC procedures.
Participate in case consultation, clinical review, disposition planning, and other processes that support continuity and quality of care.

Clinical Training and Supervision

Depending on licensure, credentials, and experience, provide primary or secondary clinical supervision to graduate-level practicum trainees.
Collaborate with SCC staff to support trainee onboarding, case consultation, professional development seminars, and evaluation.
Contribute to a training environment that supports ethical practice, cultural humility, reflective learning, professional identity development, and responsiveness to the needs of diverse student communities.
Participate in continuing education necessary to maintain professional credentials and strengthen clinical practice. An annual professional development stipend is provided by the SCC.

Consultation, Outreach, and Campus Collaboration

Develop collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, academic programs, student organizations, and other campus partners to strengthen coordinated support for student mental health and wellbeing.
Serve as a mental health consultant or liaison to assigned university programs, committees, or student communities.
Participate in outreach, consultation, and community-engagement activities that increase awareness of SCC services, reduce barriers to care, and respond to the needs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
Contribute clinical expertise to campus discussions and initiatives related to student mental health, belonging, access to support, and student success.
Work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues whose roles, professional perspectives, and approaches to supporting students may differ.

Assessment, Quality Improvement, and Center Operations

Participate in the review and development of SCC policies, procedures, protocols, and clinical practices.
Contribute to assessment, program evaluation, accreditation, and continuous-improvement efforts designed to strengthen service quality, access, and student outcomes.
Use clinical data, student feedback, professional standards, and an equity-informed perspective to identify opportunities for improving services and reducing barriers to care.
Participate in staff meetings, case consultation, professional development, strategic planning, and other center responsibilities.
Maintain flexibility in response to changing student needs, clinical priorities, campus conditions, and staffing needs.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

Participate in an occasional rotating secondary on-call consultation role during evenings, weekends, or holidays when the Director is unavailable.
Provide limited administrative or operational support during staff absences or periods of increased need.
Participate in occasional evening or weekend outreach, orientation, crisis-response, or community-engagement activities.
Serve on university committees or working groups as assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

JOB SCOPE:

Scope of responsibility aligns with the Essential Functions described above.
The Staff Therapist/Psychologist performs duties with a high level of professional judgment and clinical autonomy while operating within SCC procedures, university policies, applicable laws, and professional ethical standards.
The position independently assesses clinical needs, develops treatment and safety plans, provides intervention, coordinates referrals, and determines when consultation or escalation is necessary.
The position manages a clinical caseload while contributing to crisis coverage, consultation, outreach, training, assessment, and center operations.
The Staff Therapist/Psychologist is expected to collaborate effectively across disciplines while maintaining the confidentiality, boundaries, and independent clinical judgment required of a mental health professional.
The position may oversee designated projects in collaboration with the SCC Director, Associate Director, SCC colleagues, and campus or community partners.
No budget authority.
This is an in-person position with limited remote work permitted only with prior approval. The primary office location is the Forest Grove campus, with regular service and presence in the Hillsboro clinic and virtual service to eligible students located in Oregon.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY:

Supervises Support-Level Staff: This position may supervise support-level student workers, peer educators, interns, and/or practicum students, including hiring, scheduling, task delegation, and performance feedback.
Depending on licensure, credentials, and experience, the position may provide clinical supervision to graduate-level practicum trainees.

Qualifications: REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a closely related mental health field; or a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology from an appropriately accredited program.
Eligible for independent licensure or approved pre-licensure status in Oregon as a Psychologist, Psychologist Resident, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Social Work Associate, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, or equivalent mental health professional.
Clinical experience providing assessment and psychotherapy to clients with varied identities, backgrounds, lived experiences, and presenting concerns.
Experience providing crisis assessment, intervention, safety planning, and appropriate follow-up care.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Demonstrated ability to provide culturally responsive, affirming, and developmentally appropriate mental health care.
Demonstrated commitment to cultural humility, including ongoing reflection on how one’s identities, experiences, assumptions, biases, power, and professional role influence clinical relationships and decision-making.
Knowledge of how identity, culture, discrimination, inequity, trauma, and broader social conditions may affect mental health, help-seeking, access to care, and the therapeutic relationship.
Ability to provide brief individual therapy to students experiencing a wide range of clinical and developmental concerns.
Ability to assess and respond effectively to mental health emergencies, including concerns related to suicide, self-harm, harm to others, interpersonal violence, acute distress, and significant impairment.
Ability to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships and professional boundaries.
Knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards governing mental health practice, clinical documentation, informed consent, confidentiality, and consultation.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively across cultural and professional differences.
Ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary colleagues while maintaining appropriate clinical judgment and confidentiality.
Ability to seek consultation, acknowledge limitations or mistakes, incorporate feedback, and contribute constructively to a team environment.
Strong organizational, case-management, documentation, and time-management skills.
Ability to adapt to periodic schedule changes and changing clinical or operational needs.
Ability to obtain and maintain the Oregon licensure or registration required for the employee’s professional discipline and assigned responsibilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Independently licensed in Oregon as a Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or equivalent mental health professional; or independently licensed in another state with the ability to obtain Oregon licensure promptly.
Previous clinical experience in a college or university counseling center.
Experience providing brief therapy within a multidisciplinary or time-limited treatment setting.
Experience providing clinical supervision or professional development to graduate-level trainees.
Experience providing group therapy, outreach, consultation, or liaison services in a higher education setting.
Experience providing culturally responsive and affirming care to LGBTQIA+ students and other student communities that may experience barriers to mental health care.
Bilingual or multilingual clinical proficiency, particularly in Spanish.
Experience using an electronic health record system and contributing to clinical assessment or program-evaluation activities.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work Setting: Full-time, primarily in-person position based on the Forest Grove campus, with regular in-person responsibilities in the Hillsboro clinic and virtual service to eligible students located in Oregon.
Schedule Expectations: Typically weekday hours, with routine early-evening coverage. The clinical schedule is established collaboratively, with priority given to student access and center coverage. Occasional additional evening or weekend responsibilities are required.
Travel: Regular ability to travel between the Forest Grove and Hillsboro clinics and occasionally to other Pacific University locations.
Clinical Environment: Work involves regular exposure to students experiencing emotional distress, mental health emergencies, trauma-related concerns, and other sensitive or high-risk situations.
Physical Requirements: Typical office responsibilities, including extended computer use, participation in virtual services, and movement between offices or campus locations. The position is not otherwise substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Submit application materials electronically through PayCom, our Human Resources Information System. Your application should include a cover letter that addresses your experience and commitment to being culturally responsive in your work, current curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three (3) professional references. 

Candidates are encouraged to apply by September 1st, 2026 for priority consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
 

Selected candidates will be contacted by email and invited to participate in a two-stage interview process. The position will begin as soon as possible. Questions may be directed to Sara Pitkanen, Associate Director of the Student Counseling Center, at [email protected]. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, authorization to work in the United States, and current Oregon mental health licensure or eligibility to pursue the appropriate Oregon license or registration.

Annual Salary Range: The expected salary range for this position is $68,000-$81,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

At Pacific University, we are dedicated to offering experiences that are authentic, holistic, equity-minded, and responsive. Our communal success rests on the recognition that complex problems and effective solutions are best approached by teams with a variety of diverse perspectives. and life experiences. As we continue to develop our equity practices, we actively promote access to opportunities and equitable pay for all employees.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs where they are unsure if they can perform every function in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about how your background and skill set may qualify you for the role.

We, who make up Pacific University, aspire to become a community of purpose where everyone is enabled to be wholly and comfortably who they are; accountable for inclusive behaviors and practices; built on trust, civility, care, openness, and honest conversations often around critical subjects. We know that these values are critical to prepare for a global world with complex problems, through an asset-based mindset so that everyone is afforded an opportunity to succeed. We believe in fostering a workplace where every employee is respected, their contributions are valued, and they are provided opportunities to succeed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for qualifying employees. Current benefits include:

Generous paid time off (for vacation, holidays—including winter break—and sick leave)
Medical coverage with alternative care options (with in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction)
Comprehensive dental and vision plans
Generous retirement contribution after one year of service with no match required
Free mental health appointments
Tuition remission for employees and their dependent child(ren) who meet eligibility requirements
On-campus benefits, including free access to our sports facility and library
Discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT:

Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all applicable laws, including those concerning employment and workplace policies. We are committed to fostering a non-discriminatory and inclusive work environment. We are proud to encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented groups.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY:

Pacific University makes all employment decisions without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. Applicable laws include, but are not limited to, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Questions or complaints may be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs at 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116 or via email at [email protected].