Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Graduate Student Counselor and Wellbeing Specialist supports MBZUAI students’ mental health and well-being through individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and tailored support plans. The role also delivers mental health education, advising faculty and staff on student well-being and contributing to campus-wide wellness initiatives. Additionally, the specialist ensures confidential record-keeping and reports insights to enhance student services. The ideal candidate is a licensed mental health professional with experience in higher education counseling and a commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Student counseling
- Provide an effective therapeutic counseling service to individual MBZUAI students utilizing a variety of therapeutic techniques selected according to students’ circumstances, needs, and epistemological preferences.
- Evaluate client needs and develop customized counseling plans that match individual assessments.
- Provide appropriate counseling interventions that assist students strategize, make decisions, monitor and improve symptoms, and otherwise manage their challenges or concerns.
- Identify students at risk of reduced educational outcomes and refer them to other MBZUAI services such as Learning Support, Academic Advice, and faculty members for academic support.
- Conduct effective group counseling sessions for students with shared concerns or objectives.
- Facilitate conflict resolution between individuals in therapeutic contexts.
- Follow up with counseling recipients to determine reliability and validity of treatment provided and adjust services or make recommendations for service modifications to best meet student needs.
- Provide therapeutic crisis intervention and emergency interventions as required and refer affected students to external agencies or specialists as appropriate.
Mental health advice and support
- Provide information including advice, brochures, presentations, intranet articles, blogs, social media posts, and training sessions that assist students to practice mental health self-care.
- Provide information about signs of mental unwellness in order that students recognize symptoms in themselves and others, and seek appropriate support.
- Provide information about mental health support services in MBZUAI and Abu Dhabi.
- Together with other MBZUAI services, provide information, advice, and support to international students regarding cultural acclimatization, and facilitate initiatives designed to minimize symptoms of culture shock including disorientation and homesickness.
- Provide advice and support to MBZUAI faculty and staff in dealing with students generally¾and specifically¾in a manner that supports their mental health so that they best achieve their educational and personal goals at MBZUAI.
- Provide advice to MBZUAI faculty and staff on signs of mental unwellness in students and their duty to refer students for appropriate support.
Wellbeing initiatives
- In addition to mental health support and advice, design and deliver preventative training and programs in areas of identified need, including initiatives that destigmatize mental illness, and initiatives that encourage early intervention when mental ill-health is suspected.
- Participate in Campus Life, Educational Affairs, and whole-MBZUAI initiatives such as wellbeing days, global observances, and fitness challenges to emphasize lifestyle choices that support mental wellbeing.
- Participate in Campus Life, Educational Affairs, and whole-MBZUAI initiatives that promote effective learning and task management, focusing on skills that reduce anxiety related to academic performance.
- Participate in Campus Life, Educational Affairs, and whole-MBZUAI initiatives designed to support students’ personal skills development in order to support their academic, personal , and career aspirations.
- Identify and promote technology-based information and solutions that suitably promote and support mental wellbeing, such as websites, webinars, and apps.
Record keeping and reporting
- Maintain confidential records of all counseling interactions and sessions in accordance with regulations and professional standards.
- Report non-identifying information to management about counseling interactions and sessions, identifying themes and making recommendations for organization changes and improvements to enhance student wellbeing.
Professional development
- Participate in continuing professional development to meet professional licensing
Other duties
- At the direction of the Head of Campus Life or Director of Educational Affairs, execute other duties commensurate with these functional responsibilities.
Academic Qualifications:
- A minimum of a Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or similar qualification accepted for Counselor licensing by the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- At least two years’ clinical counseling experience.
- At least six years’ experience working in relevant fields including for example counseling, social work, wellbeing support.
- Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of clinical social work and mental health counseling principles, methods, procedures, record keeping, and standards.
- Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic services and interventions and make modifications as required.
- Experience in effective crisis intervention and referrals.
- Demonstrated success operating in a multicultural environment, and adapting systems and processes¾including counseling processes¾to meet diverse expectations and needs.
- Excellent written communication skills with competency in high-level report writing.
- Excellent presentation and training skills.
- A proven record of self-care to effectively maintain emotional stability to cope with human suffering, including mental health emergencies.
* The holder of this job must have a social care professional license in the domain of Counselor issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development.
Preferred
- Experience working in a student-facing role in a university.
- Experience providing support to international students.
- Exposure to and understanding of Middle Eastern business and cultural practices.
