Psychotherapist, Behavioral Health Specialist

Advance student well-being through integrated, whole-person care. The Behavioral Health Specialist provides counseling, assessment, intervention, and case management within the Student Health Services Primary Care clinic, collaborating with medical staff to support a diverse student population and promote mental, physical, and academic success at UC Santa Cruz. This position is an 11 month position with a 4 week summer work break. Positions with summer work breaks contain regularly scheduled unpaid, non-work periods in the summer during which the Behavioral Health Specialist remains an employee and retains health benefits, but is not at work.

UC Santa Cruz is the county's largest employer and one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. Perched on the coast overlooking Monterey Bay, our main campus offers a stunning setting and a vibrant community where over 3,100 staff members build meaningful careers, enjoy comprehensive benefits, and contribute to a mission that makes a difference.

UCSC offers staff a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health and well-being. Sample benefit options include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• UC Retirement Pension Plan
• Optional group term life, legal, and pet insurance
• Paid holidays, plus accrued vacation and sick leave
• Discounts at UCSC recreation facilities

For details, please visit: UCnet Benefits
https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Thank you for your interest in joining the UC Santa Cruz community.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 10-14-2025

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) Student Health Services (SHS) is a full-service facility offering clinical, educational, and psychological support to UCSC students. SHS is deeply committed to ensuring affordable, well-integrated, multidisciplinary healthcare that effectively supports the university's diverse campus communities through equitable access and culturally competent, high-quality programs and services.

The Primary Care Program includes primary care and same-day care, with the support of on-site radiology, a COLA-accredited clinical laboratory, and a campus pharmacy. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) supports UCSC students to maintain or improve their general well-being by providing a broad range of counseling, psychiatric services, consultation, and outreach services and programs.

Other departments include Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), home of the Condom Co-op; CARE (Center for Advocacy, Resources & Empowerment) the advocacy and prevention education office that supports survivors of sexual assault, stalking, and dating/domestic violence; and Student Insurance Programs.

Student Health Services employs approximately 150 staff including physicians, psychiatrists, case managers, lab scientists, pharmacists, nurses, radiologists, and many other clinical and administrative staff. Student Health Services welcomes staff with interest and experience in working with students with a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and gender identities.

More information can be found at https://healthcenter.ucsc.edu

More information can be found at:

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Director for Integrative Behavioral Health, the Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) provides direct behavioral health assessment, intervention, and case management within a fast-paced Primary Care clinic to optimize whole-person health and wellness that supports the academic success of a highly diverse, multicultural student population.

This position works directly with students who are in need of psychological services when they present to the medical clinic.

Working collaboratively and alongside primary care providers, clinic nurses, medical assistants, and individuals from other diverse clinical training backgrounds, the BHS performs in-clinic psychological diagnosis, psycho-education, counseling, and case management with individuals across a broad spectrum of developmental and psychological concerns that may affect physical, academic and personal functioning. This position also provides education and training to staff on behavioral health-related topics.

In discharging these duties the Behavioral Health Specialist is expected to be keenly sensitive to issues of gender, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc., and able to provide counseling to students with diverse backgrounds.

All Behavioral Health Specialists' activities are performed within the limits of the standards and ethical principles of their professional organization, as well as applicable legal mandates for mental health professionals in the State of California.

This position requires demonstrated specialization in counseling and assessment in the context of integrated health services, often identified as collaborative care, behavioral health, or behavioral medicine.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $8,106.12 - $10,487.95/ monthly for 11 months. Salary commensurate with years of licensed experience as well as specialized skills and qualifications.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Partial Year Career appointment with a four week furlough

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Residual Health Care Professionals (HX)

Job Code Classification: BEH HEALTH COUNSELOR 3 HX (004459)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

80% - Direct Service

• Performs assessment, diagnosis, behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, brief psychotherapy, and case management to a wide spectrum of diagnoses and presenting concerns
• Performs assessment and consultation to the medical team on the bio/psycho/social factors relating to diagnosis and recommended treatment of patients
• Works collaboratively with primary care providers (PCPs), clinic nurses, medical assistants, and individuals from other clinical units, including Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Psychiatry to provide culturally competent care for a diverse student population
• Works directly and collaboratively with PCPs, including consultations, treatment planning, co-treatment, and clinical team participation
• Professionally responsible for the soundness and validity of recommendations, services, and referrals but seeks consultation as appropriate from supervisor on unusual or uniquely complex client responses or on problems outside their area of expertise
• Available for consultation during clinic operating hours
• Provides timely feedback to referring clinical providers
• Provides behavioral health lifestyle interventions around specific disease states
• Provides triage, crisis assessment, and crisis intervention
• Provides brief therapy, psychological assessment, crisis response, case management, and/or referral to community and campus services
• Provides group therapy
• Determines the need for other professional interventions and refers as necessary
• Consults with students, family, faculty, and staff regarding issues that affect the developmental and psychological well-being of students in the university community

20% - Consultation and Outreach

• Provides consultation to Student Health Services staff, campus administrators and faculty to enhance the social, personal, and academic functioning of students with psychological difficulties
• Functions as a resource and provides educational and consultative services to primary care
• May participate in on-campus and community groups and consortiums to improve efforts for integrated behavioral health
• Participates in program development activities in conjunction with interdisciplinary healthcare team members

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in related field
• Valid California licensure, in good standing, in Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy
• Knowledge and experience providing psychological diagnoses, brief interventions, and case management services to young adults
• Able to rapidly provide psychological diagnoses, brief interventions, and case management services while working in a fast-paced environment where interruptions may be frequent and task-shifting is required
• Demonstrated multicultural competence in mental health service provision
• Knowledge of how race, ethnic identity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, privilege and multiculturalism relate to psychological service delivery in a university setting
• Broad skills and competencies associated with providing multi-cultural counseling services and experience with communities under served in mental healthcare
• Skilled in a wide range of psychological interventions including motivational interviewing, harm reduction, crisis intervention, and crisis management
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team with diverse clinical training
• Demonstrated skills and experience in developing liaison relationships and consulting with diverse faculty, staff, public and private mental health providers and students regarding student mental health issues
• Highly effective interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills; ability to work in a highly collaborative manner
• Flexibility and willingness to accommodate client needs and colleague requests for support; comfortable with a varied clinical schedule
• Thorough knowledge of applicable laws and standards of professional conduct
• Experience in the use of electronic/medical records systems; must be computer literate
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience providing behavioral health interventions in a medical or integrated setting
• Counseling experience in a college/university setting
• Demonstrated knowledge of a university environment and of the developmental issues and difficulties typically encountered by college students

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Valid California licensure, in good standing, in Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy
• Must possess CPR/First Aid/AED certification or have the ability to obtain it within 60-calendar days of hire.
• Selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-hire criminal history background check and a pre-hire credentialing check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Selected candidate will be required to take a TB test within 60 days of hire.
• Will be required to take HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility) training within 30 days of hire.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Comply with current Student Health Center employee health safety requirements for health care workers as defined by state and federal regulatory agencies; current health safety requirements to be discussed during interview.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.