Student Wellness Counsellor

Algoma University is committed to undoing systemic and institutional discrimination and being publicly transparent and accountable. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our Special Mission. In keeping with the Seven Grandfather teachings that are the core values that inform our decisions as an institution, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and safe environment where everyone belongs. We live these values through the strength and richness that diversity brings to our workforce and welcome contributors from equity-deserving groups including: Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, Persons with Disabilities, 2 Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer persons.

Job Title

Student Wellness Counsellor Staff Bargaining Unit

Position Status: 2-year Limited-Term, Full-Time (35 hours/week)

Monday to Friday - 8: 30am to 4:30pm OSSTF

Department: Student Success & Wellbeing

Supervision Received: Manager, Student Wellbeing

Supervision Exercised: Student Assistants (if applicable)

Location

Number of Positions

North - Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins

South - Brampton

2

Primary functions

A.

Student Counselling and Therapeutic Support: 70%

B.

Risk Assessment, Treatment Planning and Referral

20%

C.

Professional Practice and Administrative Duties: 10%

TOTAL: 100%

Algoma University has an existing vacancy in the position of Student Wellness Counsellor. Working collaboratively with the Wellness Team and reporting to the Manager, Student Wellbeing, the Student Wellness Counsellor provides confidential, student-centred counselling using a brief, solution-focused, trauma-informed approach as part of Algoma University’s stepped care wellness model. This position supports students through short-term therapy, risk assessment, and collaborative goal-setting, while promoting culturally safe, equitable, and accessible wellness offerings.

The Counsellor delivers evidence-informed interventions for a wide range of student mental health needs, including, but not limited to: stress, anxiety, depression, grief, substance use, interpersonal challenges, coping skills, trauma impacts, and identity-based concerns. The Counsellor also works closely with the Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator(s) to ensure smooth transitions of care, appropriate referrals, and coordinated follow-up for ongoing student support.

This role does not coordinate programs or manage campus events; instead, it focuses on direct therapeutic work with students as the core clinical component of the wellness support system.

Responsibilities

• 1. Student Counselling and Therapeutic Support (70%)
• Provide short-term, solution-focused counselling and single-session support to students experiencing distress, navigating personal challenges, or seeking mental health tools and strategies.
• Respond to student referrals from staff, faculty or other University services, conducting intake sessions to welcome students, assess their needs, and initiate brief solution-focused counselling.
• Conduct intake sessions, collaboratively set counselling goals, and establish brief therapeutic plans tailored to student needs.
• Use trauma-informed, strengths-based, culturally responsive interventions that honour student self-determination and lived experiences.
• Provide counselling support around issues including anxiety, depression, grief, academic stress, relationship concerns, identity-based stress, substance use, and wellness skill-building.
• Deliver risk assessments and safety planning for students who may be at risk of self-harm or suicide.
• Facilitates short-term psychoeducational therapeutic groups when appropriate (e.g., coping skills, stress reduction, grief support).
• Educate students on wellness strategies, resilience building, emotional regulation, and evidence-based coping tools.
• Monitor progress and update counselling goals collaboratively over the course of brief treatment episodes.

• 2. Risk Assessment, Treatment Planning and Referral (20%)
• Conduct clinical assessments and determine the appropriate level of care using a stepped care framework.
• Collaborate closely with the Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator(s) on case transitions, follow-up needs, and external referrals.
• Recommend appropriate resources, including cultural supports, community mental health services, crisis lines, and peer or academic supports.
• Appropriately refer students needing long-term or specialized treatment to community clinicians, physicians, or other health professionals.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal, provincial, and local legislation, ethical standards, Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), on-campus policies, and community referral pathways.
• Document all counselling encounters, risk management actions, and referrals in accordance with regulatory requirements.

• 3. Professional Practice and Administrative Duties (10%)
• Maintain timely, ethically sound clinical documentation and electronic records.
• Participate in case consultation, supervision, Student Success & Wellbeing meetings, and team briefings.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning, training, and culturally responsive practice development.
• Prepare periodic service reports, usage summaries, or trend analyses as requested by the Manager, Student Wellbeing.
• Participate in occasional after-hours or evening counselling sessions as needed by students.

Working conditions

Physical Effort

Minimal Sustained periods of sitting & keyboarding; set-up and take-down of student events/activities, including the possibility of lifting, may be required

Physical Environment

Minimal

Works in an environment with occasional exposure to mild, unpleasant or disagreeable conditions, e.g. negligible conditions of dust, dirt, noxious odours, noise, etc, and/or a remote possibility of risk of accident or health hazards.

Sensory Attention

Considerable Frontline service demands with a limited level of control and frequent interruptions that may cause backtracking to resume interrupted work; requirement to support students in crisis; high need for detailed and precise work; frequent need to concentrate for lengthy periods of time in order to interpret student needs (e.g. crisis intervention)

Mental Stress

Extreme Work activities are performed in an environment with almost continuous exposure to mental pressure conditions, and mental stress is a noticeable part of the job (e.g. consistent exposure to clients who may pose a danger to themselves or others).

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology or related field, or an undergraduate degree with an equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.
• Registration or eligibility for registration with a recognized Ontario regulatory body (e.g., OCSWSSW, CRPO), or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience providing community-based individual and group counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, and case management is required.
• Demonstrated competence in brief, solution-focused, trauma-informed counselling approaches for post-secondary students, including assessment, risk management, safety planning, and referral to internal and external supports.
• Solid understanding of barriers and challenges faced by students in post-secondary settings, with the ability to apply anti-oppressive, equity-focused, and culturally responsive frameworks to service delivery.
• Knowledge of mental health concerns commonly experienced by post-secondary students (e.g., anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm, substance use, disordered eating), and the ability to recognize the onset of mental health challenges and make timely, appropriate referrals.
• Awareness of historical and ongoing colonialism and intergenerational trauma impacting Indigenous communities, with demonstrated commitment to decolonization and culturally safe practice.
• Strong interpersonal, motivational interviewing, listening, and therapeutic counselling skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience fostering partnerships with internal and external providers for referrals, health promotion, support planning, and system navigation.
• Excellent professional communication skills, judgment, discretion, and ability to respond calmly and effectively to sensitive or crisis situations.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and culturally safe practice, and to promoting a respectful learning and work environment for students, staff, and faculty.
• Familiarity with outreach, advocacy, and health promotion strategies.

Salary Scale: $82,387 to $102,983 annually

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter HERE [https://workforcenow.adp.com/theme/unified.html#/Myself/MyselfTabTalentCategoryCareerCenter] no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Algoma University is strongly committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity within our community and is an equal-opportunity employer. The university invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals who would contribute to the further diversification of our Institution, including equity-deserving groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment (Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQQIPA+ persons).

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, upon request, accommodation will be provided by Algoma University throughout the recruitment, selection, and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.