Mental Health Counselor - Full Time; 2309-202-N

Mental Health Counselor

For over 125 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing quality social services to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens and currently offers 160-plus programs and services for children, youth, adults, seniors, and those struggling with mental illness.

The CRED workforce initiative provides a vital support to young adults ages 18 to 40. The program aims to serve as a pathway to help unemployed, underemployed, or individuals impacted by community violence to gain a long-term employment and economic stability. Through CRED, participants engage in work readiness training, sector-based occupational training with a focus on construction and healthcare career pathways. The program integrates wraparound supportive services, including case management, mental health counseling, academic support, and job placement assistance, to ensure participants can fully engage and remain successful throughout their training and transition into full-time employment.

The Mental Health Counselor will focus on mental health, well-being, self-management, and other supportive service needs of participants through small groups and one-on-one sessions where needed.

• Provide individual counseling sessions to address participants' mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, stress management).
• Facilitate small group sessions focused on emotional wellness, resilience-building, stress reduction, and mental health awareness.
• Develop individualized mental health plans when needed and monitor participant progress.
• Educate participants on emotional self-regulation, healthy coping strategies, and self-care practices.
• Guide participants in setting personal wellness goals and support them in creating action plans.
• Encourage work-life balance and healthy lifestyle habits to promote overall well-being.
• Assess psychosocial needs and help connect participants with relevant community resources (e.g., housing, healthcare, substance use treatment, financial support).
• Collaborate with case managers and workforce staff to ensure holistic support for participants.
• Advocate on behalf of participants to ensure access to mental health and supportive services.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment for sharing and peer support. Examples include activities such as retreats, peer support groups, workshops, and presentations.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in social work or mental health counseling, or related MA Degree (e.g., Juvenile Justice, Psychology)
• New York State LMSW or LMHC Preferred but not required.
• Three (3) years of successful and relevant experience.
• Experience in mental health counseling or related experience (e.g., trauma-informed care)
• Experience working with participants from underserved communities and the target population.
• Experience with underserved, urban young adults and first-generation college students
• Experience developing new roles or new initiative
• Must be available to work in person 5 days a week
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, evenings according to the needs of program operation.
• Able to climb stairs and visits.
• Able to travel to multiple locations as needed.

Benefits:

• Generous time off (Vacation/ Personal Days/ Sick Days/ Paid Holidays annually)
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Retirement Savings with Agency Match
• Transit
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life insurance
• Public Loan Forgiveness Qualified Employer
• Training Series and other additional voluntary benefits.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens