Student Counseling Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Provides clinically informed care coordination services to support students connecting to community-based specialty or long-term mental health resources. Responsibilities include continuity of care planning, referral coordination, brief clinical support, crisis follow-up, and collaboration with campus and community providers. Serves as a liaison between the Student Counseling Center (SCC), students, and external treatment systems to facilitate successful connection to appropriate levels of care and reduce barriers to treatment engagement.
Responsibilities
Approximately 40% of the workload involves coordinating referrals to community mental health, psychiatry, specialty care, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), residential, and other behavioral health services. This includes helping students connect with providers and navigate barriers such as scheduling, insurance, transportation, and treatment engagement. The role supports continuity of care during transitions between levels of care, including hospitalization and higher-acuity settings, and monitors referral follow-through while maintaining communication with students, SCC clinicians, and external providers. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of relevant referral resources and services for university students.
Approximately 35% of the workload consists of providing direct mental health services, including stabilization-focused interventions, psychoeducation, crisis follow-up, and urgent support. Uses motivational interviewing and student-centered communication strategies to promote engagement and adherence to treatment recommendations, and assists with triage-related coordination as needed.
The remaining 25% focuses on resource development, systems coordination, and administrative responsibilities. Maintains knowledge of levels of care and develops a resource directory of crisis, specialty, and long-term providers. Builds and sustains liaison relationships with campus and community partners to support referral processes and continuity of care. Participates in interdisciplinary meetings, consultations, outreach, trainings, and quality improvement initiatives. Completes timely and accurate documentation, correspondence, referral tracking, care coordination follow-up, and other assigned administrative duties.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Education and Experience: Master's Degree in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, Psychology, or related mental health field. Licensed or license-eligible in the State of Tennessee in a relevant mental health discipline. Pre-licensed professional under supervision is acceptable.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• General knowledge of mental health treatment, behavioral health systems of care, and developmental concerns affecting university students
• Knowledge of the behavioral health continuum of care, community treatment resources, and case management practices for college populations, including discharge planning and coordination with providers, families, and campus resources
• Skill in delivering culturally responsive mental health services, including clinical intake and assessment, crisis assessment and intervention, brief interventions, and psychotherapy
• Proficiency in motivational interviewing, interpersonal communication, and student-centered engagement strategies
• Ability to coordinate care across multiple systems and providers while managing complex clinical workflows and competing priorities
• Ability to maintain accurate clinical documentation and effectively manage administrative responsibilities related to care coordination and clinical services

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience: 2 yrs of post-graduate experience providing mental health services and/or experience working with college students, young adults, or higher-acuity populations; Independently licensed at the Master's clinician level in the State of Tennessee; Experience coordinating referrals and community-based behavioral health services preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of higher levels of care, including intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), residential treatment, and crisis stabilization services
• Skill in care coordination, referral management, and continuity-of-care planning
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with campus and community stakeholders
• Ability to engage students in treatment recommendations and reduce barriers to accessing care

Work Location
Location: Knoxville, TN
Onsite
Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range 10
• Anticipated hiring range: $55,000-75,000 dependent upon license, experience
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on before DATE

• Vita/resume, include month/year for degree attainment, license attainment, and start/end dates for employment with if full time or part time (e.g. 20 hours a week would be 50% time). Please make clear if experience was work experience or part of training requirements for degree or training program.
• Cover Letter
• Contact Information for 3 Professional References (references will not be contacted without notification/consent), including supervisor at most recent employer.
• Academic transcripts and examination results or licensure verification required prior to an official offer.

About The College/Department/Division
The Division of Student Life is comprised of an outstanding group of professionals who create student-centered opportunities that contribute to a transformative Volunteer Experience. These opportunities allow students to grow their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom. From health and wellness to service and engagement, we provide opportunities where students exemplify the Volunteer Spirit, inspiring others to learn, lead, and serve.
Our departments provide essential services that support student success and future growth, fostering engagement, leadership, and wellness while enhancing belonging. Together, they create transformative experiences that help students achieve both academic and personal goals.
The Student Counseling Center is a multidisciplinary clinical team dedicated to supporting the mental health, wellbeing, and academic success of students through responsive mental health services. The center provides a range of clinical offerings including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, outreach and prevention programming, consultation, and training for graduate trainees and campus partners. Staff collaborate closely with university departments to promote a holistic, community-based approach to student care. The Student Counseling Center values clinical excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to student development within a dynamic campus environment.
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!