Mental Health Jobs at University of Colorado with Visa Sponsorship
Mental Health jobs at University of Colorado span its campuses and health system, with the university sponsoring international candidates for roles ranging from counselors and therapists to clinical psychologists. The university has established immigration infrastructure, making it a realistic target if you're pursuing U.S. work authorization in this field.
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University of Colorado Anschutz
School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine
Job Title: Clinical Psychologist – Whole Person Pain Service – Senior Instructor
Position # 00853211
Requisition # 41174
Job Summary:
This position provides behavioral health services to patients receiving care within the Whole Person Pain Service (WPPS). The role provides clinical interdisciplinary pain care and behavioral health services for patients with chronic pain, particularly those on chronic opioid therapy, supporting patient-centered, equitable care, education, and program growth in conjunction with the WPPS team. For clinical services within WPPS, the behavioral health clinician will see patients in individual virtual visits and group virtual visits co-facilitated with a medical provider, as well as participate in case conferences and regular team operational meetings.
This position has been established at 0.60 FTE. There is an opportunity to additionally apply for up to 0.4 cFTE of incremental in person integrated behavioral healthcare in one of our department’s brick and mortar primary care clinics for candidates looking for >0.6 total FTE.
Examples of Work Performed
The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
Key Responsibilities
- Provide clinical support and consultation for WPPS behavioral health services, including direct patient care.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed behavioral health and pain psychology services for primary care patients with chronic pain seen within WPPS.
- Participate when needed in developing clinical guidelines, workflows, and delivery models for integrated chronic pain care.
- Involvement in program growth, sustainability planning, and workforce development for WPPS behavioral health services.
- Involvement in quality improvement, outcomes evaluation, access metrics, and financial sustainability efforts. This is a pilot program led by an engaged and capable team and financial sustainability will be re-evaluated at the end of the fiscal year.
- Collaborate with medical, administrative, and CU Medicine leadership to ensure high-quality, efficient, and optimized financial operations, which includes but is not limited to ensuring that WPPS clinician templates are regularly filled, that behavioral health provider billing and coding is appropriately optimized to ensure collections, and that patient experience measures are good.
- Support education and academic missions through teaching, supervision, and mentorship of learners and faculty as opportunities arise.
- Ensure BH clinician compliance with University, School of Medicine, CU Medicine, and regulatory policies and procedures.
- Participate in WPPS operational meetings.
- Collaborating to ensure any BH-specific performance standards are upheld by any additional behavioral health providers or learners providing clinical care within the WPPS.
- Participate in WPPS staff or clinician hiring selection, if needed.
Administrative/Professional Development
- Maintains eligibility for School of Medicine Faculty.
- Keeps well-informed of the latest developments in field, both academically and through applied skill.
- May participate in clinical research projects (but not required to be a clinician-researcher unless pursuing traditional promotion path).
- Accepts other responsibilities specifically assigned by the Medical Director and Director of Behavioral Health and Integrated Programs.
- Attends and presents at conferences, meetings and trainings in order to maintain certification and enhance professional skills; participates in faculty development activities.
Work Location:
Hybrid – candidates must live in Colorado upon hire.
Why Join Us:
The Department of Family Medicine (DFM) is dedicated to “helping people be healthier" by educating, nurturing, fostering, and enhancing those in the field of family medicine and the communities we live in and serve. The Department of Family Medicine has five (5) focus areas, each with specific goals:
- Patient Care: Provide outstanding Family Medicine to every patient.
- Research: Create and disseminate new knowledge.
- Training: Train integrated future Family Medicine workforce.
- Community Engagement: Achieve health equity with community engagement and advocacy.
- Our People: Nurture a thriving, diverse and equitable department culture.
Why work for the University?
We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:
- Medical: Multiple plan options
- Dental: Multiple plan options
- Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
- Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
- Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
- Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
- Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
- Holiday Days: 11/year
- Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
- ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Sr. Instructor:
- Education: Doctoral degree in Psychology (PhD or PsyD)
- Experience: Completion of an accredited postdoctoral program with enough clinical hours to be licensed as a clinical psychologist.
- Special Skills: Ability to obtain Colorado state licensure as a psychologist. Ability to obtain and maintain credentialing through the University of Colorado Health system.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supervising clinicians and trainees.
- Expertise in pain psychology, chronic pain treatment, or behavioral medicine.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
- Outstanding customer service skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to advance inclusion and incorporate varied perspectives.
- Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
- Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
- Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
- Builds Effective Teams: Building strong-identity teams that apply their skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
- Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
How to Apply:
For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):
- A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
- Curriculum vitae / Resume
- Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address
Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.
Questions should be directed to: Lydia Lyon Lydia.lyon@cuanschutz.edu
Screening of Applications Begins:
Screening begins immediately and continues until 10/15/2026.
Anticipated Pay Range:
The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:
$92,000 to $140,000
The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
ADA Statement:
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.
Background Check Statement:
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.
Vaccination Statement:
CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.
Application Materials Required: Cover Letter, Resume/CV, List of References
Job Category: Faculty
Primary Location: Aurora
Department: U0001 - Anschutz Med Campus or Denver - 20148 - SOM-FM GENERAL OPERATIONS
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Sep 22, 2026
Unposting Date: Ongoing
Posting Contact Name: Lydia Lyon
Posting Contact Email: Lydia.lyon@cuanschutz.edu
Position Number: 00853211
Tips for Finding Mental Health Jobs at University of Colorado
Align your licensure with Colorado requirements
Colorado requires state licensure for most clinical mental health roles. If your credentials are foreign, start the equivalency evaluation through a NACES-approved agency early. University of Colorado hiring managers expect candidates to have a clear path to licensure before extending an offer.
Target postings within CU's health system
University of Colorado's mental health openings are split between Student Affairs counseling centers and UCHealth clinical settings. Each hiring unit has different sponsorship processes, so identify which division posted the role before you apply and tailor your outreach accordingly.
Request an H-1B filing before your OPT expires
If you're on F-1 OPT, raise the H-1B timeline with your hiring contact before the offer stage. Universities can file H-1B petitions year-round as cap-exempt employers, but internal processing still takes weeks and missing your OPT end date creates a gap in work authorization.
Understand how J-1 waiver status affects your application
Many international mental health professionals enter the U.S. on J-1 exchange visas with a two-year home residency requirement. If that applies to you, securing a Conrad 30 or federal agency waiver before targeting University of Colorado roles will remove a major barrier for the HR team.
Confirm your specialty occupation classification upfront
For H-1B sponsorship, USCIS must classify your mental health role as a specialty occupation requiring a specific degree. Roles like licensed professional counselor or clinical psychologist generally meet this standard, but general wellness or case management titles can face scrutiny. Clarify the job title and duties before accepting an offer.
Use Migrate Mate to find open mental health roles
Browsing University of Colorado's full mental health job listings filtered by visa sponsorship saves significant time. Use Migrate Mate to identify which current openings are actively hiring international candidates so you can prioritize your applications strategically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Colorado sponsor H-1B visas for Mental Healths?
Yes. University of Colorado is a qualifying higher education institution, which makes it a cap-exempt H-1B visa employer. That means it can file H-1B petitions at any time of year without competing in the annual lottery. For mental health roles, this is a significant advantage over private-sector employers, where lottery selection is the main barrier to sponsorship.
How do I apply for Mental Health jobs at University of Colorado?
Applications go through CU's centralized careers portal. Most mental health postings require a CV, cover letter, and documentation of licensure eligibility or current licensure status. If you need visa sponsorship, state that clearly in your application and follow up directly with the HR contact listed. Use Migrate Mate to browse current openings filtered for international candidates before applying.
Which visa types does University of Colorado commonly use for Mental Health roles?
The most common pathways for mental health professionals at University of Colorado are H-1B, J-1 visa, and F-1 OPT. The university also supports TN visas for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying clinical occupations. For permanent residency, EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship is available for longer-tenured employees, typically initiated after a period of H-1B employment.
What qualifications does University of Colorado expect for Mental Health roles?
Most clinical mental health positions require a master's degree or doctoral degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field, plus eligibility for Colorado state licensure. Roles within UCHealth's clinical system often require or prefer current licensure. Research or faculty-adjacent positions may prioritize doctoral credentials and a publication record over direct clinical experience.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take for a University of Colorado Mental Health hire?
Timeline depends on visa type. H-1B petitions at cap-exempt universities typically take two to four months with standard USCIS processing, or two to three weeks with premium processing. J-1 sponsorship through the university's exchange visitor program can move faster but involves DS-2019 issuance steps. Factor in Colorado licensure processing time separately, as that runs on its own timeline independent of immigration filings.