CPT Mental Health Counselor Jobs
Mental Health Counselor CPT jobs let F-1 students in counseling, psychology, and social work programs gain direct client-facing experience while enrolled. Your DSO must authorize each placement as an integral part of your curriculum, so your practicum or internship site needs to align with your program's clinical training requirements.
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INTRODUCTION
Whether you are a seasoned professional looking for part time work, or just starting your career in counseling or social work, we have an On-Call Counselor job for you! Encompass will train you to provide a host of services at our residential mental health treatment programs. We currently have openings for counselors in our mental health facilities located throughout Santa Cruz County.
About us
At Encompass Community Services we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, early childhood education, behavioral health, housing and more. Telos, El Dorado Center and Casa Pacific are three short-term residential treatment programs for individuals struggling with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. The primary goal of these programs is to assist individuals with increasing wellness and transitioning from residential care to more independent settings within the community. Our Counselors play an important role in assisting the residents we serve on their journey towards wellness and stability through treatment that is trauma-informed and person-centered.
Job Summary
The On-Call Counselor is available to work as needed to cover shifts that include ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents at the facility and supporting program operations. We are looking for individuals who have some experience or education working with individuals who struggle with mental illness and substance use disorders, and people with a passion to serve this unique population. We are looking for on call counselors with the skill and ability to work with clients who have multiple complex mental health, and physical health needs, and who are able to manage multiple tasks.
We are hiring on-call counselors who are available to work swing, night, and weekend shifts. Position requires availability to cover weekend shifts.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Respond to emails, texts, or phone calls in a timely manner. Be available and responsive to requests for on-call coverage as needed.
- Ensure adequate safety for program residents and property during specific shift hours.
- Responsible for responding to client behavioral and/or medical issues, facility issues, or natural emergencies while on duty.
- May provide therapeutic crisis management, with available support of Manager or On-Call Manager.
- May provide therapeutic intervention services based on best practices & selected evidence based practices for clients with mental health or substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.
- Services may include administrative functions in support of clients, including evaluation, assessments, counseling, and/or assisting in the implementation of appropriate treatment plan interventions and/or the facilitation of individual, group, and crisis counseling sessions.
- Dispensing medication, incident reporting, shift change reporting, and household duties as required.
- General safety checks, headcounts.
- Ability to comply with regulatory requirements.
- Must communicate effectively and be able to use current technology in the following areas: case notes, incident reports, correspondence with community service providers.
Qualifications
- Bilingual English/Spanish desired but not necessary
- High school diploma or GED, some college preferred
- Ability to work independently, manage time well
- Valid driver’s license and clean DMV required
- Computer literacy, including e-mail, Microsoft Word, and ability to navigate electronic health record documentation requirements.
- Good oral and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills with co-workers and community partners
- Position requires flu vaccination upon hire.
Wages & Benefits
Our total compensation package includes a comprehensive medical and dental insurance plan for full time employees, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holiday, sick time, and 17 days of paid vacation, pro-rated for positions less than 40 hours a week. Position receives overtime rate on all holidays as well as double times for Christmas and Thanksgiving day. On-call positions will receive one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked.
Encompass Community Services 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, or protected veteran status. We are committed to excellence through diversity and strive to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all clients and employees. Our programs recognize the value of racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity and strive toward a culture of trauma-informed practice, with the overarching goal of ensuring that all services promote healing, and integrate the values and standards of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
If you require assistance applying on-line, we have computer terminals available at our 380 Encinal Street Suite 200 office in Santa Cruz, Tel: 831-469-1700, and at our 225 Westridge Drive location in Watsonville, Tel: 831-724-3885. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment.
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Get Access To All JobsMental Health Counselor CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Mental Health Counselor CPT placement count as full-time or part-time work authorization?
Your DSO sets the designation based on hours. If your placement requires 20 or more hours per week, it's classified as full-time CPT. Full-time CPT accumulating to 12 or more months eliminates your OPT eligibility, so most counseling students structure clinical placements as part-time, even when the site could accommodate more hours.
Can I do CPT at a private therapy practice instead of an agency?
Yes, private practices can qualify for CPT, but your DSO will scrutinize them more closely than established agencies. The practice must provide qualified supervision by a licensed clinician, have a formal written agreement with your program, and the placement duties must align directly with your curriculum. Solo practitioner settings without supervision infrastructure often fail this review.
How do I find Mental Health Counselor positions that already accept F-1 CPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Mental Health Counselor roles by work authorization type, including CPT eligibility. This saves significant time compared to cold-contacting sites that have no experience with international student placements. Employers listed have prior experience navigating the authorization paperwork your DSO and program coordinator will require.
Does the CPT employer need to be E-Verify enrolled for my placement to be valid?
E-Verify enrollment is not required for CPT. CPT authorization comes through your school via your DSO and your CPT-endorsed I-20, not through the employer's I-9 process. That said, if your CPT placement later leads to a job offer requiring OPT or STEM OPT, those employers must be E-Verify enrolled for the STEM extension specifically.
What happens if my CPT placement site changes mid-semester?
Your existing CPT authorization is tied to the specific employer listed on your I-20. If you change sites, your DSO must issue a new or updated I-20 authorizing the new placement before you begin work there. Starting at a new site without an updated CPT authorization on your I-20 constitutes unauthorized employment, regardless of how similar the roles are.