J-1 Visa Mental Health Jobs
Mental health positions in the United States are available to international professionals through the J-1 visa under the Trainee, Research Scholar, or Specialist program categories, depending on your career stage. Securing sponsorship requires a designated State Department organization to issue your DS-2019 before you can begin working with a U.S. host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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.
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.
See all 162+ Mental Health jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Mental Health
Credential your clinical licensure before applying
Many U.S. host employers in mental health require proof your foreign clinical credentials meet state licensure standards. Get a credential evaluation through a NACES-approved service before you approach any host site, so your qualifications are immediately verifiable.
Distinguish Trainee from Specialist category eligibility
If you hold a degree and fewer than five years of post-degree mental health experience, the Trainee category applies. Specialists with deep expertise in a narrow subfield, like neuropsychological assessment, qualify under a separate category with different DS-2019 requirements.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned host employers
Not every mental health employer understands the host-organization role in a J-1 placement. Use Migrate Mate to filter for U.S. employers already familiar with exchange visitor arrangements, narrowing your search to organizations equipped to serve as a compliant host site.
Confirm the host employer will sign your training plan
Your designated sponsor, such as CIEE or Cultural Vistas, needs the host employer to co-sign a detailed training plan outlining your supervised activities. Secure a written commitment from the employer before the sponsor can issue your DS-2019, so onboarding is not delayed.
Check whether your role triggers the two-year home residency requirement
Mental health positions funded by a government or financed by your home country often carry the two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA Section 212(e). Confirm this with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer, since it affects future H-1B or green card eligibility.
Negotiate supervision terms before your program start date
J-1 Trainee and Specialist programs in mental health require documented supervision. Clarify with your host employer how supervision hours will be logged and reported to your sponsor, because gaps in those records can jeopardize your program compliance and DS-2019 validity.
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Find Mental Health JobsMental Health J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a mental health professional?
It depends on your career stage. Graduate students completing practicum hours typically use the Intern category. Post-degree clinicians with fewer than five years of experience qualify as Trainees. Experienced practitioners with specialized expertise, such as in trauma-focused therapy or psychiatric rehabilitation, may qualify under the Specialist category. Researchers studying mental health outcomes at a university or institute apply under Research Scholar.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa in a mental health placement?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or CIEE, not your employer. The host employer, such as a community mental health center or hospital system, serves as the placement site and co-signs your training plan. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors program compliance, and reports to the State Department throughout your exchange.
How do I find U.S. mental health employers open to hosting a J-1 exchange visitor?
Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. mental health roles and filter for employers familiar with exchange visitor arrangements. Many smaller outpatient practices and community behavioral health organizations have hosted J-1 visitors before but don't advertise it publicly, so a targeted search through Migrate Mate surfaces options that a general job board would miss.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to mental health J-1 positions?
It can. If your mental health position is financed by your home government or by a U.S. government agency, or if your home country has designated your field as in short supply, the two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA Section 212(e) applies. This bars you from changing to H-1B or applying for a green card until you satisfy or waive the requirement. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
Can I extend my J-1 program if my mental health training isn't complete?
Extensions are possible but require approval from your designated sponsor and must stay within the maximum program duration for your category. Trainees are capped at 18 months total, while Research Scholars can extend up to five years. Your host employer must document continued need for the training, and your sponsor must submit the extension before your current DS-2019 expires. There is no grace period for expired programs.
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