J-1 Visa Mental Health Counselor Jobs
Mental health counselor roles in the U.S. are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship, most commonly under the Trainee or Specialist program category. Designated sponsor organizations issue your DS-2019 and oversee your training plan, while the clinical employer serves as your host site.
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Get Access To All JobsCORE JOB SUMMARY
The Respiratory Therapy Intern works in assigned clinics/facilities, under the supervision of licensed respiratory therapists, to gain practical experience in the field. The incumbent leverages acquired knowledge to further the department's goal of effectively meeting the medical needs of patients and customers.
CORE JOB FUNCTIONS
-
Interacts with customers, answers their questions, performs consultations, and provides instructions.
-
Trains on how to incorporate respiratory therapy techniques and practices related to lung conditions and recovery.
-
Ensures compliance and follows all policies, procedures and regulations.
-
Maintains confidentiality of patient records.
-
Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.
CORE QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required
Experience:
No previous experience required
Certification and Licensing:
Refer to department description for applicable certification requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
- Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
- Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
- Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.
This is a core job profile description and is not reflective of all duties that may be assigned to a specific position in each individual department. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and primary responsibilities of this core job profile. Specific duties and tasks may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job.
The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, tuition remission and more.
UHealth-University of Miami Health System, South Florida's only university-based health system, provides leading-edge patient care powered by the groundbreaking research and medical education at the Miller School of Medicine. As an academic medical center, we are proud to serve South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. Our physicians represent more than 100 specialties and sub-specialties, and have more than one million patient encounters each year. Our tradition of excellence has earned worldwide recognition for outstanding teaching, research and patient care. We're the challenge you've been looking for.
The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.
Job Status:
Part time
Employee Type:
Temporary
CORE JOB SUMMARY
The Respiratory Therapy Intern works in assigned clinics/facilities, under the supervision of licensed respiratory therapists, to gain practical experience in the field. The incumbent leverages acquired knowledge to further the department's goal of effectively meeting the medical needs of patients and customers.
CORE JOB FUNCTIONS
-
Interacts with customers, answers their questions, performs consultations, and provides instructions.
-
Trains on how to incorporate respiratory therapy techniques and practices related to lung conditions and recovery.
-
Ensures compliance and follows all policies, procedures and regulations.
-
Maintains confidentiality of patient records.
-
Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.
CORE QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required
Experience:
No previous experience required
Certification and Licensing:
Refer to department description for applicable certification requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
- Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
- Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
- Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.
This is a core job profile description and is not reflective of all duties that may be assigned to a specific position in each individual department. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and primary responsibilities of this core job profile. Specific duties and tasks may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job.
The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, tuition remission and more.
UHealth-University of Miami Health System, South Florida's only university-based health system, provides leading-edge patient care powered by the groundbreaking research and medical education at the Miller School of Medicine. As an academic medical center, we are proud to serve South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. Our physicians represent more than 100 specialties and sub-specialties, and have more than one million patient encounters each year. Our tradition of excellence has earned worldwide recognition for outstanding teaching, research and patient care. We're the challenge you've been looking for.
The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.
Job Status:
Part time
Employee Type:
Temporary
See all J-1 Visa Mental Health Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Mental Health Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Mental Health Counselor
Align your credentials with U.S. licensure standards
State licensure boards evaluate foreign counseling degrees against local requirements before any host employer can place you. Research your target state's Licensed Professional Counselor or LMHC equivalency rules before applying to host sites.
Target host employers with active training infrastructure
Community mental health centers, VA facilities, and hospital behavioral health departments are most likely to have the structured supervision and training plans that J-1 visa Trainee and Specialist programs require DOL approval on.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned counseling roles
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers actively hosting international mental health professionals. Filter by role and location to surface organizations whose hiring patterns match J-1 program structures.
Distinguish your J-1 category before contacting employers
Intern status applies if you're currently enrolled in a counseling degree program. Trainee applies if you graduated within the past 12 months or have at least one year of work experience. Presenting the wrong category to HR delays the DS-2019 process.
Confirm the host site will sign a training plan
Your designated sponsor organization, such as Cultural Vistas or CIEE, requires a signed Training or Internship Placement Plan before issuing your DS-2019. Verify the employer contact who will execute that document before accepting any offer.
Check for the two-year home residency requirement early
Mental health counseling roles funded by U.S. government sources or involving skills on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may trigger a two-year home residency requirement. Confirm your status with your designated sponsor before you accept an offer or plan any subsequent U.S. visa applications.
Mental Health Counselor J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a mental health counselor role?
It depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in a counseling degree program, the Intern category applies. If you've graduated within the past 12 months or have at least one year of relevant professional experience, the Trainee category is the correct fit. Experienced clinicians pursuing advanced professional development may qualify under the Specialist category, which targets practitioners with expertise not widely available in their home country.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a mental health counselor?
A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization, not your employer, issues the DS-2019 form that makes your J-1 visa possible. Organizations like Cultural Vistas or CIEE act as the legal sponsor, monitor your program compliance, and maintain your SEVIS record. Your clinical employer is the host site. These are two distinct roles, and the host employer cannot act as the visa sponsor unless it holds its own State Department designation.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host J-1 mental health counselors?
Use Migrate Mate to search for counseling and behavioral health roles at U.S. employers whose hiring history aligns with international professionals. Community mental health centers, integrated health systems, and university counseling services are among the most common host site types for J-1 counselors. Direct outreach to HR departments should reference your J-1 category and the training plan requirement upfront, so the employer understands the administrative process before extending an offer.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to mental health counseling J-1 participants?
It can. The requirement applies if your exchange program is funded by your home or the U.S. government, or if your counseling specialty appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for your country. You should confirm your home country's Skills List status with your designated sponsor before accepting any host employer offer, because the requirement affects eligibility for subsequent H-1B visa, L-1 visa, and immigrant visa applications.
What documents does a host employer need to support my J-1 counselor application?
The host employer must execute a Training or Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) with your designated sponsor organization. This document outlines your supervision structure, specific clinical objectives, hours per phase, and how the training differs from routine employment. The employer also needs to demonstrate it has qualified supervisors, since J-1 Trainee and Specialist programs require documented oversight by licensed professionals throughout the program period.