J-1 Visa Mental Health Professional Jobs
Mental Health Professional roles in the United States are accessible to international exchange visitors through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Research Scholar, Specialist, or Trainee program categories, depending on your career stage and the structure of your placement. Designated sponsors issue the DS-2019 form and oversee compliance with exchange visitor program requirements.
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Applicants seeking short-term or part-time work with the University Hawai'i may apply for Casual Hire positions, which include administrative, professional, and technical (APT) or instructional-type positions. Because of the temporary nature of these appointments, Casual Hire employees are not eligible for most benefits as provided to regular BOR and Civil Service employees such as paid leave and holidays. Casual Hire appointments may last for up to 89 days for full-time employees, and up to 1 calendar year for part-time employees.
Pre-Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Title: Casual Hire - Mental Health Intern / Pre-Licensee
Hiring Unit: UHM Athletics
Location: Student-Athlete Services
Date Posted: July 31, 2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Full Time / Part Time: Part Time
Other Conditions: Hours not to exceed 15 hours per week. All positions require successful completion of a background check. Continuous recruitment until programmatic needs are met. For best consideration, review of applications will begin on August 7, 2026.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Pre-licensed mental health professional functioning as therapist / counselor (under supervision), available to all student-athletes at UHM.
- Part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for maintaining the mental health and wellness of UHM student-athletes.
- Responsible for assisting athletes across all mental health disciplines, including coping with stress, anxiety, and depression, transitioning into and out of collegiate athletics, rehabilitation from injury, and dealing with common mental health conditions.
- Will function as a member of the departmental team. Responsible for triaging referrals and collaborating on cases with other members of the healthcare delivery team.
- Must be able to assist the patient in a sensitive and supportive manner, while acting as an advocate on behalf of the patient.
- Responsible for providing individual counseling and/or psychotherapy services as indicated to student-athletes, under the supervision of licensed mental health practitioners.
- Maintain accurate and current notes as part of patient Mental Health records, for all patients seen.
- Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals, to treat emotional/behavior problems, educational/academic problems, attention problems, organic disorders, eating disorders, social and interpersonal dysfunction, physical/sexual/emotional abuse and neglect, personality dysfunction and drug/alcohol abuse (under supervision).
- Provide proactive education to UHM athletic department personnel and UHM student-athletes regarding relevant mental health topics.
- Maintain collaborative working relationships with administrators and coaches in the department, other college offices, and appropriate relationships with individuals interested in the Athletics Department.
- Promote and maintain an environment where the physical, mental, social and academic well-being of all student-athletes are a priority.
- Responsible for performing the duties of a Campus Security Authority as defined by University policy and federal law with regards to the Clery Act.
- Maintains confidentiality to include but not limited to information, files and records that the incumbent may obtain or possess, in accordance with federal and state laws and University of Hawaii policies.
- Know, recognize, and comply with the laws, policies, rules, and regulations governing the University of Hawaii and its employees, and the rules of the NCAA and affiliated conferences as now constituted or as may be amended in the future.
- Immediately advises the Director of Athletics or designee if you have reasonable cause to believe violations, whether by employees, students, or others have occurred or will occur.
- Other Duties As Assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Credentialed mental health professional – must hold one of the following:
- Masters or Doctorate of Social Work from a graduate school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
- Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) from an American Psychological Association accredited program in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or a combination of these.
- Masters or Doctorate in Mental Health Counseling fields from a fully accredited education institution, including (but not limited to) Masters in Counseling Psychology, Clinical Counseling, and Marriage & Family Therapy.
- Must be a credentialed mental health professional who is a pre-license candidate, and must be supervised by a current, fully licensed UH Athletics mental health professional.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of professional standards and ethics regarding the delivery of mental health services.
- Understanding of, and compliance with, privacy standards including HIPAA and FERPA.
Desired Qualifications:
- At least one year of experience in the provision of mental health services to athletes at a collegiate, professional, or elite level.
- At least one year of experience with provision of mental health services to students at the college / university level.
- Knowledge and functional understanding of the unique stressors and experiences faced by Division 1 Athletes.
- At least one year of experience practicing individual and/or group psychotherapy.
- Experience in working with and diagnosing common mental health disorders (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder).
- Experience in working with and treating eating disorders.
- CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) Certification.
TO APPLY:
INQUIRIES: Kelly Hee, Director of Mental Health Care Services/Counseling, kmsoler@hawaii.edu
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
Description
Applicants seeking short-term or part-time work with the University Hawai'i may apply for Casual Hire positions, which include administrative, professional, and technical (APT) or instructional-type positions. Because of the temporary nature of these appointments, Casual Hire employees are not eligible for most benefits as provided to regular BOR and Civil Service employees such as paid leave and holidays. Casual Hire appointments may last for up to 89 days for full-time employees, and up to 1 calendar year for part-time employees.
Pre-Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Title: Casual Hire - Mental Health Intern / Pre-Licensee
Hiring Unit: UHM Athletics
Location: Student-Athlete Services
Date Posted: July 31, 2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Full Time / Part Time: Part Time
Other Conditions: Hours not to exceed 15 hours per week. All positions require successful completion of a background check. Continuous recruitment until programmatic needs are met. For best consideration, review of applications will begin on August 7, 2026.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Pre-licensed mental health professional functioning as therapist / counselor (under supervision), available to all student-athletes at UHM.
- Part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for maintaining the mental health and wellness of UHM student-athletes.
- Responsible for assisting athletes across all mental health disciplines, including coping with stress, anxiety, and depression, transitioning into and out of collegiate athletics, rehabilitation from injury, and dealing with common mental health conditions.
- Will function as a member of the departmental team. Responsible for triaging referrals and collaborating on cases with other members of the healthcare delivery team.
- Must be able to assist the patient in a sensitive and supportive manner, while acting as an advocate on behalf of the patient.
- Responsible for providing individual counseling and/or psychotherapy services as indicated to student-athletes, under the supervision of licensed mental health practitioners.
- Maintain accurate and current notes as part of patient Mental Health records, for all patients seen.
- Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals, to treat emotional/behavior problems, educational/academic problems, attention problems, organic disorders, eating disorders, social and interpersonal dysfunction, physical/sexual/emotional abuse and neglect, personality dysfunction and drug/alcohol abuse (under supervision).
- Provide proactive education to UHM athletic department personnel and UHM student-athletes regarding relevant mental health topics.
- Maintain collaborative working relationships with administrators and coaches in the department, other college offices, and appropriate relationships with individuals interested in the Athletics Department.
- Promote and maintain an environment where the physical, mental, social and academic well-being of all student-athletes are a priority.
- Responsible for performing the duties of a Campus Security Authority as defined by University policy and federal law with regards to the Clery Act.
- Maintains confidentiality to include but not limited to information, files and records that the incumbent may obtain or possess, in accordance with federal and state laws and University of Hawaii policies.
- Know, recognize, and comply with the laws, policies, rules, and regulations governing the University of Hawaii and its employees, and the rules of the NCAA and affiliated conferences as now constituted or as may be amended in the future.
- Immediately advises the Director of Athletics or designee if you have reasonable cause to believe violations, whether by employees, students, or others have occurred or will occur.
- Other Duties As Assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Credentialed mental health professional – must hold one of the following:
- Masters or Doctorate of Social Work from a graduate school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
- Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) from an American Psychological Association accredited program in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or a combination of these.
- Masters or Doctorate in Mental Health Counseling fields from a fully accredited education institution, including (but not limited to) Masters in Counseling Psychology, Clinical Counseling, and Marriage & Family Therapy.
- Must be a credentialed mental health professional who is a pre-license candidate, and must be supervised by a current, fully licensed UH Athletics mental health professional.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of professional standards and ethics regarding the delivery of mental health services.
- Understanding of, and compliance with, privacy standards including HIPAA and FERPA.
Desired Qualifications:
- At least one year of experience in the provision of mental health services to athletes at a collegiate, professional, or elite level.
- At least one year of experience with provision of mental health services to students at the college / university level.
- Knowledge and functional understanding of the unique stressors and experiences faced by Division 1 Athletes.
- At least one year of experience practicing individual and/or group psychotherapy.
- Experience in working with and diagnosing common mental health disorders (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder).
- Experience in working with and treating eating disorders.
- CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) Certification.
TO APPLY:
INQUIRIES: Kelly Hee, Director of Mental Health Care Services/Counseling, kmsoler@hawaii.edu
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
See all J-1 Visa Mental Health Professional Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Mental Health Professional Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Mental Health Professional
Verify your credentials meet licensing benchmarks
State licensing boards set the clinical hour and supervision requirements for counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Confirm your foreign training maps to the host state's standards before applying, since a mismatch can block supervised practice even with a valid DS-2019.
Target host organizations with established exchange programs
Community mental health centers, VA medical centers, and university counseling services routinely host J-1 visa exchange visitors. Search Migrate Mate to find employers in these settings who have actively listed J-1 visa-compatible Mental Health Professional roles.
Confirm your J-1 category with your designated sponsor
Recent graduates completing clinical internships typically use the Intern category. Mid-career professionals in a structured skills-transfer placement fall under Trainee. Your designated sponsor, not your host employer, determines the correct category and issues the DS-2019 accordingly.
Check whether your role carries a home residency requirement
Mental Health Professional placements funded by a government or financed by your home country can trigger the two-year home residency requirement under INA 212(e). Ask your designated sponsor to assess your specific funding source before accepting an offer.
Document your training plan with measurable clinical objectives
Your designated sponsor requires a completed Form DS-7002 training plan for Trainee and Intern categories. Host supervisors must outline specific competencies, supervision hours, and evaluation milestones tied to behavioral health practice, not generic job duties.
Align your offer letter language with J-1 program requirements
The host employer's offer letter must describe the exchange activity as skills transfer or research, not permanent employment. USCIS and your designated sponsor will both review this framing, so confirm the letter uses program-compliant language before countersigning.
Mental Health Professional J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Mental Health Professional placement?
It depends on your career stage and the nature of your placement. Graduate students in accredited clinical programs use the Intern category. Post-degree professionals in structured skills-transfer roles use the Trainee category. Researchers studying behavioral health interventions or policy typically qualify under Research Scholar or Specialist. Your designated sponsor makes the final determination based on your qualifications and the host organization's program structure.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa if my host is a clinic or hospital?
The clinic or hospital is your host organization, not your visa sponsor. A U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or IIE, acts as the official sponsor. The designated sponsor reviews your placement, approves the training plan, and issues the DS-2019 form that authorizes your exchange visitor status. Your host employer has no authority to issue immigration documents.
Can I use Migrate Mate to find J-1-compatible mental health roles?
Yes. Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employers in community mental health, hospital systems, and university counseling settings that have listed J-1-compatible Mental Health Professional positions. Filtering by role and exchange program alignment helps you identify host organizations whose placement structures match the Intern, Trainee, or Specialist category requirements before you contact a designated sponsor.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect mental health exchange visitors?
It can. The two-year home residency requirement applies when your exchange program is government-funded or your home country has identified your field as one in which it needs professionals. Mental health is a high-demand field in many countries, which increases the likelihood of a skills-list designation. Your designated sponsor can review your DS-2019 eligibility and flag this obligation before you accept a host placement.
What clinical supervision documentation does a J-1 Trainee in mental health need?
Your host employer and designated sponsor must complete Form DS-7002, which outlines your supervision structure, clinical objectives, and evaluation schedule. For mental health Trainees, this means specifying the licensed supervisor's credentials, the therapy modalities you will practice, weekly supervision hours, and how competency will be measured. Generic job descriptions will not satisfy the program requirements. Migrate Mate can help you identify host employers familiar with this documentation process.