J-1 Visa Mental Health Specialist Jobs
Mental Health Specialist positions in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 visa Specialist or Trainee program categories, both requiring a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019. Securing J-1 sponsorship means coordinating between your host employer and a State Department-designated sponsor before your program start date.
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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 Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Mental Health Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Mental Health Specialist
Align Your Credentials With Specialty Occupation Standards
Mental health roles often require state licensure or graduate-level training in counseling, psychology, or social work. Confirm your foreign credentials are evaluated by a NACES-approved service before approaching host employers, since most designated sponsors require this documentation upfront.
Identify Host Employers With J-1 Program Experience
Community mental health centers, hospital behavioral health units, and university counseling centers regularly host J-1 Specialist and Trainee participants. Use Migrate Mate to filter Mental Health Specialist roles by employers already familiar with J-1 hosting requirements and DS-2019 coordination.
Clarify the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement Early
Many J-1 Mental Health Specialists are subject to the two-year home residency requirement, particularly if your program is government-funded or your home country lists your occupation as in short supply. Confirm your status directly with your designated sponsor before signing any offer.
Build a Training Plan That Satisfies DOL and Sponsor Standards
Your designated sponsor will require a detailed Training Plan or Exchange Visitor program outline showing measurable objectives tied to mental health practice. Work with your host employer to draft specific competencies, supervision structures, and clinical or programmatic milestones before submission.
Target Employers in Underserved or HRSA-Designated Areas
Host employers located in HRSA-designated mental health professional shortage areas often have stronger institutional motivation to support J-1 participants. These sites are also more likely to have existing relationships with designated sponsors through federal grant programs.
Time Your Application Around Program Start Date Constraints
Designated sponsors typically require the DS-2019 request at least 60 days before your program start date. Factor in credential evaluation timelines, your host employer's internal approval process, and consulate appointment availability when setting your target start date.
Mental Health Specialist J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Mental Health Specialist role?
It depends on your career stage and the nature of the placement. The Trainee category applies if you completed your degree or professional training within the past 12 months or have at least one year of work experience in the mental health field. The Specialist category applies to experienced professionals with at least five years of expertise in a specialized mental health discipline. Short-Term Scholar may apply for observation or research visits under six months.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a Mental Health Specialist?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations like Cultural Vistas or AIPT issue the DS-2019 form and are responsible for program compliance and monitoring. Your host employer is where you work, but they are not your legal sponsor. This distinction matters because you must maintain contact with your designated sponsor throughout the program, not just your workplace supervisor.
How do I find host employers open to J-1 Specialist or Trainee participants?
Many employers in behavioral health, community mental health, and hospital systems have hosted J-1 participants before but don't advertise it explicitly in job postings. Migrate Mate surfaces Mental Health Specialist roles with employers experienced in J-1 hosting, saving you from cold-contacting employers who have no framework for coordinating with a designated sponsor. Search by role and filter for J-1-compatible positions.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Mental Health Specialists?
It frequently does. Mental health occupations appear on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for many countries, triggering the two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). If your program is government-funded or your home country designated your field as a shortage area, you'll be subject to this requirement. You cannot change to most other nonimmigrant visa categories or apply for a green card until you fulfill or receive a waiver of this requirement.
What documentation should I prepare before approaching a host employer?
You'll need a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved agency confirming your foreign degree equivalency, proof of at least five years of specialized mental health experience for the Specialist category (or one year for Trainee), English proficiency documentation if your degree was not taught in English, and a draft outline of your proposed training objectives. Having these ready signals to both the host employer and the designated sponsor that you're a viable participant and shortens the DS-2019 processing timeline.