OPT Mental Health Jobs
Mental health jobs on OPT span clinical, research, and community-based roles, from counseling assistants to behavioral health coordinators. Most positions require a degree in psychology, social work, or a related field. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific major, so confirm your DSO classification before applying.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Social Worker
Reports to: Headmaster
Location: Forest Heights Lower School; San Antonio, Texas
Supported by: District Mental Health Team
Exemption Status/Test: Exempt
Salary Range: $53,000 - 63,000 commensurate with education and years of experience
Primary Purpose:
Provide responsive services to individual campuses and the campus community through wide Mental Health & Wellness Initiatives, Crisis Management; Interventions for Targeted Students; Trainings; Data Collection and Analysis. This position will be for individual campus needs.
Qualifications
Education/Certification: Master’s Degree
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Or Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (currently under supervision); Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) (currently under supervision); Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Experience:
Minimum of two (2) years of school or community-based counseling or social work experience in a K-12 public school preferred
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of the types of services provided by mental health counselors and social workers
- Proficient in technology, including computer skills, Microsoft applications, Google
- Ability to present to students, parents, and staff in one-on-one, small group, and large group settings
- Knowledge of counseling procedures and protocols
- Knowledge of interventions and best practices for student
- Adept at data collection and analysis
- Ability to create PowerPoints for campus-wide professional development
- Knowledge on best practices and research on mental health
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Guidance Curriculum:
- Conduct campus wide presentations for the students/staff
- Use technology to upload and share lessons and resources, as needed
Individual Counseling:
- Provide short-term, solution-focused counseling for general education students
- Provide counseling for special education students who require counseling according to their mandated Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Small Group Counseling:
- Provide small group counseling for general education students, as needed
Accountability:
- Tracking of crisis response activities
- Keep a daily log of activities as it relates to campus counseling supports
- Maintain an Outlook calendar
Crisis Management:
- Provide immediate support to dysregulated students
- Provide risk/threat assessment services for students who have been identified as at risk of self-harm or harm to others
- Conduct risk-assessments, as appropriate
- Follow up with crisis intervention reports, as required
- Serve as a member of the campus behavioral threat assessment team
Referrals:
- Provide community resources to school staff/families, as necessary
Student Management:
- Consult with school leadership regarding specific students and general trends in student population
Policy Reports and Law:
- Support and follow local, state, and federal rules and policies
Communications and Community Relations:
- Establish and maintain a professional relationship and open communication with headmasters, staff, parents, and the community
District Trainings:
- Attend mental health professional development trainings as required by the district and TEA
Personal Qualities & Values:
Passionately Committed:
With humility and curiosity, we seek to know more about our core purpose; seek to share (with each other and with others externally as an advocate); seek to live the mission ourselves with relentless pursuit and intrinsic motivation; seek to understand our work and how it serves the mission, which should result in getting the right stuff done with measurable results because we love actualization – not just the theory
Servant’s Heart:
The foundational element of having a servant’s heart is the acknowledgement of inherent dignity in their fellow human. Someone with a servant’s heart believes that their work is to promote the development of those around them and make it possible for others to be successful in serving the mission of the organization.
Team Player:
We believe our mission can only be accomplished through collaboration and receive true joy in being a part of something greater than ourselves; Each of us is one part of a whole, each with distinct roles, expertise, and responsibilities; working together in synchronicity.
Compensation:
Great Hearts offers a competitive benefits package and overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience, and education.
Additional Requirements:
Type of fingerprint clearance: Must possess or obtain valid Texas fingerprint clearance card.
Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.
Travel required: May need to travel locally to the various academies within the metro area.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.
Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job Title: Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Social Worker
Reports to: Headmaster
Location: Forest Heights Lower School; San Antonio, Texas
Supported by: District Mental Health Team
Exemption Status/Test: Exempt
Salary Range: $53,000 - 63,000 commensurate with education and years of experience
Primary Purpose:
Provide responsive services to individual campuses and the campus community through wide Mental Health & Wellness Initiatives, Crisis Management; Interventions for Targeted Students; Trainings; Data Collection and Analysis. This position will be for individual campus needs.
Qualifications
Education/Certification: Master’s Degree
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Or Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (currently under supervision); Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) (currently under supervision); Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Experience:
Minimum of two (2) years of school or community-based counseling or social work experience in a K-12 public school preferred
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of the types of services provided by mental health counselors and social workers
- Proficient in technology, including computer skills, Microsoft applications, Google
- Ability to present to students, parents, and staff in one-on-one, small group, and large group settings
- Knowledge of counseling procedures and protocols
- Knowledge of interventions and best practices for student
- Adept at data collection and analysis
- Ability to create PowerPoints for campus-wide professional development
- Knowledge on best practices and research on mental health
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Guidance Curriculum:
- Conduct campus wide presentations for the students/staff
- Use technology to upload and share lessons and resources, as needed
Individual Counseling:
- Provide short-term, solution-focused counseling for general education students
- Provide counseling for special education students who require counseling according to their mandated Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Small Group Counseling:
- Provide small group counseling for general education students, as needed
Accountability:
- Tracking of crisis response activities
- Keep a daily log of activities as it relates to campus counseling supports
- Maintain an Outlook calendar
Crisis Management:
- Provide immediate support to dysregulated students
- Provide risk/threat assessment services for students who have been identified as at risk of self-harm or harm to others
- Conduct risk-assessments, as appropriate
- Follow up with crisis intervention reports, as required
- Serve as a member of the campus behavioral threat assessment team
Referrals:
- Provide community resources to school staff/families, as necessary
Student Management:
- Consult with school leadership regarding specific students and general trends in student population
Policy Reports and Law:
- Support and follow local, state, and federal rules and policies
Communications and Community Relations:
- Establish and maintain a professional relationship and open communication with headmasters, staff, parents, and the community
District Trainings:
- Attend mental health professional development trainings as required by the district and TEA
Personal Qualities & Values:
Passionately Committed:
With humility and curiosity, we seek to know more about our core purpose; seek to share (with each other and with others externally as an advocate); seek to live the mission ourselves with relentless pursuit and intrinsic motivation; seek to understand our work and how it serves the mission, which should result in getting the right stuff done with measurable results because we love actualization – not just the theory
Servant’s Heart:
The foundational element of having a servant’s heart is the acknowledgement of inherent dignity in their fellow human. Someone with a servant’s heart believes that their work is to promote the development of those around them and make it possible for others to be successful in serving the mission of the organization.
Team Player:
We believe our mission can only be accomplished through collaboration and receive true joy in being a part of something greater than ourselves; Each of us is one part of a whole, each with distinct roles, expertise, and responsibilities; working together in synchronicity.
Compensation:
Great Hearts offers a competitive benefits package and overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience, and education.
Additional Requirements:
Type of fingerprint clearance: Must possess or obtain valid Texas fingerprint clearance card.
Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.
Travel required: May need to travel locally to the various academies within the metro area.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.
Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.
This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
See all 7,326+ OPT Mental Health Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Mental Health
Clarify your OPT end date upfront
Mental health employers often run slow hiring cycles. Know your exact OPT expiration date before applying and communicate your timeline early. Roles that require licensure can take months to finalize, so lead time matters more than in other fields.
Check STEM OPT eligibility by major
Not all mental health degrees qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Psychology and neuroscience may qualify depending on your CIP code, but social work typically does not. Confirm your eligibility with your DSO before framing it as a selling point.
Target roles that don't require state licensure
Licensed counselor and therapist roles often require state licensure, which takes time and restricts where you can work. Behavioral health technician, research coordinator, and case manager roles carry fewer licensing barriers and are more accessible on OPT status.
Prioritize employers familiar with OPT sponsorship
Large health systems, university counseling centers, and nonprofit behavioral health organizations have HR infrastructure to handle OPT and H-1B visa sponsorship. Smaller private practices often lack this capacity, making them higher-risk placements for international students.
Leverage your practicum or internship experience
Clinical hours from practicum or CPT placements are directly relevant to mental health hiring. Frame supervised experience explicitly in your resume. Employers in this field weight hands-on hours heavily, and your OPT authorization lets you continue building them.
Address H-1B sponsorship timing in your outreach
If your OPT expires before an H-1B petition can be filed, an employer needs to act before April 1 of the relevant fiscal year. Be direct about this timeline when discussing sponsorship so hiring managers understand what commitment they're making.
Mental Health OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a mental health counselor or therapist on OPT?
You can work in mental health on OPT, but clinical titles like licensed counselor or therapist require a state license that most F-1 students haven't yet obtained. Roles like behavioral health technician, mental health case manager, or research coordinator are more accessible on OPT and don't require independent licensure to start.
Do mental health jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code. Psychology and neuroscience programs are sometimes classified under STEM-eligible codes, but social work and counseling programs typically are not. Check your official transcript and confirm with your DSO before assuming eligibility. The extension gives you 24 additional months, so verifying early is worth it.
Where can I find mental health employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is the best place to find mental health jobs where employers are open to OPT and visa sponsorship. Larger health systems, federally qualified health centers, and university-affiliated programs are generally the most sponsorship-friendly. Searching Migrate Mate filters out roles unlikely to support international candidates, saving you time during a tight OPT window.
How does supervised clinical experience during OPT count toward licensure?
Hours worked under supervision during OPT typically count toward your state's licensure requirements, but rules vary by state and license type. Some states require supervisors to hold specific credentials, and the setting matters. Confirm with your state licensing board early so your OPT work directly advances your licensure application rather than requiring a restart.
What happens to my OPT if my mental health job ends before I find a new role?
F-1 OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment in total. If your mental health position ends, you have time to find a new role, but the clock runs continuously. Report any employment changes to your DSO immediately and keep your SEVP portal updated. Finding a new role quickly is critical to staying in valid OPT status.