OPT Mental Health Specialist Jobs
Mental Health Specialist roles on OPT typically fall under specialty occupation status, supporting H-1B visa sponsorship later. Many positions in community health centers, hospital systems, and private practices actively hire OPT candidates. A relevant degree in psychology, counseling, or social work is essential, and STEM OPT extensions do not apply to this field.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation:
Sioux Center, IA
Worker Type:
Regular
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
Discover a Career of Faith and Healing: For over 70 years, Sioux Center Health has served patients with Jesus’ healing ministry. With eight locations located in Sioux Center, Iowa and surrounding communities, we take great pride in providing superior care in our state-of-the-art facilities.
A Career that You Will Love: There’s no other way to say it: You will love working here. Between our strong mission and our great people, we have nurtured a pretty exceptional culture at Sioux Center Health.
A Chance to Make a Difference: Working with us means making a real difference in the lives of our community members. Your talents and your passions are truly appreciated here. In addition to the service we provide, Sioux Center Health also supports our community with sponsored programs and events, and other volunteer work. If this is your passion, you need to consider joining our team driven to provide quality care and services within a caring Christian culture.
Position Highlights
At Sioux Center Health, our people are the heart of everything we do. Guided by a strong mission and a commitment to exceptional care, we've built a stable, thriving organization where employees make a meaningful difference. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in the recognition we have earned. Sioux Center Health has been named a Top Workplace in Iowa, received Best of the Northwest honors in 13 categories—including Best Place to Work—and earned a Five-Star Patient Survey Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We have also been recognized as a Chartis Top 100 Critical Access Hospital and Top Hospital in Iowa. Our Care Center has received the LeadingAge Excellence in Workplace Award, reflecting our commitment to creating a positive environment for both residents and employees. Beyond our organization, you'll find an outstanding community to call home. Sioux County was ranked #4 in the nation among the Healthiest Communities by U.S. News & World Report and CVS Health, reflecting the high quality of life and strong community values that make this region a great place to live, work, and grow.
Summary
The Outpatient Therapist II is responsible to provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and crisis intervention of acute or chronic behavioral health patients. This position provides clinical consultation services and community education services.
General Hours of Work
Monday – Friday (with occasional evening and weekend involvement)
Education and/or Experience
Master’s degree required from accredited program. Four years related experience and/or training is preferred. Completion of clinical supervision hours and have passed clinical exam. Preferred candidates will have clinical experience facilitating group therapy sessions and providing individuals counseling services. Preferred candidates will also have experience working with clients having dual diagnoses issues (addictive disorders in conjunction with mental health conditions). Clinical experience with couples and/or family therapy is preferred. Bi-lingual experience preferred but not required.
Certificate, Licenses, Registrations
Iowa Professional License required; which is one of the following:
- Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Essential Functions
- Coordinate a clinical treatment program for the diagnosis, treatment or referral of patients presenting with behavioral health conditions. Adhere to policies which assure the confidentiality of patient communications. Provide for a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of patients, coordinating same with appropriate departments.
- Conduct individual, family, or group therapy sessions and/or assessments in accordance with accepted principles. Coordinate care of patients with referring physician or agency. Document therapy in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Communicate with family members/significant others in order to further the effectiveness of client/patient treatment and progress.
- Provided educational programs on a variety of psychological topics to hospital/community groups as requested.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Location:
Sioux Center, IA
Worker Type:
Regular
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
Discover a Career of Faith and Healing: For over 70 years, Sioux Center Health has served patients with Jesus’ healing ministry. With eight locations located in Sioux Center, Iowa and surrounding communities, we take great pride in providing superior care in our state-of-the-art facilities.
A Career that You Will Love: There’s no other way to say it: You will love working here. Between our strong mission and our great people, we have nurtured a pretty exceptional culture at Sioux Center Health.
A Chance to Make a Difference: Working with us means making a real difference in the lives of our community members. Your talents and your passions are truly appreciated here. In addition to the service we provide, Sioux Center Health also supports our community with sponsored programs and events, and other volunteer work. If this is your passion, you need to consider joining our team driven to provide quality care and services within a caring Christian culture.
Position Highlights
At Sioux Center Health, our people are the heart of everything we do. Guided by a strong mission and a commitment to exceptional care, we've built a stable, thriving organization where employees make a meaningful difference. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in the recognition we have earned. Sioux Center Health has been named a Top Workplace in Iowa, received Best of the Northwest honors in 13 categories—including Best Place to Work—and earned a Five-Star Patient Survey Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We have also been recognized as a Chartis Top 100 Critical Access Hospital and Top Hospital in Iowa. Our Care Center has received the LeadingAge Excellence in Workplace Award, reflecting our commitment to creating a positive environment for both residents and employees. Beyond our organization, you'll find an outstanding community to call home. Sioux County was ranked #4 in the nation among the Healthiest Communities by U.S. News & World Report and CVS Health, reflecting the high quality of life and strong community values that make this region a great place to live, work, and grow.
Summary
The Outpatient Therapist II is responsible to provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and crisis intervention of acute or chronic behavioral health patients. This position provides clinical consultation services and community education services.
General Hours of Work
Monday – Friday (with occasional evening and weekend involvement)
Education and/or Experience
Master’s degree required from accredited program. Four years related experience and/or training is preferred. Completion of clinical supervision hours and have passed clinical exam. Preferred candidates will have clinical experience facilitating group therapy sessions and providing individuals counseling services. Preferred candidates will also have experience working with clients having dual diagnoses issues (addictive disorders in conjunction with mental health conditions). Clinical experience with couples and/or family therapy is preferred. Bi-lingual experience preferred but not required.
Certificate, Licenses, Registrations
Iowa Professional License required; which is one of the following:
- Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Essential Functions
- Coordinate a clinical treatment program for the diagnosis, treatment or referral of patients presenting with behavioral health conditions. Adhere to policies which assure the confidentiality of patient communications. Provide for a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of patients, coordinating same with appropriate departments.
- Conduct individual, family, or group therapy sessions and/or assessments in accordance with accepted principles. Coordinate care of patients with referring physician or agency. Document therapy in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Communicate with family members/significant others in order to further the effectiveness of client/patient treatment and progress.
- Provided educational programs on a variety of psychological topics to hospital/community groups as requested.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
See all 6,780+ OPT Mental Health Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Mental Health Specialist
Target employers with established visa sponsorship history
Large hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and university counseling departments are more likely to have sponsored work visas before. Smaller private practices rarely have the administrative infrastructure to support sponsorship, so prioritize organizations with HR teams.
Confirm your degree aligns with the specific role
Mental Health Specialist positions require a degree in psychology, counseling, clinical social work, or a directly related field. A general business or unrelated science degree will not support specialty occupation status, even if you have relevant clinical experience.
Understand your OPT end date before accepting offers
Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization. Mental Health Specialist roles do not qualify for STEM OPT extension. Know your exact expiration date and factor in H-1B visa cap timelines when evaluating whether an employer can bridge your status.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship early in the interview process
Raise the sponsorship question before a formal offer, not after. Frame it factually: your OPT expires on a specific date and you want to confirm the employer has sponsored H-1B visas before. Most healthcare employers expect this conversation.
Pursue licensure as early as your state allows
Many Mental Health Specialist roles require or prefer Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker credentials. Employers sponsoring H-1B visas are more willing to invest in candidates who are actively working toward or already hold state licensure.
Keep documentation of your supervised clinical hours
USCIS may request evidence that your role constitutes a specialty occupation. Detailed records of supervised hours, clinical responsibilities, and required credentials strengthen your employer's H-1B petition and demonstrate the professional complexity of your work.
Mental Health Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Mental Health Specialist on OPT?
Yes, Mental Health Specialist roles qualify for OPT work authorization provided your degree is in a directly related field such as psychology, counseling, or clinical social work. The position must be directly related to your major area of study. Standard OPT provides 12 months of authorization, and this field does not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Do Mental Health Specialist jobs qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Most Mental Health Specialist positions qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B requirements because they typically require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as psychology or counseling. Hospital systems, community mental health centers, and academic medical centers are the most common H-1B sponsors in this field. Smaller clinics and solo practices are less likely to sponsor.
Where can I find Mental Health Specialist jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is specifically built for F-1 OPT students and lists Mental Health Specialist roles from employers open to sponsoring international candidates. Rather than filtering through general job boards where sponsorship status is unclear, Migrate Mate surfaces positions where visa sponsorship is already part of the hiring conversation, saving you significant time during your OPT window.
Does my mental health degree from a foreign university qualify me for OPT in this role?
It depends on how your degree is evaluated. Foreign psychology and counseling degrees are generally accepted for OPT purposes if they were earned at an accredited institution while you held F-1 status. However, state licensure boards independently evaluate foreign credentials for clinical licensure, and requirements vary significantly by state. Confirm your degree equivalency with your DSO and review your target state's licensure requirements separately.
What happens if my OPT expires before I secure H-1B sponsorship?
If your OPT expires before an H-1B petition is approved, you cannot continue working. Planning is critical: H-1B cap petitions are filed in April for an October 1 start date, and selection is not guaranteed. Some Mental Health Specialist employers can sponsor cap-exempt H-1B petitions if they are affiliated with a nonprofit research organization or university, which allows year-round filing and avoids the lottery entirely.