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 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 7,329+ 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.