OPT Mental Health Therapist Jobs
Mental Health Therapist roles on OPT typically require licensure or supervised hours toward licensure, which adds complexity to your job search. Most employers need you to hold or be actively pursuing a state clinical license. STEM OPT extension is not available for this field, so your 12-month window is the key timeline to plan around.
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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 Therapist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Mental Health Therapist
Clarify your licensure status upfront
Mental health employers prioritize licensure over immigration status in screening. Lead with your degree, supervised hours completed, and which license you're pursuing. Employers who understand clinical pipelines are far more likely to engage once they see your professional standing.
Target employers who have sponsored before
Community mental health centers, hospital systems, and large behavioral health networks have existing HR processes for work authorization. Smaller private practices often lack this infrastructure. Focusing on organizations with 50-plus clinical staff significantly improves your sponsorship odds.
Understand your OPT authorization timeline
Your OPT period begins on your EAD start date, not your graduation date. Mental health roles often involve multi-month hiring processes. Apply early, and factor in that H-1B visa sponsorship would need to be filed before your OPT expires to maintain status.
Use your supervised hours as a negotiating asset
If you need additional supervised clinical hours for licensure, frame this as a shared investment. Employers gain a committed clinician who needs continuity of employment. That mutual dependency makes sponsorship conversations more natural and gives employers a concrete reason to commit.
Address OPT directly in your cover letter
Behavioral health hiring managers are not always familiar with OPT. One clear sentence explaining your authorization, your EAD validity period, and your H-1B eligibility removes ambiguity. Candidates who proactively address status concerns convert at higher rates than those who wait to be asked.
Prioritize NASW-affiliated and nonprofit mental health employers
Nonprofit community health organizations and federally qualified health centers frequently hire international clinicians and are experienced with sponsorship. These employers often value mission fit and clinical competence over citizenship status, making them a stronger starting point than private for-profit practices.
Mental Health Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Mental Health Therapist on OPT without a clinical license?
It depends on the state and role. Many states allow unlicensed graduates to provide therapy under supervision while accumulating hours toward licensure. You can work in these supervised associate or intern-level positions on OPT. However, roles requiring an independent license, such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Professional Counselor, require active licensure before you can practice autonomously.
Is STEM OPT extension available for Mental Health Therapist jobs?
No. Mental health therapy degrees, including Master of Social Work, Master of Counseling, and related clinical degrees, are not classified under STEM-designated CIP codes. This means you are limited to the standard 12-month OPT period. Planning your job search and any visa sponsorship transition within that window is critical.
What visa typically sponsors Mental Health Therapists after OPT?
The H-1B is the most common pathway. Mental health therapy qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires a specific graduate-level degree. Some employers in nonprofit or government settings may also be eligible to sponsor O-1 visa or pursue green card sponsorship directly. The H-1B lottery, filed in April for October start dates, is the primary transition route most OPT students pursue.
How do I find Mental Health Therapist employers who sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find mental health roles at employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship. Broader searches often surface roles where sponsorship willingness is unclear. On Migrate Mate, you can filter specifically for positions where employers have a track record of sponsoring international candidates, saving significant time in your search.
Does my clinical practicum or internship count as OPT-authorized work?
Pre-completion OPT can cover paid clinical practicums while you are still enrolled. Post-completion OPT covers employment after graduation. Your supervised clinical hours completed during OPT employment do count toward licensure in most states. Confirm with your DSO that your practicum site and supervisor arrangement are properly authorized under your specific OPT terms before starting.