Position: Health and Counseling Center Counselor

Department: Upper School - Counseling Center

Location: Milton Academy Campus, 313 Randolph Avenue, Milton, MA

Hours: Full-time with the flexibility to work nights and weekends

FLSA: Exempt

Classification: Faculty (Academic Year)

Milton Academy is an independent college preparatory K–12 school, boarding and day in grades 9–12, located just outside of Boston.

Milton Academy cultivates in our students a passion for learning and a respect for others. Milton students grow by developing their own identities, learning from and listening to the lived experiences of others, and living and working among peers whose differences they accept with respect and care.

In our ongoing work to create an environment that confronts bias, injustice, and bigotry, we encourage each other to be open to learning, explore our histories and identities, and seek to understand the world around us with a critical lens. At Milton, we prepare students to partner with their future communities to create a more just world, and to have the courage to speak up and live by our motto, “Dare to be true.”

Summary of Position:

Milton Academy is seeking a full-time counselor for an opening in the Upper School Health and Counseling Center starting in August 2024.

Candidates must be willing to live on campus as part of our on-call requirements.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provide individual therapy to students: a combination of short and long term evidenced-based modalities
• Provide culturally appropriate, consultative, clinical, and outreach services grounded in multicultural anti-racist frameworks and treatment modalities
• Participate in a regular on-call schedule as part of our team of four clinicians: generally, one night a week, and about one weekend a month
• Provide thorough safety assessments and accompany students who potentially need hospitalization to Boston Children’s Hospital Emergency Room
• Collaborate with the counseling team, health care providers, parents, administrators, faculty, dorm staff, and off-campus providers
• Communicate closely with Academic Skills Center faculty in consultation and collaboration to support students who need counseling and academic support
• Meet multiple times a week in group supervision with the Director of Counseling, counselors, and the consulting Psychiatrist
• Serve as a dorm-affiliated counselor. The counselor will meet with two Dorm Heads on a regular basis in order to provide consultation in relation to supporting students in their respective dorms
• Oversee specific student leadership programs (such as Peer Discussion Groups or Human Sexuality and Relationships).

Other faculty member responsibilities at Milton Academy include advising, community, and residential life activities, among others. Please see the full job description for more information.

Advising

• Serve as an advisor to a group of up to nine students, engaging in advisor meetings each week.
• Connect, support, communicate, encourage, and celebrate each advisee
  • Facilitate students' social-emotional learning and growth in alignment with all school programming through small group meetings.
  • Build deep relationships with each advisee and assist them in navigating challenges they may encounter.
  • Form relationships with and act as a liaison between the school and advisee families; serve as the first point of contact between the school and families.
• Read and be familiar with all relevant materials, most importantly the Student Handbook and the sections of the US Faculty Handbook on academic regulations and diploma requirements.
• Be informed about course offerings for the following year and help each advisee select programs that are challenging and appropriate, as well as areas of special interest.
• Review each advisee’s grades and comments.
• Craft formal advisor reports for each advisee two times per year, offering overarching perspectives on their progress, and acknowledging a broader view of their academic and community achievements at Milton.
• Should an advisee need additional support in a particular area, be in steady contact with the advisee’s teachers, administrators, and/or other committees as needed.
• Attend all upper school student required weekly assemblies, programming, and special events (e.g., community service day, pep rallies).
• Attend class trips, retreats, and social events arranged by the director of student activities or the class dean.

Community

• Be a visible, accessible presence around campus.
• Contribute to creating a positive community culture that ensures students are heard, seen, valued, and cared for.
• Share in the enforcement of our expectations for students.
• Actively participate in greater community enrichment activities, such as advising a student activity, acting as a faculty sponsor to a student club, coaching an athletic team, leading an intramural sport or acting as an affinity group advisor.

Residential Life

• Participate in a regular on-call schedule as part of a team of four clinicians: generally, one night a week, and about one weekend a month.
• Act as a mentor and role model in all areas of the residential program, demonstrating a commitment to the success of each student, especially in the areas of social and emotional development.
• Contribute to creating a positive community culture within the dorms that ensures students are heard, seen, valued, and cared for.
• Communicate regularly with other house staff as an opportunity to check in about the students in the dorm.

Other Professional Expectations and Responsibilities

• Work cooperatively with students, parents, peers, administration, and community members.
• Act in a manner that is respectful, generous toward others, supportive of colleagues, and based in a belief in the competence and good intentions of all members of the community.
• Communicate openly and promptly, supporting colleagues, students, and the integrity of the institution in conversations with students and parents.
• Create and maintain classroom and campus environments that are open and flexible, reflecting the school’s values related to diversity, equity, and belonging.
• Strive to grow and improve professionally, demonstrating a commitment to continuing professional development in alignment with the upper school’s growth statements.
• Exhibit skills in collaborative problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.
• Meet deadlines.
• Attend all school-wide, divisional, and faculty meetings and events and serve on committees as required.
• Prepare for and participate in the opening of school programming, family visit days, graduation, and all other key student/family moments that are part of the school calendar.
• Complete school-required training.
• Abide by the school’s policies and procedures as outlined in the provided handbooks.
• Communicate with the appropriate supervisor when unable to meet any professional obligation.

Supervision to be received: Supervised by the Director of Counseling.

Supervision to be exercised: None.

Education/Certification/Licensure

Required:

• Advanced degree in social work or clinical psychology
• A valid Massachusetts license to practice therapy (LICSW, LMHC, PsyD, or Ph.D.)
• A license eligible candidate would be considered with prior experience in education and/or independent schools.

Experience

Required:

• Experience providing CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed individual therapy with adolescents
• Experience with safety and crisis evaluations
• Working knowledge of psychopharmacological medications

Preferred:

• Experience working in an independent boarding / day school

Competencies

Required:

• Possess strong clinical skills: Assessment and diagnosis, treatment planning, etc.
• Possess a demonstrated understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and the willingness to pursue ongoing growth in this area
• Understanding of educational accommodations and necessary supports
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly in clinically relevant micro and macro levels from the perspective of a student as well as the Institution
• Work collaboratively in a multi-faceted setting and institution
• Ability to seek out and receive feedback
• Understands boundaries and embraces responsibility for the care of all students in loco parentis
• High energy, enthusiasm, and optimism about children and adolescents’ mental and emotional health, as well as their academic pursuits
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated computer expertise, including proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
• Understanding of confidentiality and related issues.
• Receptive to supervision and professional development.
• Desire to be a part of a dynamic educational community.

Physical Abilities

Required:

• Must be able to work at a computer for up to 8 hours each day in conjunction with OSHA requirements.
• Must have the stamina to handle long days and multiple sessions with students.
• Must be able to move around the Milton Academy campus without restriction.
• Must be able to lift up to 10 pounds.

All interested internal candidates must complete an application for promotion or transfer and inform your supervisor as soon as possible.

The essential functions and basic skills have been included in this job description; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.

An equal opportunity employer, Milton embraces diversity and the pursuit of excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race (including natural and protective hairstyle), color, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, religious creed, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, citizenship, national or ethnic origin or any other status protected by applicable law.