RESIDENT & FELLOW MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS COUNSELOR

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The UW School of Medicine sponsors 120 residency and clinical fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and an additional 70 non-accredited clinical fellowship programs. Nearly 1500 residents and fellows pursue their ACGME-residency or fellowship training at UW Medicine’s primary training sites, including the University of Washington Medical Center (Montlake and Northwest campuses), Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, in addition to over 300 additional sites throughout the WWAMI region.

The Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office provides confidential, free, individual and couples counseling to medical Residents, Fellows, and their partners/spouses dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship issues, grief and loss, interpersonal conflict, professionalism challenges, eating disorders, etc. 

The GME Office is seeking a mental health professional to work up to 40 hours per week including 3 evenings up to 8:00 pm . The expectation is to provide 50 to 60% direct service per week (Wellness appointments).  The Resident & Fellow Mental Health Wellness Counselor is a member of the Graduate Medical Education Office within the University of Washington School of Medicine.  Location to be determined. Position will be at one or more UW sites that include UWMC, Harborview Medical Center, VA, SCCA, Fred Hutchinson Medical Center and SCH. Counselors are currently offering virtual wellness sessions due to Covid.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide individual and couples counseling utilizing a variety of clinical approaches as appropriate.  Maintain confidential, timely documentation of the services (Chart notes are NOT part of an electronic medical record and there is no billing).  Review cases with the Director of Resident and Fellow Wellness.  Report daily on utilization of the Wellness Counseling Service via the electronic database created for the Wellness Service. Services can be provided in person or using a virtual modality (as required).

Provide crisis intervention services as needed. Make referrals to and consult with GME’s community psychiatric provider for those seeking medication and other services with the psychiatric provider and learning specialists as needed.  Consult with the Washington Physicians Health Program as needed to make appropriate referrals for residents/fellows with impairing mental health conditions, and/or with alcohol, drug abuse, or other addictive disorders. 

Maintain an active network of primary care providers, community mental health providers and couples’ therapists who understand the issues typical to residents, fellows, and their partners. Facilitate referrals within this network for those seeking individual or couples’ work, long-term psychotherapy, medication, and help with issues beyond our scope. Provide and facilitate groups.

Help with planning and coordinating Wellness events with the Wellness Team. Some after hours or weekend attendance of Wellness events may be necessary.  Utilize and contribute to our library of self-help and mental health resource materials.

Attend meetings as required (monthly Team and GME meetings, monthly consultation meeting with Community Psychiatrist, WPHP).

Share responsibility for authoring the Wellness Corner, our electronic newsletter.

Reporting Relationships
This position reports to the Director of Resident and Fellow Wellness, a licensed clinician who also provides counseling to residents and fellows.  Clinical consultation (and help in managing crises) is also available from our community psychiatric provider and colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry at UW.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The Resident & Fellow Mental Health Wellness Counselor is a full-time professional position requiring both:
1. an Advanced Degree (Masters, PsyD or PhD in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or comparable field), AND
2. Licensure in a mental health field recognized by the State of Washington (LICSW, LMHC, etc).
• This position requires a high level of skill and training, the ability to utilize strong clinical judgment and to function independently.  Experience in medical education or residency education is preferred.  Experience leading support groups is preferred. Ability and comfort in group settings, facilitation skills and presenting content preferred.

Additional requirements:
• At least two years of job-related experience.
• Must be experienced in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders including suicidality, behavior disorders, and post-partum depression.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of reliability, accuracy and productivity.
• Ability to handle confidential information responsibly and discretely.
• Experience and comfort working with victims of interpersonal violence, with racially and ethnically diverse populations, and with LGBTQ clients.
• Familiarity and practical experience working with models of time-limited and evidence-based psychotherapy.
• Ability to present in front of groups, facilitate groups, do Wellness talks/presentations to Programs as required.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum requirements.

DESIRED REQUIRMENTS
• Experience in medical education or residency education is preferred.  Experience leading support groups is preferred. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.