Career Center

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,484 full-time undergraduates and 5,250 graduate and professional students. Ranked 35 among national universities, Boston College has 888 full-time and 1,281 FTE faculty, 2,711 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.5 billion.

Sports Medicine Counselor

The Sports Medicine Counselor position works with the Associate Director, Mental Health Counseling, and in conjunction with the Lynch School of Education and Development clinical placements under the umbrella of University Health Services (UHS) and Primary Care Sports Medicine to provide varsity student athletes with mental health support. This position supplements the varsity student athletes' access to sports psychology services by providing immediate mental health support and follow-up visits. This position will maintain a referral system that is managed by the UHS Director, to ensure appropriate internal and external referrals. This position will provide mental health support to varsity athletes in need.

Responsibilities include::

• Provides high-quality counseling and mental health services for Boston College student-athletes.

• Provides initial visit intakes, group counseling and brief individual psychological counseling focused on student-athlete needs.

• Maintains clinical records and necessary statistics of client contacts in compliance with legal and ethical standards and best practices.

• Consults with UHS sports medicine physicians and/or psychiatrists in conjunction with prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medication for psychotherapy patients.

• Makes referrals to University Counseling Services, off-campus therapists, clinics, and hospitals, when appropriate.

• Provides crisis management services to student-athletes, as needed.

  • Provides crisis and risk assessment, urgent and emergent counseling services as needed. Will work with University Counseling Services to evaluate any emergency service needed.

  • Develops safety plans and facilitates psychiatric hospitalizations in conjunction with University Counseling Services (UCS) as necessary.

• Stays current on relevant research and best practices regarding psychological services to the college student-athlete population.

In order to create a more inclusive community within the Division of Student Affairs, each staff member is expected to support division and university-wide initiatives, staff events, and serve on committees as needed.

Full-Time Equivalent Hiring Range: $55,850 to $69,800; salary commensurate with relevant experience.

Since it will be paid from outside funds, continued employment is contingent upon the availability of those funds. The University cannot assume responsibility for continued employment if those funds cease to be available and as a result the person in this role would not be eligible for the University's notice policy.

• Master's degree in mental health counseling, social work, or related field.

• Licensed preferred. If not licensed, must be working towards becoming eligible for licensure in Massachusetts (must have license within 6 months of achieving eligibility).

• Demonstrated work experience in the following areas: student-athlete mental health issues, consultation to athletic trainers and student-athletes, education programs for athletic trainers and student athletes, assessment/treatment of a diverse population, substance addiction, eating disorders, and performance issues.

• Has knowledge and familiarity with NCAA Division 1 Athletics culture

• Has knowledge and familiarity with, and will abide by, NCAA Division 1 Athletics rules and regulations

• Has understanding of psychological issues related to injury and rehabilitation in competitive athletes

• Experience teaching mental skills training (e.g. imagery, motivation, relaxation, concentration) to individual student-athletes and/or teams

• Experience with emergency care and crisis management is preferred.

• Must have the ability to work evenings and weekends to support student athletes.

In addition, individual must have:

• Interest in sports - in order to establish rapport with clients and understand their unique needs.

• Ability to motivate others -must be able to effectively motivate athletes to work harder, practice more, and overcome mental barriers in order to improve their performance.

• Ability to work in a high-stress, fast-paced environment - must be able to work under pressure with many deadlines and with a variety of stakeholders.