Clinical Therapist (Penn Hillel)

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Clinical Therapist – Penn Hillel provides culturally responsive mental health counseling services to undergraduate students affiliated with Penn Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania. The role includes individual therapy, wellness and psychoeducational programming, consultation with campus partners, and connection to community‑based services as needed. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong clinical judgment, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to engage and support young adults in a campus‑embedded setting. Cultural competence and familiarity with Jewish traditions, values, and community life are required to effectively support the Penn Hillel student population. This position requires some evening hours and a flexible schedule based on program needs. The therapist will work primarily in person at the Penn Hillel site, with occasional work at JFCS locations and limited remote work as approved by leadership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and collaboratively develop individualized treatment plans.
• Provide short‑ and medium‑term individual counseling to undergraduate students in accordance with ethical and professional standards.
• Maintain an active clinical caseload aligned with program expectations and student needs.
• Assess risk and respond appropriately to students experiencing emotional distress or crisis, within scope of practice and agency protocols.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation, including progress notes and billing information, in accordance with JFCS policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Participate in individual and group clinical supervision and interdisciplinary treatment planning as required.
• Adhere to all professional, licensing, ethical, and agency standards.

PROGRAMMATIC & COLLABORATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate and deliver wellness and psychoeducational programming for the Penn Hillel community.
• Provide consultation, training, and support to student life staff as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Penn Wellness, SHAC, and other university mental health partners to ensure coordinated and effective student care.
• Maintain knowledge of campus, community, and mental health resources and facilitate referrals as appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison between JFCS, Penn Hillel, and university partners to support integrated student wellness services.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Working knowledge of evidence‑based and trauma‑informed treatment modalities, including but not limited to CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and crisis de‑escalation.
• Strong organizational, time‑management, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated professionalism, adaptability, and initiative in contributing to program development and personal professional growth.
• Commitment to continuous learning, including participation in required Trauma‑Informed Care and other agency‑mandated trainings.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) required.
• Pennsylvania licensure (LCSW) preferred; clinicians actively working toward licensure must be eligible for and participate in approved clinical supervision.
• Two to three years of relevant direct clinical service experience preferred.
• Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office and electronic health record systems (EHR/EMR experience a plus).
• Must maintain good standing with applicable licensing boards and comply with all professional and ethical guidelines.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of Judaism and Jewish culture required.
• Ability to work occasional evenings; schedule will be adjusted accordingly.
• Must meet current agency vaccination requirements.
• Successful completion of all required background checks.
• Travel within the Greater Philadelphia area may be required; access to reliable transportation or public transit necessary.
• Work locations may include Penn Hillel (University City) and JFCS offices (e.g., Bala Cynwyd). Limited remote work may be available as approved by leadership.