Location: Nashville, TN, US
Employer Reference: 10006423
Company Description
Company Description
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Job Description
The Sport Psychologist, University Counseling Center (UCC) will join a team of licensed psychologists in our growing and highly collaborative sport psychology team. Vanderbilt Sport Psychology was created out of a vibrant partnership between the University Counseling Center, Vanderbilt Athletics, and the broader Student Care Network. This fully embedded position located within Athletics will perform team and individual sports performance consultation as well as integrated psychological services to student-athletes including counseling, assessment, crisis intervention and evidence-based therapeutic treatment for Vanderbilt University’s diverse varsity student-athlete population. Additionally, this role will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment consisting of sports medicine, sport performance, sport nutrition, and academic support services, and provide consultation to coaches and athletic department staff.
The Sport Psychologist is a valued member of our multidisciplinary collaborative healthcare team, upholding and embracing our mission of providing an excellent student-athlete experience. The role will also involve outreach, consultation and liaison activities aimed at increasing access to services for student athletes by promoting awareness and reducing stigma around seeking assistance.
About the Work Unit:
The University Counseling Center (UCC) supports the mental health needs of Vanderbilt students, encouraging their work toward their academic and personal goals. Our highly skilled and multidisciplinary staff develop evidence-based treatment plans tailored to everyone’s unique background and needs by working together with students, campus partners, and community providers. The UCC also emphasizes prevention and education through collaboration and consultation focused on the development of the skills and self-awareness needed to excel in a challenging educational environment. We offer culturally responsive services in a safe and affirming space and are committed to engaging in an ongoing dialogue that provides our team with opportunities to grow in the context of their own development.
Vanderbilt University’s Athletics Department prepares student-athletes to become leaders and champions in life by placing the highest values on integrity, character, sportsmanship, and victory. Vanderbilt is a charter member of the Southeastern Conference and is the conference's only private school. The university fields 17 varsity teams (6 men's teams and 11 women's teams), 15 of which compete in the Southeastern Conference.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Provide mental health and sport performance services to varsity student athletes:
- Provide comprehensive culturally informed sport psychology services to individual varsity student-athletes, including clinical assessment, evidence-based counseling and psychotherapy, and treatment planning.
- Develop appropriate treatment plans to target the needs of the student-athletes within a short-term, multidisciplinary, and multimodal system of care and collaborate effectively with other treatment resources for the benefit of students. Work effectively as an embedded sport psychologist within a collaborative care model with VU/VUMC Athletic Medicine and Medical Staff.
- Provide individual, group and team-based performance enhancement interventions to optimize wellness and performance. Serve as the primary point of contact for 3-5 varsity teams.
- Perform informal and formal psychological screenings and assessment with student-athletes.
- Maintain appropriate and timely documentation for recordkeeping and communication with other service providers based on ethical and legal standards to enhance care coordination.
- Comply with all NCAA rules, guidelines, and expectations. Engage in ethical decision-making as outlined in the APA Code of Ethics and applicable Vanderbilt University policies.
- Develop effective working relationships with the Vanderbilt community, including colleagues, Student Care Network entities, academic deans, faculty, residential staff, Dean of Students departments, Vanderbilt University Police Department, and other relevant campus partners, to ensure a collaborative support network on campus to respond to student needs and optimize support and safety for Vanderbilt students.
Provide outreach and consultation services:
- Provide consultation and outreach on clinical/wellness topic areas specific to student-athletes.
- Manage social media account in alignment with VU Student Affairs and VU Athletics communication guidelines.
- Consult with VU coaches, staff, sports medicine personnel, and student-athletes regarding student-athlete behavior, mental health, performance enhancement, and education.
- Develop and present various workshops for multiple audiences including but not limited to varsity teams, student-athletes, coaches and staff members.
- Provide and support outreach and educational programming to support campus and individual mental health, wellness, and skill development. Specific knowledge, experience, and skills in providing outreach and liaison services to a diverse student and student athlete population including AAPI, International, African American, Latinx, Disabled, and/or LGBTQI students is preferred.
- Lead educational sessions for coaches, staff, and student-athletes related to best practices, relevant topics, and industry leading programming, including raising mental health awareness and stigma reduction.
Provide specialized crisis intervention and follow-up services:
- Provide clinical assessments of students in a mental health crisis demonstrating effective diagnostic skills and effective treatment planning for a variety of mental health concerns and conditions.
- Respond to mental health emergencies in a culturally responsive manner to support students in a framework and manner.
- Identify appropriate interventions for students in crisis, working effectively with the staff of the UCC to access appropriate resources, and engaging campus partners effectively to develop an effective plan for supporting students.
- Communicate with campus partners supporting students in crisis and develop intervention strategies to ensure student safety and support.
- Collaborate with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Emergency Department, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, the Partial Hospital Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and other community providers, as appropriate, to ensure positive student outcomes, a smooth transition to outside care, and/or a seamless discharge/transition back to campus for students.
Provide clinical supervision for staff and trainees:
- Ability to provide clinical supervision and participate in relevant training activities.
Perform other administrative functions:
- Serve on divisional or athletics committees and working groups to enrich the experience and resources available to staff across the division.
- Perform other administrative duties as assigned by the Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Psychology.
- Engage in professional development, including presentations at pertinent conferences and workshops, to expand upon and bring back skills and knowledge to the greater Sport Psychology and UCC team.
- Perform other duties necessary to enhance the student experience and/or facilitate the success of the University, division, or department.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position may have clinical (but not administrative) supervisory responsibility for unlicensed and newly licensed mental health clinicians in position as well as trainees, the position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Psychology.