Clinical Instructor/Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences (Clinician Educator)

The Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of USC is seeking a California licensed mental health therapist with expertise in treating eating disorders and body dysmorphia (PhD/PsyD, LCSW, LMFT) to serve USC students in Counseling and Mental Health.

This is a full-time clinical faculty position with an academic appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and clinical service assignment in Counseling and Mental Health (CMH) within the Engemann Student Health Center. A generous benefits package includes: health, dental and vision coverage; significant retirement benefits (USC makes a 10% contribution when you contribute 5%), child care; tuition assistance for the faculty member and their eligible spouse and dependent children; tuition exchange for eligible faculty children; paid professional days; access to free continuing education credits through our Grand Rounds lecture series; generous paid time off and parental leave; life insurance, malpractice coverage, long-term disability coverage, pet insurance, and more, as revised from time to time (more information about benefits can be found here).

Position Description

USC Counseling and Mental Health Services seeks an experienced therapist to join the Multidisciplinary Eating and Body Image Concerns (MEBIC) team, a diverse and dynamic multidisciplinary team who are strongly committed to providing excellent multiculturally competent clinical treatment, training, and outreach services regarding mental health and wellness to USC students. We are seeking candidates who are reflective of our diverse student population and who have strong clinical skills, are familiar with the duties associated with a university counseling center, and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, collegial, professional environment. 

CMH therapists provide evidence-based, multiculturally and trauma-informed psychological interventions to USC students, including individual treatment, group therapy, routine and urgent intake, triage, case consultation, third party consultation, and after-hours coverage. They may supervise interns and practicum students; present didactic training in seminars for social work, marriage and family therapy, and psychology practicum interns on theories, interventions, or diagnoses; and provide psycho-educational workshops to USC faculty, staff, and students. CMH MEBIC provider will also aid in KSOM clinical consultations as well as aid KSOM faculty in research/data collection.

Description of Counseling and Mental Health (CMH)

Overall, CMH provides mental health services to students so that they may achieve their academic and personal goals. Services we provide include: individual and group counseling; assessment and referral to other professionals and institutions; crisis intervention (including some after-hours coverage); case management; biofeedback; psychiatric evaluations and medication follow-up; consultation; outreach and prevention; and training and supervision.

We are committed to providing quality mental and educational services in accordance with the ethical and legal standards of our profession. We treat all students with compassion, respect and dignity. We advocate for and empower our students in pursuing their goals and personal development.

Training is an important function in our center. We are committed to providing professional training opportunities for trainees in psychology, social work, and medicine (i.e. medical students and residents). The entire faculty is involved in our training programs including individual supervision, group supervision, case consults, and/or seminars. The training also includes participating in and promoting self-reflection. Our students benefit from multidisciplinary collaboration, and we adopt a bio-psycho-social approach in our work whenever appropriate.

We are committed to making the Center a work environment characterized by respect, mutual support, and teamwork, and the sharing of diverse opinions among our faculty. We value and honor the diversity of the students we serve as well as the diversity of our faculty and the unique contributions of each member. Faculty are committed to ongoing learning, self-awareness, and cultural competency.

Essential Functions

• Reports to clinic/division leadership
• Conducts initial diagnostic evaluations and biopsychosocial assessments, develops treatment plans, and provides evidence-based, multiculturally and trauma-informed psychological interventions to USC students
• Provides evidence-based individual and group therapy to USC students presenting with eating disorders and body dysmorphia concerns as well as other presenting problems
• Participates in and contributes as a member of the MEBIC team
• Evaluates crisis situations and intervenes appropriately
• Provides after-hours on-call service, as assigned
• Completes timely documentation and billing in accordance with to clinic policies
• Maintains appropriate clinical records and complies with all relevant regulatory policies and procedures
• Participates in clinical outcome evaluation
• Collaborates and consults with other mental health and primary care providers involved in the care of the student
• Participates in multidisciplinary case conferences and clinic meetings
• Attends and contributes to department and division meetings, fostering clinical objectives and a consultative collegial environment
• Participate in all required peer review, performance evaluation, and merit review processes, as well as quality improvement activities

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Doctorate in Counseling or Clinical Psychology from an APA-accredited program, or Master’s degree in Social Work or Marriage & Family Therapy
• Licensed in California
• Strong diagnostic skills and knowledge of DSM-5-TR
• Well-developed clinical skills and experience utilizing evidenced-based interventions for the treatment of mental and behavioral health conditions, including eating disorders and body image concerns
• Multiculturally and trauma-informed approach in working with all students, including students of color, students from all economic classes, first-generation students, LGBTQIA+ students, and international students
• Interest and skill in an integrated approach to care
• Willingness and ability to see a high volume of patients and meet departmental productivity standards
• Ability to make quick and accurate clinical assessments
• Flexible/comfortable adapting to a new and evolving clinical practice

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with university students
• 3 or more years of experience post-licensure treating eating disorders
• Familiarity with NICE and APA Guidelines in Standard Care of Practice Guidelines for Eating Disorders
• Resilient, self-aware, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Experience working with issues encountered in late adolescence, including identity issues (e.g., sexual identity, gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, etc.), sexual trauma, and substance use disorders
• Commitment to the highest ethical standards of professional practice and to professional integrity 
• Desire to continue to grow as a professional; committed to excellence and lifelong learning
• Strong communication skills
• Bilingual or multilingual

Application Deadline: Until position is filled.

Starting Date: Negotiable

USC 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, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

Applicants with questions about access or in need of a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources at (213) 821-8100 or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Application materials

CV, cover letter, and 3 letters of reference from current or former direct supervisors that speak to your competency and suitability for this position.