APP, Mental Health and Counseling

Position Focus :

Mental Health and Counseling (MHC) is Yale University’s student mental health center. MHC provides a wide range of outpatient psychiatric services to the Yale student body (undergraduate, graduate & professional).

Services include (but are not limited to) psychiatric evaluation, medication evaluation, psychopharmacology, individual and group psychotherapy.

MHC has a large and vibrant multidisciplinary staff that consists of psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurses, as well as a cohort of advanced trainees.

The Advanced Practice Practitioner (APP) will work in this setting to conduct evaluations, medication management, and individual and group psychotherapy.

APPs in MHC are expected to provide patient-centered, culturally sensitive care using evidence-based medicine. We are interested in candidates who prioritize collaboration and professionalism, and who can apply their education and experience to the care of our talented and highly intelligent student population.

An ability to easily communicate with, and teach, people from all walks of life is imperative. Practitioners are expected to stay abreast of changes in clinical guidelines, and best practices.

Responsibilities include :

• Performs psychiatric assessments, mediation management, crisis evaluations & interventions, and individual & group therapy as needed to meet the needs of client population and the clinic.
• Provide seamless, coordinated and compassionate care to patients.
• Deliver appropriate clinical services and treatment planning.
• Obtain and document detailed and appropriate histories and mental status exams.
• Collaborate with patients in the formulation of a differential diagnosis and plan of care; execute care in a timely manner.
• Maintain professional, clear, and regular communication with consultants and patients regarding plan of care.
• Communicate with Yale University Deans and Heads of College, and parents regarding individual patients as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
• Answer MyChart messages and patient calls within 48 hrs
• Share and explain all lab and radiologic study results with patients within 48 hours of availability.
• Assist with coverage when colleagues are out.
• May participate in evening or weekend hours for specific university events
• Meets with patients to complete intakes, routine follow up appointments, triage and rapid access appointments.
• Reviews records and perform exam to collect information about their mental health.
• Obtains, compiles, and records patient data, including initial intakes, evaluations, progress notes and patient communications.
• Conducts mental status examinations
• provides medication evaluations and treatment to patients
• develops treatments plans and monitors patient’s progress.
• Recommends referrals to specialists or other treatment facilities as needed
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, counselors and other medical staff at MHC and Yale Health to provide the best care.
• Defines and documents patient’s clinical problems and reaches accurate diagnoses
• Plans and executes care in timely manner
• Utilizes a range of clinical interventions appropriate to the population while maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.
• Participates in rounds, sign outs, and departmental meetings as assigned
• May participate in on-call rotations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The "Essential Duties" listed below are generic in nature and do not reflect specific duties of this position. Please refer to the Position Focus for the detailed outline of the duties of this position.

Dept / Section URL

Click here for more information

Essential Duties

1. Examines patients to collect information about their physical condition. 2. Obtains, compiles, and records patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination.

3. Conducts complete physical examinations; provides medical evaluation and treatment to patients; develops treatments plans and monitors patient’s progress.

4. Advises patients on results of laboratory tests and recommends referrals to specialists or other medical facilities. 5.

Collaborates with physicians, nurses, counselors and other medical staff to provide the best medical care. 6. Provides preventive health practices to patients to maintain and improve health and prevent illness.

7. Coordinates patient care including ordering of laboratory tests and radiographic studies. 8. Prescribes therapy or medication with physician approval.

9. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Graduation from a Physician Assistant (PA) Training Program accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education or Master’s Degree from an accredited Advanced Nurse Practitioner program.

Required Skill / Ability 1 :

Strong oral and written communication skills for telephone, email, and personal contact. A pleasant, helpful attitude with the ability to remain calm under pressure and enjoy patient interactions.

Required Skill / Ability 2 :

Consistent practice of evidence-based medicine.

Required Skill / Ability 3 :

Independent and confident decision-making while recognizing when consultation is necessary.

Required Skill / Ability 4 :

Proven reliability with clinic attendance and punctuality.

Required Skill / Ability 5 :

Proficiency with use of an electronic medical record.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills :

Experience with college health.

Required Licenses or Certifications

CT APRN license (or eligible) with ANA certification OR CT PA license (or eligible). Prescriptive privileges (or eligible) in the State of Connecticut, federal DEA license and CT DCP license for prescription of controlled substances.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the work involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, and occasional slight lifting.

The employee occasionally lifts and / or moves up to 50 pounds when transferring a patient from chair or wheelchair to exam table and turning patients for examination.

Proper body mechanics must be used when maneuvering patients.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications :

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Drug Screen

Health Screening

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies, which may be found here :

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position.

Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.