Job Description

Job Title: Fisher House Clinical Counselor

This position is an on-site, embedded clinical counseling role located physically at the Bethesda, MD Fisher House campus. Candidates must be available to work on-site to provide direct, face-to-face support to patients and families navigating medical care, recovery, and transition.

Summary

The Fisher House Clinical Counselor works as a full-time employee of Zeiders Enterprises and provides specialized, non-medical clinical counseling services, emotional support, and proactive engagement to eligible Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW), Navy Gold Star (NGS), and Fisher House individuals and families as part of the CNIC Fleet and Family Support Program (FFSP) Global Contract. Operating directly from the Bethesda, MD Fisher House campus, this position delivers short-term, solution-focused counseling (individuals, couples, families, and/or groups) to wounded and injured service members, surviving family members, caregivers, and families staying at or utilizing Fisher House facilities. The counselor focuses on alleviating the intense stress of medical crises, catastrophic illness or injury, caregiver burnout, grief and loss, and major life transitions. The candidate must be located within a reasonable commuting distance of the Bethesda installation for daily on-site presence and CAC issuance. In times of crisis, high-demand surge, or operational need, counselors must be available to provide flexible on-site support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• On-Site Campus Counseling & Support: Provide dedicated, face-to-face, short-term, solution-focused non-medical counseling services directly to patients, families, and caregivers residing at or utilizing the Bethesda Fisher House campus.
• Scope of Practice & Clinical Focus: Scope of practice is limited to Psychological First Aid and counseling services for Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention and Adjustment Disorders, addressing presenting concerns such as grief and loss, adjustment to catastrophic injury or illness, caregiver stress and compassion fatigue, medical trauma, and stress related to recovery or medical retirement.
• Proactive Outreach & Community Engagement: Conduct non-traditional walk-around participant outreach, informal check-ins, and proactive engagement within the Fisher House environment to establish trust, build rapport, and offer immediate, on-site emotional support, stabilization, or crisis intervention.
• Crisis Intervention & Risk Assessment: Intervene in crisis situations using sound professional judgment, ethical practice, and cultural humility. Provide initial clinical assessments and ongoing suicide risk assessments using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), alongside ongoing safety planning using the Veterans Affairs Safety Plan.
• Treatment Planning & Case Management: Work collaboratively with clients to establish and implement effective individual, couples, or family treatment plans. Ensure appropriate referrals and warm handoffs for any psychological disorders or symptoms requiring longer-term, psychiatric, or specialized medical intervention.
• Mandated Reporting & Safety Coordination: Report suspected child abuse and intimate partner violence to local civilian authorities and the Family Advocacy Representative IAW Navy and state requirements. Coordinate specialized assessments for children and families and provide warm handoffs to FAP Victim Advocates or Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARC) for restricted reporting needs.
• Program Collaboration & Liaison: Partner closely with Fisher House management, military medical treatment facility staff, and installation leadership to ensure seamless service delivery and coordinated care for visiting families.
• Documentation & Quality Compliance: Maintain accurate counseling case documentation in the FFSMIS Clinical Counseling Record System for all assessments and counseling sessions IAW all applicable policies, laws, and instructions. Ensure all non-medical counseling services are fully accounted for in the FFSMIS scheduling module. Participate in quarterly quality assurance procedures to ensure services are safe, of high quality, and meet CNIC Certification Standards.
• Ensure program adherence to N95 Wounded Warrior, Gold Star and Fisher House policies.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum educational qualifications include one of the following; a master’s degree in counseling accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; a master’s degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology and a one-year clinical internship accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• Current, valid and unrestricted clinical license or certification from a state or U.S. territory authorizing independent clinical practice in the fields of professional counseling, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy or clinical/counseling psychology- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), LCP (Licensed Clinical Psychologist/ Licensed PhD in Psychology), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), LCPC (Licensed Certified Professional Counselor), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
• Each Clinical Counselor must maintain current clinical credentials and privileges throughout their FFSP assignment.
• A minimum of two years- of full-time, post-master’s supervised clinical experience.
• Must demonstrate current clinical competence through at least periodic, direct service clinical experience during the two years preceding hire.
• Minimum of one year of experience in grief, loss, medical trauma, or caregiver stress counseling strongly preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds in high-stress, emotionally intense medical environments.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication skills, along with standard office and Microsoft Office software.
• Must be physically located within a reasonable commuting distance of the Bethesda, MD installation.
• Must be able to work core business hours of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Must be able to flex hours in times of surge or crisis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a Fisher House, military medical treatment facility (MTF), or embedded clinical setting.
• Direct experience supporting military populations navigating complex medical systems, catastrophic injury, or combat-related medical retirement.
• Strong working knowledge of military culture, the chain of command, and available military/community referral resources.
• Experience supporting clients navigating complex medical systems.
• Live local to the area of responsibility.
• Knowledge of the difficulties of adjusting to general life stresses as well as those resulting from the requirements of military life, and experience providing short-term counseling for those issues.
• Knowledge of standard documentation requirements for clinical services.
• Knowledge of available military and community referral resources.

Other Requirements:

• This position requires access to U.S. Government facilities and systems. U.S. Citizenship, a valid passport, driver's license, transportation, and auto insurance are required.
• Incumbents must obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for Secret security clearance of access for the duration of employment, including background investigation and credit check

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and obtain clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Physical Requirements: Uses personal computer, telephones, copiers, printers and other office equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Zeiders Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Compensation is based on geographic location and experience. Wages are available upon request.