Mental Health Social Work jobs

Position Title: Mental Health Counsellor

Location: The Therapy Project | Queenstown or Christchurch, New Zealand

Employment Type: Full-Time (30 hours per week over 4-5 days)

About Us:

The Therapy Project is a dedicated mental health service provider committed to supporting individuals on their journey to mental wellness. Our team is composed of compassionate and experienced professionals who strive to make a positive impact in our clients' lives. We are based in beautiful Queenstown with incredible mountain views that make for incredible work-life balance. We are expanding our services to Christchurch so the job placement may be based there. We offer EAP brief intervention across the country as well as private clients looking for an ongoing healing journey.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a registered Mental Health Counsellor to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for mental health, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to providing high-quality care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide individual counselling (in-person and/or online) for adults, adolescents, and/or couples (within scope of practice).
• Develop and implement personalized treatment plans.
• Conduct assessments, collaboratively create treatment plans, and deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Participate in regular supervision sessions.
• Maintain accurate, ethical clinical notes and documentation in line with the NZ Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code (HIPC).
• Contribute to continuous professional development (CPD) hours.
• Deliver workplace wellbeing training, mental-health education sessions, seminars, or workshops where appropriate.
• Contribute to developing new mental-health programs, resources, or group offerings (e.g., anxiety, stress, grief, identity, adjustment, wellbeing).
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.
• Travel occasionally within New Zealand for client work, training delivery, on-site support, or organisational contracts.
• Provide post-incident / critical-incident support services on-site when required (training provided if new to this work).
• Participate in regular clinical supervision, team meetings, cultural competence development, and ongoing professional growth.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully within a multidisciplinary and multicultural team environment.
• Responding to emergency scenarios to provide psychological first aid and critical incident support.
• Work with ACC clients (sensitive claims and psychological impact).
• Candidate must be able to drive and have a willingness to travel for on-site support (critical incident or one-on-one clients across the region).

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

Applicants must hold (or be eligible for) registration with at least one of the following:

• New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)
• Psychotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBANZ)
• Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)

Required:

• Minimum 5 years’ counselling experience in mental health or related therapeutic settings
• Demonstrated experience in evidence-based therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, ACT, DBT skills, trauma-informed, person-centred, IFS, narrative, etc.)
• Strong working knowledge of risk assessment, safety planning, and mental-health best practice
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and ethical practice.

Skills & Personal Attributes

• Commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally respectful practice
• Ability to work alongside people of diverse backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences
• Warm, grounded, empathic approach to client care
• Strong communication, time-management, and professional boundaries
• Willingness to learn and engage in bicultural practice aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• A passion for community mental health and making a meaningful impact

Hours & Employment Conditions

• Full-time: 30-40 hours per week (salary will depend on hours in contract)
• Based in Queenstown or Christchurch with occasional travel within NZ
• Paid professional development and external clinical supervision provided
• Opportunities for career progression, specialty training, and program leadership

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package.
• Supervision fees included.
• Contribution towards CPD hours.
• Beautiful office environment.
• Company-provided cell phone, digital notebook, and computer.
• Visa sponsorship available if needed, providing a pathway to residency.
• Opportunities for professional growth.
• Being a part of a fun, passionate team that supports one another.

Immigration, Registration & Relocation Support

• The Therapy Project is an Accredited Employer with Immigration New Zealand
• Visa sponsorship (AEWV) available for eligible applicants
• Pathway to NZ residency and citizenship
• Support available for NZ professional registration, relocation, and settlement in Queenstown

How to Apply

Please submit your:

• CV / Resume
• Cover Letter outlining why this role excites you
• Details of your current or eligible professional registration

Apply via Indeed or email: hello@therapyproject.co.nz
About us: www.therapyproject.co.nz

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 – $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Professional development assistance
• Travel reimbursement
• Visa sponsorship

Work Location: In person