Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meet the needs of today’s diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body (or synonymous with inclusive excellence). PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options. PAU has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead.
Position Description
Job Title: Teaching Assistant-CLIN 615-Counseling Skills Classes (Fall 2026)
Department: Counseling
Reports To: Jorge Lopez, Chi Li and Counseling Skills instructors
Location: Synchronous and asynchronous remote as well as on-campus
Employment Status: Part-time (approximately 7-10 hours per week, per working quarter)
Palo Alto University (PAU) invites applications for Teaching Assistants (TAs) to support the Counseling Skills class sections in the MA in Counseling Program for the Fall 2026 quarter. TAs will report to Dr. Jorge Lopez or Dr. Chi Li (Course Co-Leads) as well as faculty instructors for this course.
Counseling Skills courses meet weekly via Zoom or on the Mountain View campus, and TAs would need to be available to attend class meetings to assist with role play practice and supervision. In addition, TAs will assist with providing feedback on clinical skills practice via recorded and live role plays.
TAs for Counseling Skills can expect to devote approximately 70 to 80 hours over the course of each term of work. TAs who support distance education classes will NOT be expected to travel to and support on-ground skills training during Residency I. TAs who serve the on-campus sections of Counseling Skills WILL also be asked to assist with the weekly Residency I skills lab.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
- Attend weekly class meetings and help facilitate role play counseling practice
- Provide feedback, as requested by instructor, on other recorded role play
- assignments
- Assist with grading of discussion posts and other written work
- Meet with instructor to discuss progress and needs of counseling students
- Participate in role plays and be prepared to demonstrate counseling skills
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- You must be either an MA in CMHC Student, a PhD in CES Student, PsyD in Psychology student, or a PhD in Psychology student at Palo Alto University.
- You must be a currently enrolled student in good standing and be maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better.
- If an MA in CMHC student, you must have successfully completed the Counseling Skills and Residency I course.
- Relevant counseling and supervision experience is preferred.
- You must be available to attend and support weekly class meetings, either virtually or on campus, depending on location.
Application Procedures:
PAU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse, equitable and inclusive population. In your cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to be in an environment that holds equity and inclusion core to its mission and values.
The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer- related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the University will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.
Skills Required
- Must be an MA in CMHC, PhD in CES, PsyD in Psychology, or PhD in Psychology student at Palo Alto University.
- Must be currently enrolled at Palo Alto University, in good standing, and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.
- MA in CMHC students must have successfully completed Counseling Skills and Residency I.
- Must be available to attend and support weekly class meetings virtually or on campus.
- Relevant counseling and supervision experience.
What We Do
Founded in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University (PAU) is a non-profit and accredited institution dedicated to improving lives through education and research anchored in psychology, counseling, social work, clinical training and practice in a diversity of cultures, and service to communities around the world.
