Mental Health Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Mental Health Counselor Position Summary

The Mental Health Counselor provides clinical leadership and therapeutic services for youth living in SailFuture's residential foster care homes. This role combines direct counseling with clinical supervision, ensuring youth receive high-quality, trauma-informed care while supporting the professional development of the behavioral health team.

In addition to maintaining a reduced caseload of individual, family, and group therapy, the Mental Health Counselor partners with residential staff to create a therapeutic, relationship-centered environment. The role includes participating in family dinners, supporting adventure-based therapy, and providing guidance during critical moments in the daily life of the homes.

The Mental Health Counselor also oversees the behavioral health program during SailFuture's international sailing expeditions, integrating experiential mental health curriculum and therapeutic support while youth sail between Florida, Nova Scotia, and Trinidad & Tobago.

This position is ideal for a clinician who believes healing happens not only in therapy sessions, but through consistent relationships, meaningful experiences, and a supportive community.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate all therapeutic services for all youth in residential care and independent living program

• Work in partnership with psychiatrist to monitor and coordinate medication management for all youth in residential care

• Provide therapeutic house support up to sixteen hours per week

• Provide 1:1 therapeutic services to 12 youth per week (1-hour session)

  • 6 youth in Waterfront House

  • 6 youth in White House

• Lead weekly adventure therapy group on weekend day

• Develop treatment plans in partnership with Residential Change Agents, Program Director, Case Manager, and other stakeholders

• Provide in-depth assessments to all youth who enter the SailFuture home

• Provide assessments to all youth at-risk who present self-harming or homicidal behaviors

• Create initial and master treatment plans and lead 30-day treatment team meetings and 6-month treatment plan reviews

• Provide training and youth-specific feedback to staff across all teams

• Coordinate and process medicaid billing for BHOS (Codes: H2020-HA, H0031-HO, H0032, H0032 - TS)

• Supervise and mentor registered interns.

• Provide case reviews and ongoing professional development.

• Review treatment plans, assessments, and clinical documentation to ensure quality and compliance.

• Provide individual, family, and group therapy.

• Provide clinical leadership during international sailing expeditions.

• Provide support 2 weeks per expedition (5 per year) on the sailing vessel Whatever It Takes

• Other duties as assigned

• Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field.

• Active Florida licensure as an LMHC, LCSW, or LMFT.

• Qualified Supervisor designation in Florida, or ability to obtain designation.

• Minimum of five years of clinical experience, preferably serving adolescents in foster care, residential treatment, or behavioral health settings.

• Previous supervisory or clinical leadership experience preferred.

• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and child welfare.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

• A passion for serving youth who have experienced significant adversity and helping them build healthy, independent lives.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: Base ($60,000) + Performance Bonus* ($20,000)

  • Performance Bonus is paid out quarterly (up to $5000 per quarter) and determined by performance metrics.

• $250 monthly health insurance contribution

• 401(k) with up to 6% employer match

• 10 days PTO per year (accrual based)

• Employer-provided laptop and cell phone