Mental Health Counselor

Job Description - Mental Health Counselor

Job Title: Mental Health Counselor

Location: [City, State] / Remote / Hybrid

Job Summary

We are seeking a compassionate and licensed Mental Health Counselor to provide therapeutic services to individuals, families, and groups experiencing mental health, emotional, or behavioral challenges. The ideal candidate will conduct comprehensive assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, provide evidence-based counseling, and collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to promote recovery and improve overall mental well-being.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments and psychosocial evaluations.
• Diagnose mental health conditions within the scope of licensure and clinical practice.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized treatment plans.
• Provide individual, group, couples, and family counseling sessions.
• Utilize evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy, and trauma-informed care.
• Provide crisis intervention, suicide risk assessments, and safety planning when necessary.
• Monitor client progress and adjust treatment plans based on clinical outcomes.
• Educate clients and families about mental health conditions, coping strategies, medications, and available community resources.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in Electronic Health Records (EHR) while ensuring HIPAA compliance.
• Coordinate care with psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care providers, social workers, and case managers.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with ethical standards, state licensing regulations, and organizational policies.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field.
• Active state licensure as LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LCMHC, or equivalent (based on state requirements).
• 2+ years of experience providing mental health counseling in clinical, hospital, outpatient, community, or private practice settings.
• Strong knowledge of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and evidence-based counseling techniques.
• Experience conducting mental health assessments, treatment planning, and crisis intervention.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and documentation skills.
• Ability to build therapeutic relationships with diverse client populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with children, adolescents, adults, or geriatric populations.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and substance use disorder treatment.
• Experience providing telehealth counseling services.
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.
• Experience with integrated behavioral health or collaborative care models.

Technical Skills

• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Behavioral Health Documentation
• DSM-5 Diagnosis
• Treatment Planning
• Crisis Intervention
• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Case Management
• Telehealth Platforms
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Care Coordination Systems

Soft Skills

• Empathy and compassion
• Active listening
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Critical thinking
• Emotional intelligence
• Problem-solving
• Conflict resolution
• Time management
• Team collaboration
• Cultural sensitivity

Preferred Certifications

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
• National Certified Counselor (NCC)
• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification (if required)

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement savings plan (401(k))
• Continuing education and licensure reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities

This job description is optimized for candidates with experience in mental health assessment, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, treatment planning, behavioral health counseling, DSM-5 diagnosis, and multidisciplinary collaboration across hospitals, outpatient clinics, community mental health centers, and private practice settings.