Intake Counselor
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.
Job Description
Intake Counselor
Our mission is to help people become healthy and stay healthy. Our high standards attract well-known behavioral health professionals from across the country. Their commitments to ethics and patient success are backed by the highest accreditation in the industry.
Position Summary
The Intake Counselor is responsible for guiding prospective and incoming patients through the admission process while ensuring a smooth, welcoming, and clinically appropriate transition into treatment. This position serves as an important first point of contact for patients and their loved ones and requires strong communication, organization, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced behavioral health environment.
Intake Counselors complete admission assessments and required documentation, verify patient demographic and insurance information, obtain necessary consents and releases, coordinate admission logistics, communicate with patients, families, referral sources, and internal departments, and ensure all required information is accurately documented in the electronic medical record. The Intake Counselor also works closely with the clinical and medical teams to support appropriate placement and continuity of care.
Benefits
- 401(k) (After 90 days of continuous employment)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance (Offered after 60 days of employment)
- Competitive Compensation
Responsibilities
- Welcome and assist patients and their families, guiding them through the admissions process
- Conduct intake assessments and utilize evidence-based assessments as needed
- Adhere to company Standards of Care to ensure proper care and accurate documentation
- Document all significant events in client records clearly, concisely, and in a timely manner.
- Participate in interdepartmental staff reports between medical and clinical departments.
- Assist with admitting clients and provide program orientation to new clients in detox.
- Provide education and therapeutic guidance to clients, including explanation of program schedules and activities.
- Respond therapeutically to inappropriate client behaviors and maintain professional boundaries.
- Report all client behaviors and activities to the nurse on duty.
Qualifications
- Desired Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field
- Alternatively, at least 1 year of experience in behavioral health
- Experience in substance abuse or mental health setting preferred.
- Valid driver's license required.
- Knowledge of chemical dependency, dual diagnosis treatment, and rehabilitation requirements.
- Emotionally stable with strong coping skills; ability to relate to individuals in varying levels of distress
Schedule
- Full-time position with flexible scheduling based on department needs
JourneyPure is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 28% have no call, 70% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | not listed | Behavioral Health median $73k (middle half $63k–$83k)306 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost of living | Tennessee index 91.9 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Behavioral Health listings in Tennessee | 5 active | 340 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 56% remote · 28% no call · 70% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Tennessee counselor listings (all specialties): 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 8% offer loan repayment255 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Behavioral Health listings | 784 in the last 30 days | 539 the 30 days before (+45%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Behavioral Health pay trend | −6.5% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Location & Logistics
Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.
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