Behavioral Health Counselor
Listed compensation
$27.5-$41.5/hr
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.
Work Shift
Varies (United States of America)
Scheduled Weekly Hours
15
Compensation
Salary Range: $27.50 - $41.50
Union Position
No
Department Details
Mental Health is a smaller department with a very close working group. We work closely with the Interdisciplinary Team Members. The job offers flexibility while getting guaranteed hours.
Summary
The Behavioral Health Counselor requires a broad, yet solid, understanding of human behavior and theories of counseling. May work with a wide range of patient populations and presenting issues, requiring a foundation in a variety of treatment modalities. This role is a team-based role where responsibility for patient well-being is diffused among the treatment team and the overall responsibility lies with a clinical supervisor or admitting provider.
Job Description
The Behavioral Health Counselor assesses patient needs, may diagnose disorders, develops treatment plans, and implements treatment interventions specific to patient needs. Continually assesses patient's progress and revises treatment plans and interventions accordingly. Documents treatment sessions.
Provides patient progress updates to interdisciplinary team, as needed. May educate patient support members about patient issues and interventions. May refer for additional clinical services or to specialists, as needed. Must stay current on emerging issues in the profession.
In a hospital setting, the Behavioral Health Counselor may have a broad scope of duties, depending upon assignment. Hospital assignments include psychiatric inpatient treatment and/or specific hospital units. Depending on location, may place patients on mental health and substance-related holds.
Psychiatric inpatient treatment duties include development, implementation, and evaluation of therapy programs, individual and family counseling, and consultative services to attending psychiatrist. Hospital unit duties include crisis intervention, assessment, and referral.
Qualifications
Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or related Behavioral Health Sciences required; graduation from an accredited school preferred.
License must be in good standing in state(s) of practice.
- In South Dakota, must have one of the following:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health (LPC-MH)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Certified Social Worker (CSW)
- Certified Social Worker - Private or Independent Practice (CSW-PIP)
- Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Key Responsibilities
The Behavioral Health Counselor assesses patient needs, develops treatment plans, and implements interventions within an interdisciplinary team. They also provide crisis intervention, individual and family counseling, and document patient progress in a hospital setting.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context
Of the 40 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% are remote, 10% have no call, 75% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$72k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $81k in an average-cost state. 58.2% of South Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
Location & Logistics
South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$72k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$5k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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