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UnityPoint Health
Waterloo, Iowa

School-based Mental Health Counselor

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

  • School-Based Counselor
  • UnityPoint Health – Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center
  • Shift: Full-time 40 hr./wk.; M-F
  • Benefits Eligible
  • Sign-On Bonus: $5,000 paid over 2 years

UnityPoint Health – Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center is comprised of a team of dedicated mental health professionals providing a wide-range of services for children and adults with a variety of mental health concerns.

We are seeking a master’s level licensed social worker or mental health counselor to join our committed treatment team to provide diagnostic services and outpatient therapy in a school-based setting.

This position requires collaboration and consultation with client’s family members, school staff, and other professionals involved in the client’s care and treatment.

Applicants should have a desire to advocate for mental health and providing education and support to caregivers, students, schools, and others in the community.

If you are interested in working with a diverse population, aiding youth who have experienced trauma, engaging in multi-disciplinary care coordination, and therapeutically addressing the mental health needs of youth, we encourage you to apply!

Clinical supervision towards full independent licensure is provided!

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:

Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.

Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.

Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Perform psychiatric evaluations to students referred.

Provide behavioral health interventions including individual, group and/or family therapy using a brief, solution focused approach to problems and interventions tailored to specific treatment plans.

Process new referrals to school-based services; contacting guardians, obtaining signed agency forms for treatment.

Provide care coordination or case management services to those served including but not limited to: information and referral services, education, consultation, appointment scheduling, and participation in school meetings.

Document all services provided using Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center’s (BHGMHC) Electronic Health Record as outlined by managed care/insurance company requirements, BHGMHC expectations, and state standards.

Demonstrates the UnityPoint Health Values and Standards of Behaviors as well as adheres to policies and procedures and safety guidelines.

  • Demonstrates ability to meet business needs of department with regular, reliable attendance.
  • Employee maintains current licenses and/or certifications required for the position.
  • Practices and reflects knowledge of HIPAA, TJC, DNV, OSHA and other federal/state regulatory agencies guiding healthcare.
  • Completes all annual education and competency requirements within the calendar year.

Is knowledgeable of hospital and department compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs (e. g. Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse. Brings any questions or concerns regarding compliance to the immediate attention of hospital administrative staff. Takes appropriate action on concerns reported by department staff related to compliance.

Qualifications

Education:

Master Degree in Social Work, Professional Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy with a clinical/mental health concentration from an accredited school

Licensure/Certification

LMSW, or tLMHC, or tLMFT in the state of Iowa

Experience

Applicants should have completed practicum experiences as part of their accredited program.

One year of experience working with a site’s clientele in addition to practicum is preferred. This may be completed at the bachelor level.

Other

  • Travel to schools buildings is required; must possess valid license and vehicle.
  • Ability to form working relationships with clients, families, school staff and other treatment providers.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyCrisis interventionTreatment planningMental health counselingDocumentationTrauma-informed careAdvocacy

Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Mental Health Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 32% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Mental Health Counseling pay on WeekdayDoc is up 18.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates School-based Mental Health Counselor at UnityPoint Health a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Mental Health Counseling counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution32 jobs · 26 employers

11
<$80k
10
$80k-100k
5
$100k-120k
6
$120k-140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
43%
Sign-on bonus
32% this job
Loan repayment
21%
PSLF eligible
21%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinical Supervisor & Therapist

Mindfully Behavioral Health · Longmont, Colorado

#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Clinical Director - LMFT, LCSW, LPCC

$112k-$126k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.0
Better work-life than 50% of Mental Health Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 753 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Waterloo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$173k
Typical market rent
$945/mo
Residents’ average commute
16 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
87.1
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

UnityPoint Health logo

About UnityPoint Health

51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-On Bonus $5,000
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave
401K Matching
Dental Insurance
Health Insurance
Paid Holidays
Short-Term Disability