Behavioral Hlth Counselor 3

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$67k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Explore a World of Opportunity with the State of Georgia!

We are the force that drives Georgia!

Georgia State Government is a large enterprise, composed of various agencies and entities with a common goal to improve the lives of Georgia's more than 10 million citizens!

Join Team Georgia and impact lives everyday while receiving a robust benefits package designed for every stage of your career!

Job Title

Behavioral Hlth Counselor 3

Agency

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Job Requisition ID

JR0000002954

Shift: Any (United States of America)

Compensation Details

$67,296.26

Job Description

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Behavioral Health Counselor 3/Forensics at Georgia Regional Hospital – Atlanta, located in Decatur, GA.

Job Grade I

Job Description

Identifying training needs, and providing guidance and training to staff writing treatment plans (Treatment Team Facilitators).

  • Completing internal audits of treatment plans to ensure compliance with state standards.
  • Generating corrective action plans for deficiencies that are identified by Quality Management Audits.
  • Ensuring treatment plans, clinical high risk profiles, and incident notes are completed in a timely manner across three forensic units.
  • Attending statewide trainings and bringing pertinent information back to the hospital for dissemination.

Remaining up to date and aware of all hospital policies related to the treatment plan as well as the clinical high risk profile.

Providing unit coverage when Treatment Team Facilitators are on annual, sick, or other types of leave. When coverage is required on more than one unit at a time, the TTF trainer is responsible for organizing coverage amongst remaining Treatment Team Facilitators. Coverage includes conducting treatment planning meetings, writing treatment plans, and completing documentation.

Attending weekly hospital meetings and provides clinical updates on individuals up for review.

Due to the volume of resumes/applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or email. Please be assured that your resume/application will be evaluated and we will contact you if we need clarification or additional information. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by the hiring agency.

  • This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.
  • Master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or other human services field
  • Experience working in an inpatient setting/with the SMI population
  • Experience working on an interdisciplinary team

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in in counseling or a related field from an accredited college or university in a related field and four (4) years of job-related experience; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Behavioral Hlth Counselor 2 (HCP101) or position equivalent.--Note: Some positions may require certification or licensure.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services.

Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will provide guidance and training to staff on treatment plans while ensuring compliance with state standards through internal audits. They will also provide clinical coverage across forensic units, conduct treatment planning meetings, and participate in hospital meetings.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in counseling or a related field with four years of experience, or a Master's degree in a human services field. Experience working in an inpatient setting with the SMI population and on an interdisciplinary team is required.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Behavioral health counselingClinical documentationForensic mental healthInternal auditingStaff trainingInterdisciplinary team collaborationCrisis interventionPolicy complianceCase management

Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% are remote, 26% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Georgia is 96.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$67k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $70k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Georgia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is up 9.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution34 jobs · 16 employers

8
<$80k
6
$80k-95k
8
$95k-110k
10
$110k-125k
2
$125k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks32 jobs · 16 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
44%
CME allowance
19%
Loan repayment
3%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 1.5
Below most Behavioral Health (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 346 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends

Living in Decatur

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$256k≈ 3.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,739/mo≈ 31% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.