Program Therapist - Assessment

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$25k-$32k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 26m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Job Location: Billings Campus - Billings, MT
  • Position Type: Full Time
  • Education Level: Graduate Degree
  • Salary Range: $2087.70 - $2672.55Salary/month, Position Summary: To provide clinical mental health assessments and services to youth and families across the state of Montana. The clinical assessment determines if a youth clinically qualifies for professional therapeutic services to youth with emotional and psychiatric problems and their families. Services are provided in an effort to create an improved quality of life for youth and their families while maintaining appropriate professional relationships & documentation. Starting
  • Salary Range: Salary reflects steps 1-5 of an 11-step pay schedule

The starting salary will be determined based on the applicant’s education and relevant experience.

Current Montana SWLC, or PCLC, or MFLC range is $2,087.70 - $2,349.72 biweekly Current Montana LCSW, or LCPC, or MLFT range is $2,374.53 - $2,672.55 biweekly Daily and Monthly Responsibilities: Provides clinical mental health assessments for youth and families seeking therapeutic professional services via telehealth or in-person.

Complete, submit and verify accuracy of paperwork including but not limited to, clinical mental health assessments, admission criteria, and intake paperwork. Provides clinical consultation to treatment team members as needed.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with treatment team members and stakeholders and engage in regular communication through attendance and participation at treatment team and staff meetings. Intervene in crisis in a calm appropriate manner that maintains staff and youth safety.

Involved in peer supervision, whether individually or in a group setting, as directed by supervisor. May be expected to provide individual, group and family therapy to clients in other YBGR programs.

Maintain a working knowledge and understanding of Montana Medicaid and YBGR's Mental Health Center Licensure rules and regulations. Contribute to the strategic goals and outcomes of the agency as measured by the development and achievement of individual, departmental, and organizational goals and outcomes.

Participate in Performance Quality Improvement (PQI) goals of the organization both individually and as a team member. Deal constructively and helpfully with all other members of the organization. Fully support and model the mission and values of YBGR.

Adhere to all policies, systems, safety requirements, and procedures of the organization. Take the initiative to identify problems and seek out solutions. Be a professional representative of the organization to those outside it. Participate and engage in monthly supervision/coaching meetings with the supervisor.

Be aware of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of persons served. Participate in required training as appropriate to the position and beneficial to YBGR. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

21 years old or older Criminal / Child Abuse Clearance: Must pass criminal record and child abuse registry background check as required by the State of Montana.

Previous Professional Experience: Preferred: Professional experience in child/adolescent diagnosing of serious emotional disturbances, clinical management within multi-disciplinary treatment team setting, and psychological assessment & treatment youth and families.

Education: Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or similar field of study from an accredited university.

(60 Credit Hour Program) Professional License Program Therapist 1 - Current Montana SWLC, or PCLC, or MFLC Program Therapist 2 - Current Montana LCSW, or LCPC, or MFLT License to operate a passenger vehicle. Required Abilities/Skills Ability to relate and build rapport with youth and families therapeutically.

Ability to make a clinical determination with confidence and clarity Ability to adhere to code of ethics including: The Child and Youth Worker Code of Ethics, The National Association of Social Worker Code and The American Psychological Association Code Ability and willingness to maintain and enhance clinical skill set.

Knowledge of and ability to maintain professional therapeutic boundaries and confidentiality with youth and families. Knowledge of behavior modification and age-appropriate youth development Good computer skills and able to quickly learn and use YBGR selected software solutions.

Proficient with video technology Good judgment and decision-making skills Demonstrate being self-motivated, self-disciplined, and diligent with forward thinking. Demonstrate the ability to think of their team over self and define success collectively rather than individually.

The ability to effectively interact and communicate with others. These skills are essential for building and maintaining relationships, collaborating with colleagues, resolving conflicts, and navigating various social situations. Demonstrate the following values.

Faith - is being sure of successfully achieving our mission, based upon our trust in a loving creator. Integrity - doing what is right, putting the needs of others above your own, and living by the highest values.

Relationship - being committed to one another in a mutually respectful, dignified, healthy, and honoring manner. Stewardship is the use of any resource or talent entrusted to YBGR to fulfill the mission and values.

Key Responsibilities

The Program Therapist provides clinical mental health assessments for youth and families via telehealth or in-person to determine eligibility for therapeutic services. They also collaborate with treatment teams, maintain accurate clinical documentation, and participate in crisis intervention and peer supervision.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or a similar field and possess a current Montana professional license (SWLC, PCLC, MFLC, LCSW, LCPC, or MLFT). Applicants must also pass a criminal record and child abuse registry background check.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Clinical mental health assessmentTherapeutic rapport buildingTreatment planningCase managementInterdisciplinary collaborationAdolescent developmentMedicaid complianceProfessional ethics

Counselor Career Context

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch ranks #11 of 12 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 86% are remote, 26% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$25k–$32kMental Health Therapy median $95k (middle half $85k–$118k)214 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$30k in purchasing powerMontana index 94.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Montana28 active7,961 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 86% remote · 26% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch#11 of 12 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

43 jobs · 14 employers
9
<$90k
3
$90k-100k
11
$100k-110k
10
$110k-120k
10
$120k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

38 jobs · 14 employers
401k / retirement match
92%
Sign-on bonus
63%
CME allowance
47%
Loan repayment
3%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,891 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Billings

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$387k
Typical market rent
$1,393/mo
Residents’ average commute
17 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
93.5
State income tax
Up to 6.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Billings, MT metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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