Licensed Counselor - Forensic Mental Health Unit
Listed compensation
$32.5-$35/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Helio Health is on a mission to treat and promote recovery from the effects of substance use, mental health disorders, and other behavioral healthcare issues. To support the mission of Helio Health we are seeking a dedicated and passionate Licensed Counselor to work Full-Time providing counseling and therapy to patients at our Forensic Mental Health Unit at Oneida County Jail.
In addition to Helio Health’s comprehensive benefits package, Full-Time Licensed Counselors/Therapists are eligible for a Sign-On Incentive up to $4,000 - $8,000 depending upon licensure!
Pay: $32.50 - $35.00 per hour.
Responsibilities
- Maintain a case load.
- Perform essential counseling/therapist responsibilities including screening, intake and orientation, evaluation and intervention, treatment planning, referrals, crisis intervention, counseling, patient education, case management, reporting and record keeping.
- Assist with the training of staff, volunteers and student interns as assigned.
Exhibit exemplary knowledge of the biopsychosocial process of substance use disorders/recovery, behavioral health, self-help group processes, and principles of counseling.
Relate effectively with staff, patients, and professional community while upholding appropriate standards of confidentiality.
Qualifications
- Any one of the following licenses or credentials:
- Licensed mental health practitioner (including permit eligible)Licensed social worker (including permit eligible)
- Two years employment experience in the Human Services field.
- An equivalent combination of training and experience may be substituted for the educational requirements.
Our Comprehensive Employee Benefits Package Includes:
- Health insurance including dental and vision for employees and families.
- Paid Vacation and Sick leave - No Waiting Period for accruals.
- Paid holidays, including a floating birthday holiday.
- 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match.
- Company paid short-term disability insurance.
- Company sponsored life insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Helio Health provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), parental status, religion, national origin, citizenship, status as a victim of domestic violence, age, military or veteran status, handicap or disability, family medical history or predisposing genetic characteristics or carrier status, marital status, family status, political affiliation, felony conviction record, status as a victim of a crime, or status as an employee who has complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit, or any other categories, status or activity protected by federal, state or local law.
Salary and hourly compensation ranges are provided in accordance with NYS law and are based on Helio Health's good faith belief of what is accurate at the time of posting. Salary and hourly compensation offers are based on candidate's education level and experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager and program.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
In New York, the Mental Health Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$78k (56 salary observations; 191 listings), vs ~$79k nationally (576 salary observations; 2,505 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$70k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $65k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $68k–$73k | Mental Health Counseling median $63k (middle half $51k–$76k)20 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| New York vs national | $78k median in New York | $79k nationally (−2%)56 state / 576 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$65k in purchasing power | New York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Counseling listings in New York | 85 active | 810 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 68% remote · 48% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | $8k sign-on | New York counselor listings (all specialties): 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 10% offer loan repayment807 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Counseling listings | 354 in the last 30 days | 213 the 30 days before (+66%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Mental Health Counseling pay trend | −17.7% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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