Horizon Health Services logo
Horizon Health Services
Buffalo, New York

DBT Counselor

LPC / LMHCFull-Time

Listed compensation

$54k-$60k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Are you hoping to build a counseling career where you can provide DBT-focused mental health and substance use counseling to adolescents?

Perhaps you’re a seasoned professional seeking an organization where you can advance your career?

Are you interested in working for an innovative company who has been voted a Best Place to Work in New York State for the last 18 years?

Is it important to you to have scheduling flexibility, student loan assistance, generous paid time off, and quarterly bonus potential?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, a role at Horizon Health Services might be the perfect fit for you!

“Horizon is truly a best company to work for. Our person-centered approach allows me to be flexible with my patients, resulting in strong professional bonds that work to foster dynamic change!”

  • Rachel S., LMSW, Senior Counselor II

What Will Your Day Look Like?

Our highly regarded onboarding program will offer you direct mentorship with experienced counselors, individualized training, and a team of coworkers who want to ensure your success here at Horizon! We are all about collaboration. We want to hear your thoughts, work with you as a team, and help you build confidence!

Some of the day-to-day responsibilities you will have include:

  • Attending training via our new state-of-the-art learning management system where you will gain the necessary knowledge to be successful, including advanced DBT training.
  • Conducting comprehensive patient assessments and developing treatment plans that identify patient needs and strengths.
  • Building effective therapeutic relationships as you develop rapport and work with patients and families of diverse backgrounds.
  • Participating in weekly one-on-ones with your supervisor, as well as team meetings, to discuss case presentations.
  • Utilizing the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Model to help serve as a catalyst for change and improved quality of life for patients and families in our Adolescent DBT Program.
  • Facilitate DBT focused individual and family sessions, Multi-family DBT skills groups, and phone coaching services.
  • Participating in monthly consultation with counselors and psychiatric providers in Horizon’s Adolescent DBT Program.
  • Collaborating with referral sources, school personnel, psychiatric providers, and family members to increase patient support and effective utilization of skills.

Why choose Horizon to build your counseling career?

At Horizon, we don’t just offer a workplace—we offer a community where you can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Recognized as a Best Place to Work in NYS for 18 consecutive years and one of America’s Best Workplaces, we take pride in fostering a culture where motivated teammates collaborate to make a difference, every day. Join us and experience the satisfaction of doing work that matters alongside people who share your passion!

As a counselor, we want you to feel challenged, supported, and fulfilled in your work! The work we do is not easy, but it is rewarding. We pride ourselves on our unique corporate culture of caring and respect, while also being progressive and highly spirited!

What We Offer That You Will Love

  • Evidence-based clinical programming designed by leaders in the behavioral health field
  • Horizon offers clinicians a Behavioral Health AI-powered platform to assist with note documentation requirements. This assist with reducing administrative burden and enhancing quality documentation/clinical outcomes.
  • State-of-the-art onboarding program, complete with your own clinical attending
  • Hundreds of clinical and nonclinical trainings available at our own Horizon University, 100% free!
  • Reimbursement of expenses for licensure, certification, and renewal
  • Career growth opportunities, including the flexibility to work in both mental health and addiction services
  • Student loan assistance. This program helps pay off our team members' student loans every month. One year after joining you will have been able to pay off an extra $600!
  • Quarterly bonuses with an annual earning potential of eight thousand dollars!
  • Horizon employees and their families (includes spouses and children up to age

30) are eligible for a 10% discount on their tuition through a partnership with Capella University.

  • Paid time off and paid holidays!

What has prepared you for this opportunity?

  • Completed Master’s degree in a program that will grant licensure in the state of New York required.
  • Education/Licensure/Certificates: LMSW, LMHC, etc required.
  • Experience in clinical work utilizing evidence-based practices with adolescents required.

Location: The home location for this position is 699 Hertel Ave, Buffalo NY. Our Adolescent DBT Program is located at our Buffalo, Orchard Park, and Niagara Falls locations and may involve some travel between programs.

Position Hours

You’ll coordinate a personalized schedule with your supervisor that will work with your needs and the needs of our DBT program. The position does require evening hours 4 days a week.

Compensation

Horizon is consistently evaluating our compensation and benefit packages to ensure we remain competitive. The range of pay for this position is $53,888.64 - $59,723.04. Starting pay may be impacted based on experience and education.

This position includes a bonus earning opportunity, with an annual max potential of $9,000, based on volume of service visits provided and cash equivalent opt out benefits. Compensation adjustments are evaluated annually.

Physical Demands Associated with This Position Include

  • Sitting for extended periods, alternating between standing and sitting
  • Mobility required with repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements
  • Handling light duties, occasionally lifting objects up to 20 pounds

Horizon DEIB Statement

Horizon commits to being an anti-racist, diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. Through self-reflection and our commitments to education, growth and development, increased workplace diversity throughout all levels of our organization and the cultivation of meaningful relationships, we pledge to advance equity, racial justice, and equal opportunity for all.

Disclaimers

Horizon endorses public health measures including vaccinations. We encourage all applicants to be mindful of the fact that Horizon is a healthcare agency providing in person services throughout our community.

This information is intended to provide a general overview of the position; it is not a full job description.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will conduct comprehensive patient assessments, develop treatment plans, and facilitate individual, family, and group DBT sessions. They will also collaborate with school personnel, psychiatric providers, and families to support patient progress and utilize clinical documentation tools.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree and possess a valid New York state license such as LMSW or LMHC. Experience in clinical work utilizing evidence-based practices with adolescents is required.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Mental health counselingPatient assessmentTreatment planningTherapeutic relationship buildingCase managementCrisis interventionAdolescent counselingFamily therapyGroup facilitationEvidence-based practice

Counselor Career Context

In New York, the Mental Health Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$75k (60 salary observations; 214 listings), vs ~$77k nationally (532 salary observations; 2,442 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 ~$57k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $53k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Mental Health Counseling market look like in New York?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$54k–$60kMental Health Counseling median $75k (middle half $69k–$84k)37 comparable listings, Nov 2026
New York vs national$75k median in New York$77k nationally (−3%)60 state / 532 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$53k in purchasing powerNew York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Counseling listings in New York84 active795 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 58% remote · 38% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonus · loan repaymentNew York counselor listings (all specialties): 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 11% offer loan repayment794 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Counseling listings344 in the last 30 days216 the 30 days before (+59%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Counseling pay trend−2.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

37 jobs · 27 employers
14
<$80k
10
$80k-95k
4
$95k-110k
8
$110k-125k
1
$125k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs
401k / retirement match
92%
Sign-on bonus
28% this job
CME allowance
28%
Loan repayment
24% this job
PSLF eligible
16%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#2

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Plentywood, Montana

$115k-$120k
#3

NY Licensed DBT Therapist for Adolescents - DBT Master’s or Doctoral - Telehealth - Full-Time

$93k-$120k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCSW, LMFT, LMHC)

$115k-$120k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Mental Health Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 781 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Horizon Health Services logo

About Horizon Health Services

Hospitals and Health Care
Getzville, New York
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Student loan assistance
Quarterly bonuses (annual max potential $9,000)
Paid time off and paid holidays
Reimbursement of expenses for licensure, certification, and renewal
Free clinical and nonclinical trainings via Horizon University
Behavioral Health AI-powered platform for note documentation
10% tuition discount at Capella University for employees and families
Career growth opportunities

Living in Buffalo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$246k≈ 4.6× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,421/mo≈ 32% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
95.8
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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