School-Based Counselor
Listed compensation
$50K–$59K
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Are you hoping to begin a counseling career where you can provide mental health counseling and work in a school?
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 trainings via our new state-of-the-art learning management system where you will gain the necessary knowledge to be a successful counselor
- Conducting comprehensive patient assessments and developing treatment plans that identify patient needs and strengths
- Building effective therapeutic relationships as you develop rapport and instill hope for patients of diverse backgrounds
- Participating in weekly one-on-ones with your supervisor, as well as team meetings, to discuss case presentations
- Utilization of evidenced based practices such as CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, MI, and Play Therapy to help serve as a catalyst for change and improved quality of patients’ lives
- Creatively problem solve with patients around practical obstacles, in effort to increase whole body wellness
- Collaborating with school personnel, family members, and psychiatric providers to increase patient support network.
- Must have comfort with elementary aged students.
Why choose Horizon to build your counseling career?
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?
In addition to all of the all-nighters and cramming for exams…
- Completed Master’s degree in a program that will grant licensure in the state of New York required.
- One of the following licensures or permits required: LMSW, LCSW, LMHC or
LCAT.
- Experience in working with the children/adolescent population preferred.
- Play therapy training is preferred.
Location: We work in schools located throughout Western New York, with locations in Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties. We can’t wait to talk with you more about the possibilities and your preferences! You must have the ability to and be willing to travel to different schools as needed.
Position Hours
You’ll coordinate a personalized schedule with your supervisor that will meet both the school and patients’ needs as well as yours. Don’t worry about jeopardizing your work-life balance… we can help you create a schedule that works for you!
Compensation
Horizon is consistently evaluating our compensation and benefit packages to ensure we remain competitive. The range of pay for this position is $49,712 - $58,552. 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 is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive environment where dignity, safety, and opportunity are core values. We uphold principles that support autonomy and authenticity, creating a culture of accountability and collaboration that prioritizes well-being, drives innovation, and expands opportunities for our employees, patients, and communities.
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 provide mental health counseling using evidence-based practices. They will also collaborate with school personnel, families, and psychiatric providers to support patient wellness.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's degree and possess a valid New York state licensure such as LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, or LCAT. Experience working with children or adolescents and comfort in an elementary school setting are required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
In New York, the Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$71k (25 salary observations; 93 listings), vs ~$68k nationally (235 salary observations; 1,133 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-03-01 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 ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $50k 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 25% in counseling | ranked against 366 Counseling listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $50k–$59k | Counseling median $75k (middle half $70k–$91k)24 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| New York vs national | $71k median in New York | $68k nationally (+4%)25 state / 235 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$50k in purchasing power | New York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Counseling listings in New York | 29 active | 365 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 42% remote · 36% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | sign-on bonus · loan repayment | New York counselor listings (all specialties): 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 10% offer loan repayment793 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| Counseling pay trend | −9.6% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
| Horizon Health Services | #19 of 19 for pay | Top Employers work-life index |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates School-Based Counselor at Horizon Health Services a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Counseling — ranked against 366 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc.
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