Milieu Counselor - Inpatient Psychiatry
Listed compensation
$17-$33.57/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.
Working collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the Milieu Counselor is assigned to and works under the direction of a Registered Nurse, participating in carrying out nursing interventions to provide patients with opportunities for learning and adaptive ways of coping.
The Milieu Counselor works collaboratively with the licensed staff on the ongoing development of the milieu and activities that promote quality patient outcomes.
Patient and family centered care (PFCC) at YNHH is demonstrated by working with patients and their families based on the 4 principles of PFCC: participation, dignity and respect, information sharing, and collaboration.
This includes providing service excellence by creating a great "First Impression" by demonstrating exemplary customer service skills for all customer groups including patients, families/friends, physicians, staff and support department personnel.
Adheres to the "I Am YNHH" service excellence pledge and promotes a positive work environment.
EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran
Responsibilities
1. Assists the nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic milieu/environment to ensure the care and treatment of patients.
1.1 Acts as a cofacilitator in select unit based therapeutic groups as identified by Nurse Manager.
2. Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, provides individualized patient care to ensure the safety and dignity of the patient.
2.1 Collaborates with members of multidisciplinary team offering suggestions and recommendations on addressing patient/family needs.
3. Participates in unit activities that promote a cohesive staff group.
3.1 Participates in interdisciplinary staff meetings as scheduled and if unable to attend, reads and signs minutes.
Qualifications
Education
Associates degree required and Bachelor degree preferred
Experience
Minimum one (1) year prior experience in Psychology working with specialized populations such as emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, adults and families.
Special Skills
Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team to communicate and effectively deal with complex effectively charged situations and possess group facilitation and crisis management skills.
Physical Demand
Requires prolonged standing; walking; use of sight, hearing, and touch. May be exposed to infectious diseases. Will be exposed to physical, mental and emotional illness. Moderate stress and risk of injury from patient care. Standing/walking for more than half of the day. Frequently bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting and lifting. Must be able to assist pushing/pulling/lifting patients ranging from five (5) to three hundred (300) pounds.
YNHHS Requisition ID
196914
Qualifications
- Education
- Associate degree
Key Skills
Psychiatry — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Connecticut is 103.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$53k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $51k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Connecticut clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 30% have no call, 54% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $35k–$70k | Counselor median $60k (middle half $56k–$76k)10 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$51k in purchasing power | Connecticut index 103.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Counselor listings in Connecticut | 248 active | 13,536 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 50% remote · 30% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Connecticut Counselor listings: 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 27% offer loan repayment248 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Psychiatry listings | 1,299 in the last 30 days | 1,040 the 30 days before (+25%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Counselor pay trend | −2.4% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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