Georgia Department of Revenue logo
Georgia Department of Revenue
Athens, Georgia, United States

Behavioral Hlth Counselor 3

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$53k–$56k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 15m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Explore a World of Opportunity with the State of Georgia!

We are the force that drives Georgia!

Georgia State Government is a large enterprise, composed of various agencies and entities with a common goal to improve the lives of Georgia's more than 10 million citizens!

Join Team Georgia and impact lives everyday while receiving a robust benefits package designed for every stage of your career!

Job Title

Behavioral Hlth Counselor 3

Agency

Department of Community Supervision

Job Requisition ID

JR0000003826

Shift: Any (United States of America)

Compensation Details

  • $52,551.30 NON- CREDENTIALED
  • $55,758.56 CREDENTIALED

Job Description

This Job Is Located in Athens, GA (Clarke & Oconee Counties)

**PLEASE NOTE: This posting is subject to close once a suitable candidate pool or candidate has been selected.

Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives?

The Department of Community Supervision (DCS) provides team members with the opportunity to do just that! We are looking for dedicated Counselors to provide guidance and support to individuals under community supervision. If you have a heart for service and a talent for empowering others, this is your opportunity to be a part of a team that transforms lives and strengthens communities.

DCS is a nationally recognized leader in the field of community supervision. Our innovation and use of technology is what sets us apart from other community supervision agencies. We pride ourselves on being the largest law enforcement agency within the state of Georgia, with the great responsibility of monitoring, coaching, and providing opportunities for successful outcomes for individuals under parole and probation supervision.

DCS offers the most up-to-date and specialized training and provides opportunities for growth within our agency. Our commitment to evidence-based practices is pushed forward by our pursuit of “next practice” innovations that will enable us to continuously improve our contribution to the lives of those we serve.

Come join our team!

Responsibilities/Duties

Counsel with emphasis on prevention and/or behavior modification with individuals under supervision (supervisee) in the criminal justice system on probation or parole.

Act as an advocate to coordinate identified services addressing employment, housing, basic adult education, cognitive restructuring, mental health, life skills, and substance use.

  • Act as an advocate to resolve crises.
  • Collect information about clients through assessments, interviews, observations, and random drug screening.
  • Counsels clients in individual and group sessions to help them develop coping skills.
  • Develop and implement treatment plans
  • Complete mental health assessments as needed.
  • Maintain confidentiality of records relating to the client's treatment
  • Monitor, evaluate, and record individual progress according to measurable goals described in the treatment plan.
  • Prepare, document, and maintain all case notes, treatment records, and reports.

Facilitate substance use and/or cognitive programming, based on the needs of each circuit. Non-traditional hours may be required to ensure program delivery. Travel may also be required for training, court, and facilitating groups in other assigned locations.

Provides a consistent level of counseling and guidance to clients; provides information to educate the public, other agencies, vendors, and potential customers about rehabilitation services; and serves as a mentor to other counselors, new supervisors, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited college or university in a related field and four (4) years of job-related experience; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Behavioral Health Counselor 2 (HCP101) or position equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications above, also possess two or more of the following:

Master's degree from an accredited college or university AND two years of related experience.

One year of experience providing individual and/or group counseling services to clients identified to have substance abuse needs.

Experience in facilitating Cognitive Behavior therapy classes.

Certification as an addiction counselor from the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) or equivalent certification.

Credentialing (i. e., Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC/CAC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or comparable credential).

SOFT Skills

  • Organization
  • Communication
  • Team Work

Disqualifiers for the Position

Non-Sworn Employment Disqualifiers Notification

Salary/Benefits

  • Starting salary is $55,758.56 (Credentialed)
  • $52,551.30 (Non-credentialed)

Other Benefits

  • 13 Paid Holidays
  • Semi-Monthly Annual/Sick Leave Accrual
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Employee Wellness Program
  • Insurance Medical/Dental/Vision

Incentives

Training and professional development opportunities

Please Note

This posting is subject to close once a suitable candidate pool or candidate has been selected.

The Department of Community Supervision is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or any other related statuses, protected by applicable state and federal statutes. Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation, when needed during the application or screening processes, by contacting the Office of Human Resources at human.resources@dcs.ga.gov.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you are an individual with a disability and wish to acquire this job announcements in an alternative format, or if you require assistance or other reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the selection process, you may contact the Office of Human Resources at ada.request@dcs.ga.gov.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in in counseling or a related field from an accredited college or university in a related field and four (4) years of job-related experience; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Behavioral Hlth Counselor 2 (HCP101) or position equivalent.--Note: Some positions may require certification or licensure.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services.

Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will provide guidance, support, and behavior modification counseling to individuals under community supervision. They are responsible for developing treatment plans, facilitating programming, and coordinating services to address mental health, substance use, and life skills.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in counseling or a related field and possess at least four years of relevant experience. Preference is given to those with advanced degrees, professional certifications, and specific experience in substance abuse or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Case ManagementCrisis InterventionTreatment PlanningMental Health AssessmentSubstance Use CounselingDocumentationTeamworkMentoringConflict Resolution

Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Georgia is 96.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $56k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Georgia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 24% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

What does the Behavioral Health market look like in Georgia?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$53k–$56kBehavioral Health median $118k (middle half $54k–$118k)13 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$56k in purchasing powerGeorgia index 96.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Behavioral Health listings in Georgia10 active348 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 24% no call · 74% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedGeorgia Counselor listings: 7% state a sign-on bonus · 16% offer loan repayment329 active listings, Nov 2026
New Behavioral Health listings860 in the last 30 days551 the 30 days before (+56%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Behavioral Health pay trend−2.2% 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

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

33 jobs · 24 employers
14
<$85k
8
$85k-100k
7
$100k-115k
4
$115k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

22 jobs
401k / retirement match
86%
Sign-on bonus
36%
CME allowance
36%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Cartersburg, Indiana

$115k-$120k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LCSW, LPC)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

$74k-$117k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 1.5
Below most Behavioral Health (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 338 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Georgia Department of Revenue logo

About Georgia Department of Revenue

Government Administration
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

13 Paid Holidays
Semi-Monthly Annual/Sick Leave Accrual
Work/Life Balance
Employee Wellness Program
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
Training and Professional Development

Living in Athens

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$329k≈ 6.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,782/mo≈ 41% of gross pay
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
93.3
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026).

BEA 2024 · Athens-Clarke County, GA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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