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Centerstone
Chattanooga, Tennessee

School-Based Therapist (Chattanooga)

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$42k-$47k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted just now · Verified live

Job Description

Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings. Come talk to us about joining the Centerstone team!

Job Description

Summary of Position

Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings. Come talk to us about joining the Centerstone team!

The school-based therapist provides counseling services in a timely manner to students who are experiencing behavioral and/or mental health difficulties. The therapist may also provide family counseling and group counseling. Other duties include: attending meetings, maintaining records, and providing consultation to school staff as needed. Master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work or related field required.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

  • Ability to formulate a diagnosis upon completion of intake assessment
  • Complete timely clinical documentation
  • Create and update treatment plans according to policy
  • Provide therapy services based upon assessment of clinical needs and diagnosis

Respond to supervisory communication including urgent care situations and other clinical needs as applicable in virtual or face to face settings

Keep administrative supervisor informed of all potential issues that could impact the program or the organization

  • Respond to needs of clients in a timely and professional manner
  • Demonstrate good clinical judgment in client care

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Ability to successfully utilize computer/electronic equipment and software

Qualifications

Education Requirements

  • A Master’s degree is required in one of the following fields: Clinical Psychology, Mental Health (MH) Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and/or a specialization in MH Counseling
  • License-eligible in respective discipline preferred.
  • OR

Applicants with a Master’s degree in a related field (outside of the disciplines listed above) must meet the following criteria:

Completion of at least 24 graduate-level semester hours in psychology, social work, counseling, or other behavioral health-related coursework.

  • Relevant coursework and work experience in the following areas:
  • Clinical treatment and treatment planning
  • Appraisal and assessment of mental disorders

Psychopathology

Use of the DSM for diagnostic purposes within a clinical internship or practicum in a behavioral health setting

Experience Requirements

Clinical experience is required. This may be fulfilled through clinical practicums or internships completed as part of a master’s degree program.

Certification/Licensure

Must possess a valid driver's license and meet eligibility requirements to be covered under the organization's vehicle insurance policy.

Starting Salary Range: $42,300 - $46,700

Physical Requirements

  • Standing – 10%
  • Sitting – 90%
  • Squatting – Occasional
  • Kneeling – Occasional
  • Bending – Occasional
  • Driving – Occasional
  • Lifting – Occasional

Disclaimer

The duties and responsibilities described in this document are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time, or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Time Type

Full time

Pay Range

  • $0.00--$0.00
  • Delivering care that changes people's lives starts with our employees. Below are just some of the great benefits Centerstone employees enjoy:
  • Medical, dental, and vision health coverage
  • Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
  • 403b retirement plan with company match
  • Paid time off and ten paid holidays
  • AD&D Insurance, Life Insurance, and Long Term Disability (company paid)
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • Continuing education opportunities

Employee Assistance Program

Centerstone is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at Centerstone is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We treat all clients and colleagues with dignity and respect.

At Centerstone, we use our values as a guide for what we do. Respect, Expertise, Integrity and Empowerment are at the heart of every interaction at Centerstone, and particularly rooted in our Culture.

Our approach to culture is to create an environment that encourages, supports and celebrates the voices and experiences of our employees. We are committed to a culture of empowerment, respect, integrity and expertise that powers our innovation and connects us to each other, our clients and the communities we serve.

Centerstone is also committed to a strong culture of quality and safety, celebrating role-models who champion best practices for quality, clinical risk, and patient safety.

Key Responsibilities

The school-based therapist provides counseling services to students experiencing behavioral or mental health difficulties, including individual, family, and group sessions. Additional duties include maintaining clinical records, formulating diagnoses, and providing consultation to school staff.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Crisis interventionCase managementMental health assessmentDSM diagnostic criteria

Counselor Career Context

Centerstone ranks #16 of 16 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% are remote, 44% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$45k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $48k in an average-cost state. 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$45k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$3k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution27 jobs · 21 employers

4
<$70k
10
$70k-85k
4
$85k-100k
9
$100k-115k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks23 jobs · 21 employers

401k / retirement match
87% this job
CME allowance
52% this job
Sign-on bonus
13%
Loan repayment
4%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

$84k-$113k
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

$84k-$113k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LPCC, LPP, LCSW)

$100k-$110k
#4

Behavioral Health Clinician

$60k-$107k
+ 25 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,002 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Chattanooga

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$327k≈ 7.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,513/mo≈ 43% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Chattanooga, TN-GA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Centerstone logo

About Centerstone

Mental Health Care
Nashville, Tennessee
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical Insurance
Dental
Vision
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
403b Retirement Plan with Company Match
Paid Time Off
Ten Paid Holidays