Clinical Therapist, Pediatrics - Texas Behavioral Health Center

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

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Job Description

Texas Behavioral Health Center

The Texas Behavioral Health Center is a newly completed state-funded psychiatric hospital opening in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District that is owned by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and operated by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

When fully operational, the 505,000-square-foot facility will house 292 beds – 200 for adult patients and 92 for children and adolescents. As DFW’s first state-funded behavioral health hospital, it is designed to deliver state-of-the-art, patient-centered care in a modern and healing environment.

The center provides comprehensive behavioral health treatment and features private patient rooms, abundant access to natural light and nature, and thoughtfully designed spaces that promote recovery. The hospital will also provide training to all behavioral health disciplines.

As employees of UT Southwestern, team members will join a world-class academic medical center committed to patient-centered care, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing patients for successful reintegration into their families and communities.

With competitive benefits and a mission-driven culture, Texas Behavioral Health Center offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a lasting impact on mental health care in North Texas. Learn more about Texas Behavioral Health Center here!

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees.

Ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals.

Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you‿ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

Job Summary

Works under minimal supervision to provide advanced professional skills in development of social service programs and to provide advanced social service to patients with multiple and/or complex needs in clinical and/or hospital environment.

Benefits

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

  • PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
  • 100%25 coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
  • Paid Time Off, available day one
  • Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
  • Paid Parental Leave Benefit
  • Wellness programs
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
  • Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

Experience and Education

Required

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or other related field.

Experience

  • 3 years experience working face to face with patients
  • Licenses and Certifications
  • (LCSW) LIC CLINCAL SOCIAL WORKER license by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, or
  • (LPC) LICENSED PROF COUNSELOR license by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, or
  • (LMFT) LIC MAR & FAM THERAPIST license by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners
  • (LCDC) LIC CHEM DEPENDENCY CSLR only required for roles specifically within the Texas Behavioral Health Center
  • (CPI) CRISIS PREVENTION INSTITUT CER - training must be completed within 30 days of hire date

Job Duties

Provides comprehensive mental health intake evaluations that document patients' relevant personal and medical history, as well as, primary symptoms and presumptive diagnosis.

Uses information obtained in these evaluations to make appropriate treatment recommendations to patients based on their needs and the availability of services in the clinic or community.

Documentation of evaluations is timely and complete and allows other providers in the clinic to have a clear sense of the patient's needs and clinical presentation.

Provides individual and/or group psychotherapy intervention to assigned patients at a level consistent with the standards of care in the clinic. Therapy practice is evidence-based whenever possible, time-limited, and responsive to patients needs while maintaining a strategy for the course of treatment.

Therapy intervention is tailored to the needs of the patient both in content and in length of treatment. Documentation of therapy work is timely, complete and meets compliance standards for billing encounters.

Provides referrals to care as needed based on evaluation of patient needs. Initiates referrals, coordinates services and identify resources to meet patient needs.

Works closely with clinic leadership team to identify, develop and implement workflows and programs that enhance utilization of clinic services and patient centered care.

Provides independent evaluation, diagnostic clarity and psychotherapy treatment for complex and time-sensitive patient management.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Salary Information

Salary is commensurate with education, skills, and relevant experience.

Security and EEO Statement

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist will conduct comprehensive mental health intake evaluations and provide evidence-based psychotherapy to pediatric patients. They will also coordinate care referrals and collaborate with the clinic leadership team to develop programs that enhance patient-centered services.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field and possess at least 3 years of face-to-face patient experience. A valid Texas license as an LCSW, LPC, or LMFT is required for the position.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Diagnostic assessmentCrisis interventionTreatment planningClinical documentationReferral coordinationEvidence-based practice

Pediatrics — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 20% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 5.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution33 jobs · 19 employers

8
<$65k
6
$65k-80k
12
$80k-95k
7
$95k-110k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks32 jobs · 19 employers

401k / retirement match
78% this job
CME allowance
41%
Sign-on bonus
31%
Loan repayment
9% this job
PSLF eligible
6% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · St. Louis, Missouri

$80k-$101k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LCSW, LMFT, LPC)

LifeStance Health · Irving, Texas

$75k-$100k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapists (LCSW or LPC)

$25k-$100k
#4

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)

$75k-$100k
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Pediatrics (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 80 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Dallas

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$286k
Typical market rent
$1,591/mo
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.1
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 · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

UT Southwestern Medical Center logo

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

Higher Education
Dallas, Texas
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

PPO medical plan available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
100% coverage for preventive healthcare
Paid Time Off available day one
Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
Paid Parental Leave Benefit
Wellness programs
Tuition Reimbursement
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer