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Volunteer Behavioral Health
Cookeville, Tennessee

COUNSELOR TIER II

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$62k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Job Location: Plateau Mental Health Center - Cookeville, TN
  • Education Level: Graduate Degree
  • Salary Range: $62000.00Salary

Behavioral Health Clinician – Outpatient/Telehealth VBHCS is seeking a compassionate Behavioral Health Clinician to provide outpatient and telehealth services to adults, children, adolescents, and families experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns. Key Responsibilities

  • Provide individual, group, family, and/or play therapy using appropriate therapeutic modalities.
  • Complete intakes, assessments, treatment plans, discharge planning, and referrals.
  • Administer assessments such as the DLA-20, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and PHQ-9, as appropriate.
  • Provide effective counseling through telehealth while maintaining confidentiality, ethical standards, and professional rapport.
  • Complete clinical documentation accurately and within VBHCS-established timeframes.
  • Coordinate care with schools, courts, case managers, foster homes, state agencies, families, and other community providers.
  • Meet established productivity, contractual, licensure, and behavioral health standards.
  • Follow all applicable laws, regulations, VBHCS Standards of Conduct, policies, and procedures. Qualifications: Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in a behavioral science field that meets Tennessee behavioral health licensure requirements, such as Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or Marriage and Family Therapy.
  • LMFT, LPC/MHSP, or LCSW preferred; license-eligible candidates encouraged to apply.
  • Experience working with adults, children, adolescents, and families preferred.
  • Community behavioral health and substance use treatment experience preferred.
  • Telehealth experience and strong technology/communication skills preferred.
  • Knowledge of psychotropic medications is a plus. Join VBHCS and make a meaningful difference by providing quality, ethical, client-centered behavioral healthcare in both traditional and virtual settings.

Key Responsibilities

The clinician will provide individual, group, family, and play therapy to diverse populations in both outpatient and telehealth settings. They are responsible for completing clinical documentation, conducting assessments, and coordinating care with various community agencies.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a behavioral science field that meets Tennessee licensure requirements. Preference is given to those with active licensure such as LMFT, LPC/MHSP, or LCSW and experience in community behavioral health.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyTreatment planningCrisis interventionCare coordination

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% are remote, 26% have no call, 76% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Counselor by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$62kCounselor median $73k (middle half $63k–$83k)303 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$67k in purchasing powerTennessee index 91.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Counselor listings in Tennessee285 active13,657 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 36% remote · 26% no call · 76% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedTennessee Counselor listings: 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 11% offer loan repayment285 active listings, Oct 2026
Counselor pay trend+2.5% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$62k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

31 jobs · 14 employers
12
<$80k
11
$80k-95k
4
$95k-110k
4
$110k-125k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

29 jobs · 14 employers
401k / retirement match
93%
Sign-on bonus
55%
CME allowance
21%
Loan repayment
3%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Eden Prairie, Minnesota

$74k-$117k
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LSCSW, LCPC, LCMFT) Sign-on Bonus $5,000

LifeStance Health · Lawrence, Kansas

$81k-$117k
#3

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

$84k-$113k
#4

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

$84k-$113k
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

1.5/ 10
Listing-based score
Volunteer Behavioral Health logo

About Volunteer Behavioral Health

Mental Health Care
501-1,000 employees

Living in Cookeville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$328k≈ 5.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,480/mo≈ 29% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

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