Summit BHC logo
Summit BHC
Knoxville, Tennessee

Associate Therapist - Outpatient

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not disclosed

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on-site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 59m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Associate Therapist - Outpatient | Creekside Behavioral Health | Knoxville, Tennessee

About the Job

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The Associate Therapist is a part of the multidisciplinary team responsible for providing direct clinical services to patients and their families under supervision. Their job responsibilities include completing Psychosocial Assessments; providing individual, family and group therapy for patients; facilitating psychoeducational training; conducting family meetings; discharge planning; developing, implementing and reviewing treatment plans; and providing linkage to outside resources.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  • Under clinical supervision, participates in patient treatment planning and treatment plan progress reviews.

Under supervision, conducts assigned group, individual or family sessions and provides evidence-supported treatment modalities. Completes sessions as scheduled and documents as required.

Under supervision, provides patient and family education relative to psychiatric and/or substance use problems.

Under supervision, conducts a psychosocial assessment focused on identification of key psychosocial components, incorporating patient involvement in development of plan of care.

Ensures all documentation regarding patient care, treatment and incidents is completed timely and in a clear, concise manner, including co-signature of assigned supervisor.

Provides crisis intervention to patients, as needed, and obtains consultation and supervision as appropriate. Communicates change in patient condition timely and effectively to treatment team members.

  • Plans for and completed required documentation of post-hospitalization aftercare for assigned patients.
  • Provides case management duties for patients, ensuring individualized quality care.

Participates in multidisciplinary treatment planning conferences. Presents appropriate patient information to the treatment team.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements

  • Master’s degree in social services or mental health services or closely related field required.
  • No professional work experience required.

Cannot practice independently, requires a minimum of weekly supervision oversight for all areas of clinical training practice in alignment with state standards.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications

Eligible for entry level licensure as a social worker or mental health counselor recognized by the state that has not been obtained yet either due to requirement for supervised clinical work experience or due to state permitting unlicensed professional work.

  • CPR and de-escalation certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
  • First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Work Location

This position is onsite and is not a remote position.

Supervisory Requirements

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Why Creekside Behavioral Health? Creekside Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Creekside Behavioral Health is an EOE.

Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Therapist provides direct clinical services including individual, family, and group therapy under supervision. They are responsible for conducting psychosocial assessments, developing treatment plans, and managing discharge planning for patients.

Requirements

A Master's degree in social services, mental health services, or a closely related field is required. Candidates must be eligible for entry-level licensure as a social worker or mental health counselor.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Individual therapyFamily therapyPatient educationMultidisciplinary collaboration

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Associate Therapist - Outpatient at Summit BHC a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Mental Health Therapy counselor listings evaluated on our platform.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 40% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 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.

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution28 jobs · 27 employers

8
<$60k
2
$60k-75k
10
$75k-90k
4
$90k-105k
4
$105k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks30 jobs · 27 employers

401k / retirement match
77%
CME allowance
53%
Sign-on bonus
20%
Loan repayment
13%
PSLF eligible
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$84k-$113k
#2

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

Gotham Enterprises · Nicholasville, Kentucky

$100k-$110k
#3

Behavioral Health Clinician (Pediatric Care) LCSW, LPC, LMFT or LMSW - Hybrid

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#4

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT)

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+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

6.1/ 10
Listing-based score
  • On-site

Living in Knoxville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$358k
Typical market rent
$1,712/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.6
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 · Knoxville, TN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Summit BHC logo

About Summit BHC

Hospitals and Health Care
Franklin, Tennessee
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive benefit plan
Competitive salary commensurate with experience
CPR and de-escalation certification training available upon hire