Intake/Assessment Counselor
Listed compensation
$50k-$59k
The week · per this posting · Monday – Thursday
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Are you a recent or soon-to-be graduate hoping to begin your counseling career in the Mental Health or Substance Use field? Perhaps you’re a seasoned professional seeking an organization where you can advance your career?
Are you interested in working for an innovative company who has been voted a Best Place to Work in New York State for the last 18 years?
Is it important to you to have scheduling flexibility, student loan assistance, generous paid time off, and quarterly bonus potential?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, a role at Horizon Health Services might be the perfect fit for you!
“Horizon is truly a best company to work for. Our person-centered approach allows me to be flexible with my patients, resulting in strong professional bonds that work to foster dynamic change!”
- Rachel S., LMSW, Senior Counselor II
What Will Your Day Look Like?
Our highly regarded onboarding program will offer you direct mentorship with experienced counselors, individualized training, and a team of coworkers who want to ensure your success here at Horizon! We are all about collaboration. We want to hear your thoughts, work with you as a team, and help you build confidence!
Some of the day-to-day responsibilities you will have include:
- Be the first clinical contact with patients as they begin their path to wellness and recovery
- Participate in short-term, person-centered assessment work focused on case conceptualization and matching patients with counselors based on clinical needs and desires
- Utilize engagement skills with patients, family members, and other supports; setting the stage for the treatment process and increasing positive treatment outcomes
- Receive expert training through Horizon University on evidence-based treatment approaches, as well as ongoing learning opportunities with CEUs throughout your career
- Work with a multidisciplinary team where you will have ongoing coaching and clinical support
- Build mentoring and leadership skills through participation in group supervisions, case conferences, and 1:1 feedback and work with clinical coach.
- Develop collaborative relationships with staff throughout the agency company through transition of care process as you make clinical recommendations based on patient diagnosis and treatment goals.
- Function as a therapist in a large system of additional resources such care coordination, psychiatric services, peer supports, financial social work, and crisis management.
Why choose Horizon to build your counseling career?
As a counselor, we want you to feel challenged, supported, and fulfilled in your work! The work we do is not easy, but it is rewarding. We pride ourselves on our unique corporate culture of caring and respect, while also being progressive and highly spirited!
What We Offer That You Will Love
- Evidence-based clinical programming designed by leaders in the behavioral health field
- Horizon offers clinicians a Behavioral Health AI-powered platform to assist with note documentation requirements. This assist with reducing administrative burden and enhancing quality documentation/clinical outcomes.
- State-of-the-art onboarding program, complete with your own clinical attending
- Hundreds of clinical and nonclinical trainings available at our own Horizon University, 100% free!
- Reimbursement of expenses for licensure, certification, and renewal
- Career growth opportunities, including the flexibility to work in both mental health and addiction services
- Student loan assistance. This program helps pay off our team members' student loans every month. One year after joining you will have been able to pay off an extra $600!
- Quarterly bonuses with an annual earning potential of eight thousand dollars!
- Horizon employees and their families (includes spouses and children up to age
30) are eligible for a 10% discount on their tuition through a partnership with Capella University.
- Paid time off and paid holidays!
What has prepared you for this opportunity?
In addition to all of the all-nighters and cramming for exams…
- CASAC-T (Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) Certification or higher plus a Bachelor’s Degree
OR
- Completed Master’s degree in a program that will grant licensure in the state of New York
Location: Our beautiful and welcoming clinics are located throughout Western New York, with locations in Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties. This position is specifically for our 1376 Niagara Falls Blvd, Tonawanda NY clinic!
Position Hours
You’ll coordinate a personalized schedule with your supervisor that will meet both the clinic and patients’ needs as well as yours. Our outpatient clinics offer expanded hours Monday – Thursday so we’ll ask you to be available at least 2 evenings per week, but don’t worry about jeopardizing your work-life balance… we can help you create a schedule that works for you, as many locations close earlier on Fridays!
Compensation
Horizon is consistently evaluating our compensation and benefit packages to ensure we remain competitive. The range of pay for this position is $49,712 - $58,552. Starting pay may be impacted based on experience and education. This position includes a bonus earning opportunity, with an annual max potential of $9,000, based on volume of service visits provided and cash equivalent opt out benefits. Compensation adjustments are evaluated annually.
Physical Demands Associated with This Position Include
- Sitting for extended periods, alternating between standing and sitting
- Mobility required with repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements
- Handling light duties, occasionally lifting objects up to 20 pounds
Horizon DEIB Statement
Horizon is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive environment where dignity, safety, and opportunity are core values. We uphold principles that support autonomy and authenticity, creating a culture of accountability and collaboration that prioritizes well-being, drives innovation, and expands opportunities for our employees, patients, and communities.
Disclaimer
Horizon endorses public health measures including vaccinations. We encourage all applicants to be mindful of the fact that Horizon is a healthcare agency proving in person services throughout our community.
This information is intended to provide a general overview of the position; it is not a full job description.
Key Responsibilities
The counselor will serve as the primary clinical contact for patients, conducting person-centered assessments and matching them with appropriate treatment services. They will also collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide ongoing support, participate in clinical supervision, and maintain quality documentation.
Requirements
Candidates must possess a CASAC-T certification along with a Bachelor's degree, or a completed Master's degree in a field eligible for New York state licensure. The role requires availability for at least two evenings per week to meet clinic and patient needs.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
In New York, the Mental Health Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$75k (60 salary observations; 214 listings), vs ~$77k nationally (532 salary observations; 2,442 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $50k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.9 / 10 · top 25% in mental health counseling | ranked against 781 Mental Health Counseling listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $50k–$59k | Mental Health Counseling median $48k (middle half $43k–$69k)64 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| New York vs national | $75k median in New York | $77k nationally (−3%)60 state / 532 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$50k in purchasing power | New York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Counseling listings in New York | 84 active | 795 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 60% remote · 40% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | sign-on bonus · loan repayment | New York counselor listings (all specialties): 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 11% offer loan repayment794 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Counseling listings | 344 in the last 30 days | 216 the 30 days before (+59%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Mental Health Counseling pay trend | −2.7% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Intake/Assessment Counselor at Horizon Health Services a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Counseling — ranked against 781 active Mental Health Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.
Top Counselor Jobs
37 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
37 jobs · 27 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
25 jobsShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)
LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Gotham Enterprises · Plentywood, Montana
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LCSW, LPC)
$115k-$120kNY Licensed DBT Therapist for Adolescents - DBT Master’s or Doctoral - Telehealth - Full-Time
$93k-$120k