Psychiatric Counselor Behavioral Health Full Time Evenings

Counselor / TherapistIncludes weekendsNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$23.6-$33.04/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry.

As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system.

We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

Full Time, 0.9 FTE 3pm-11:30p with every other weekend

The Psychiatric Counselor reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

A Psychiatric Counselor, under the direction of the Patient Care Manager, Charge or Staff Nurse, delivers direct care to the psychiatric patient. Effectively interacts with the patient, their support network, and other members of the multi-disciplinary treatment team to rapidly identify and treat the crisis that is occurring.

Responsibilities

Conducts intake's consisting of the BHS Pre-Admission Assessment, all admission forms, Voluntary forms along with patient rights. Orient's patient to unit and conducts body and belongings search under the direction of the Charge RN.

Plans and implements care in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team. Able to begin and add to the Master Treatment Plan.

Facilitates groups, educational, and focus to Adolescent, Adult and Geriatric population. Conducts Community and Wrap- Up and Expressive Therapy Groups along with milieu management.

  • Under the direction of the Charge RN assists with ADL's.
  • Serves on BHS and unit work groups when requested.

Communicates to Manager and Charge Nurse any incidents regarding patients and staff that may compromise unit safety.

Conducts telephone screenings (inquiry calls) in a fashion resulting in appropriate disposition based on the phone contact.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Certification

  • CPR – Basic Life Support
  • De-escalation training within six months of hire

Experience

One year experience in a behavioral health unit or one completed semester of internship in a behavioral health field.

Preferred

  • Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health science field
  • Experience in mental health substance abuse

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers.

If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.

Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information jobs.nm.org

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

  • Hours Per Week / FTE: 36 hrs/wk - 0.9 FTE
  • Job Shift: Evening Job (2nd)
  • Salary Range Minimum: $23.60
  • Salary Range Maximum: $33.04
  • Compensation: USD 23.6 - USD 33.04 - hourly

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Certifications

BLS

Key Skills

Psychiatric counselingPatient assessmentCrisis interventionTreatment planningIntake assessmentMental health supportSubstance abuse counselingPatient rights advocacySafety monitoring

Psychiatry — Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$59k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $59k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 28% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

What does the Psychiatry market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · top 25% in psychiatry (counseling)ranked against 53 Psychiatry (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$49k–$69kPsychiatry median $81k (middle half $76k–$86k)12 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$59k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Psychiatry listings in Illinois5 active54 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 56% remote · 28% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentIllinois Counselor listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 21% offer loan repayment579 active listings, Nov 2026
New Psychiatry listings1,327 in the last 30 days989 the 30 days before (+34%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (53 Psychiatry (Counseling) listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Psychiatric Counselor Behavioral Health Full Time Evenings at Northwestern Memorial Healthcare a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Psychiatry (Counseling) — ranked against 53 active Psychiatry (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Top Counselor Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

39 jobs · 30 employers
15
<$75k
16
$75k-95k
4
$95k-115k
4
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

31 jobs · 30 employers
401k / retirement match
90% this job
CME allowance
45%
Sign-on bonus
39% this job
Loan repayment
13% this job
PSLF eligible
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Emeryville, California

$117k-$134k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 37 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.6this job 6.4
Better work-life than 80% of Psychiatry (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 53 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • Includes weekends
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare logo

About Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, Illinois
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Tuition reimbursement
Loan forgiveness
401(k) matching
Lifecycle benefits

Living in Winfield

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$418k
Median resident rent
$1,493/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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