Idaho Youth Ranch logo
Idaho Youth Ranch
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Equine Therapist

CounselorNo callPer Diem

Listed compensation

$28.35-$37.8/hr

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

The Idaho Youth Ranch is one of the oldest non-profit agencies in the state of Idaho.

Our Mission

We unite for Idaho’s youth by providing accessible programs and services that nurture hope, healing, and resilience.

Why unite with us? Because we are better together! Our team members enjoy a workplace where Relationships are the foundation, where we are all Committed to the same mission, where Growth is always possible, where we are treated with and show Compassion, where trust guides us to Transparency, and above all, where Joy sustains us.

How will you impact our mission? Every position at Idaho Youth Ranch contributes to the success of our mission. As an Equine Therapist, you will be directly involved in nurturing the hope, healing, and resilience for youth and families of Idaho. You will have the opportunity to work outdoors and around horses while providing important therapeutic sessions.

  • What do we offer? In addition to contributing to our awesome mission, working at IYR has many advantages:
  • Supportive, knowledgeable clinical supervision
  • Trauma informed practice that stays on the forefront of best/evidence based practices
  • An employee discount on purchases at our thrift stores

Paid opportunities to learn and pursue trainings in a variety of treatment modalities, including EAGALA, EMDR, CBT and others

Working in a fun, caring and compassionate team environment that focuses on the culture of supporting youth and families

  • Collaboration with IYR Case Manager & Equine Specialists
  • A breath taking work environment with a team of 20+ horses
  • Be a part of a joint accredited agency!

What Will You Do?

Our Equine Therapists

  • Provide individual, group, and family counseling sessions
  • Utilize therapeutic techniques that are trauma oriented, evidence-based, and age appropriate

Prepare psychotherapy documents encompassing all patient care and ensures mental health forms are complete and accurate

Provide assessments that are consistent with the age group and population involved, demonstrates full understanding, and identifies mental health issues

May have scheduled sessions in the late afternoon/evenings as scheduling is dependent on the needs and availability of the client

Must Haves

  • Master’s degree in a human services field: social work, counseling, psychology, or marriage and family therapy
  • Licensed as LMSW, LCSW, LMAFT, LMFT, LPC, LCPC, or PhD
  • A valid Idaho’s driver’s license or obtain one within 15 days of hire, as a condition of continued employment
  • Be at least 25 years of age
  • No horse experience needed!
  • This position is on-call only, and does not have guaranteed hours.

*As a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit, the Idaho Youth Ranch is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PLSF) program. The PLSF offers student loan forgiveness on qualifying loans under specific conditions. We can partner with your loan provider to review your particular situation and help you evaluate options.

This position is located in Idaho and candidates must be within a reasonable distance to our location

The Idaho Youth Ranch is an equal opportunity employer.

Key Responsibilities

The Equine Therapist provides individual, group, and family counseling sessions using trauma-informed and evidence-based techniques. They are also responsible for preparing accurate psychotherapy documentation and conducting mental health assessments for youth and families.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a human services field and possess a valid clinical license such as LCSW, LMFT, or LPC. Additionally, applicants must be at least 25 years old and hold a valid Idaho driver's license.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Equine therapyIndividual counselingGroup counselingTrauma-informed careMental health assessmentCrisis intervention

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Equine Therapist at Idaho Youth Ranch a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,961 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 40 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 55% are remote, 33% have no call, 85% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Idaho is 95.5 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$69k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $72k in an average-cost state. 58.2% of Idaho clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution19 jobs

5
<$60k
4
$60k-75k
1
$90k
6
$90k-105k
3
$105k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks21 jobs · 20 employers

401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
33%
Sign-on bonus
19%
Loan repayment
14% this job
PSLF eligible
14% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)Contract

Two Chairs · Texas

$58.5-$85/hr
#2

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)Contract

Two Chairs · South Carolina

$58.5-$85/hr
#3

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)

$58.5-$85/hr
#4

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)

$58.5-$85/hr
+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.4
Better work-life than 60% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,961 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call

Living in Coeur d'Alene

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$567k
Typical market rent
$1,861/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
98.3
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Coeur d'Alene, ID metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Idaho Youth Ranch logo

About Idaho Youth Ranch

Non-profit Organization Management
Boise, Idaho
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Supportive Clinical Supervision
Trauma-Informed Practice
Employee Discount at Thrift Stores
Paid Training Opportunities (EAGALA, EMDR, CBT)
Collaboration with Case Manager & Equine Specialists
PSLF Eligible Employer