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University of Colorado
Aurora, Colorado

Instructor – Behavioral Health Clinician

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$75k-$90k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Posted 40m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • University of Colorado Anschutz
  • Department: Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine
  • Job Title: Instructor – Behavioral Health Clinician
  • Position #:00615081 – Requisition #:41502

Job Summary

In the Adolescent Medicine Primary Care Clinic, the Behavioral Health Clinician will be a part of the integrated behavioral health team and will provide clinical services, including individual and family therapy, and care coordination.

Key Responsibilities

  • The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
  • Provide Behavioral Health services within the Adolescent Medicine Clinic.
  • Conduct behavioral health assessments when clinically indicated, including assessment of patients’ strengths, needs, safety, and treatment goals.
  • Provide consultation and brief intervention for behavioral health concerns identified during medical visits.

Develop patient-centered treatment plans and provide individual or family therapy when appropriate, respecting adolescent confidentiality and involving families or caregivers as appropriate.

Partner with medical providers and other team members in responding to concerns about suicide risk, suspected child abuse or neglect, and intimate partner or family violence. Partner with the clinical team as needed to provide further assessment, safety planning, patient support, referrals, and coordination of follow-up.

Fulfill individual mandatory reporting obligations and follow hospital procedures for escalation and documentation.

  • Coordinate transitions to longer-term therapy or a higher level of care when indicated.
  • Collaborate with medical providers and other members of the integrated care team.

Work Location: Onsite – this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO

Why Work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

  • Medical: Multiple plan options
  • Dental: Multiple plan options
  • Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
  • Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10%25 of your gross pay
  • Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage of time)
  • Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
  • Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
  • Holiday Days: 11/year
  • Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
  • ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service
  • There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Instructor

  • MSW or equivalent from an accredited University
  • DORA Licensure as a LCSW or LPC or LMFT in the state of Colorado or will obtain licensure before start date
  • Training in CBT and Family Therapy
  • 1-3 years of experience working with adolescent population

Condition of Employment

  • Must successfully pass a drug test through Children’s Hospital Colorado
  • Must be willing and able to pass a national criminal background check

*For questions regarding Children’s Hospital drug testing requirements, please contact Children’s Human Resources at 720-777-8598. Some positions may require testing if access to Children’s Hospital or their systems is needed at any time during employment with the University. If drug testing is required, it will be listed in the job posting.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 2-3 years of experience working in a patient centered medical home/primary care practice
  • 2-3 years of experience working in an integrated behavioral health system
  • 2-3 years of experience working with gender diverse youth
  • Training trauma focused CBT

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
  • Understanding of the adolescent population
  • Systems knowledge of the behavioral health landscape of the Metro Denver Area

How to Apply

  • For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):
  • 1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
  • 2. Curriculum vitae / Resume
  • 3. Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address
  • Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at cu.edu.
  • Questions should be directed to: Rebecca Barlow, Rebecca.barlow@childrenscolorado.org

Screening of Applications Begins

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by 10/31/2026.

Anticipated Pay Range

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE: $75,000 – $90,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Total Compensation Calculator: cu.edu

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases.

If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively.

In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Behavioral health assessmentIndividual therapyCrisis interventionSuicide risk assessmentTreatment planningPatient-centered careReferral coordination

Counselor Career Context

University of Colorado ranks #8 of 19 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 72% are remote, 28% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$75k–$90kMental Health Therapy median $74k (middle half $70k–$81k)11 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$80k in purchasing powerColorado index 103.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Colorado215 active7,918 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 72% remote · 28% no call · 74% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
University of Colorado#8 of 19 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

42 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

42 jobs · 21 employers
13
<$80k
8
$80k-95k
0
$95k-110k
17
$110k-125k
4
$125k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

33 jobs · 21 employers
401k / retirement match
85% this job
Sign-on bonus
45%
CME allowance
27%
Loan repayment
15%
PSLF eligible
12%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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$61k-$127k
#2

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#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

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#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
+ 40 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,891 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
University of Colorado logo

About University of Colorado

Higher Education
Aurora, Colorado
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical Insurance (multiple plan options)
Dental Insurance (multiple plan options)
Vision Insurance
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Retirement 401(a) Plan with 10% employer contribution
22 Vacation Days per year
15 Sick Days per year

Living in Aurora

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$446k≈ 5.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,742/mo≈ 28% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
29 min
State income tax
Up to 4.4%
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.