Behavioral Health Counselor 1

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$45k-$48k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Explore a World of Opportunity with the State of Georgia!

We are the force that drives Georgia!

Georgia State Government is a large enterprise, composed of various agencies and entities with a common goal to improve the lives of Georgia's more than 10 million citizens!

Join Team Georgia and impact lives everyday while receiving a robust benefits package designed for every stage of your career!

Job Title

Behavioral Health Counselor 1

Agency

Department of Community Supervision

Job Requisition ID

JR0000002769

Shift: Any (United States of America)

Compensation Details

$45,498.96 NON-CREDENTIAL OR $47,773.91 CREDENTIALED

Job Description

This job is located in Claxton, GA (Bryan, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall Counties)

This posting is subject to close once a suitable candidate pool or candidate has been selected.

Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives?

The Department of Community Supervision (DCS) provides team members with the opportunity to do just that! We are looking for dedicated Counselors to provide guidance and support to individuals under community supervision. If you have a heart for service and a talent for empowering others, this is your opportunity to be a part of a team that transforms lives and strengthens communities.

DCS is a nationally recognized leader in the field of community supervision. Our innovation and use of technology are what set us apart from other community supervision agencies. We pride ourselves on being the largest law enforcement agency within the state of Georgia, with the great responsibility of monitoring, coaching, and providing opportunities for successful outcomes for individuals under parole and probation supervision.

DCS offers the most up-to-date and specialized training and provides opportunities for growth within our agency. Our commitment to evidence-based practices is pushed forward by our pursuit of “next practice” innovations that will enable us to continuously improve our contribution to the lives of those we serve.

Come join our team!

Responsibilities/Duties

Counsel with emphasis on prevention and/or behavior modification with individuals under supervision in the criminal justice system on probation or parole.

Act as an advocate to coordinate identified services addressing employment, housing, basic adult education, cognitive restructuring, mental health, life skills, and substance use.

Act as an advocate to resolve crisis situations

Collect information about individuals under supervision through assessments, interviews, observations, and random drug screening.

Counsel individuals under supervision in individual and group sessions to help develop coping skills and recover from dependencies.

  • Develop and implement treatment plans
  • Maintain confidentiality of records relating to the client's treatment
  • Monitor, evaluate, and record individual progress according to measurable goals described in the treatment plan.
  • Prepare, document, and maintain all case notes, treatment records, and reports.

Facilitate substance use and/or cognitive programming, based on the needs of each circuit. Non-traditional hours may be required to ensure program delivery. Travel may also be required for training, court, and to facilitate groups in other assigned locations.

If not certified upon hire, counselors must work towards obtaining certification (costs provided by DCS) by completing education hours and clinical supervision hours as set forth by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA).

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited college or university, or certification as an addiction counselor from the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) or equivalent certification.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications above, also possess two or more of the following:

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university.
  • One year of experience providing individual and/or group counseling services to clients identified to have substance abuse needs.
  • Experience in facilitating Cognitive Behavior therapy classes.

Certification as an addiction counselor from the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) or equivalent certification.

Credentialing (i. e., Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC/CAC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or comparable credential).

SOFT Skills

  • Organization
  • Communication
  • Team Work

Disqualifiers for the Position

Non-Sworn Employment Disqualifiers Notification

Salary/Benefits

  • Starting salary is $45,498.96 (Non-Credentialed)
  • $47,773.91 (Credentialed)

Other Benefits

  • 13 Paid Holidays
  • Semi-Monthly Annual/Sick Leave Accrual
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Employee Wellness Program
  • Insurance Medical/Dental/Vision

Incentives

5% increase at 12-month anniversary and 5% upon initial credentialing (i. e., Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CADC/CAC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or comparable credential;

Internal clinical supervision and continuing education credits to pursue certification through the Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of GA (ADACBGA) and CEUs at no cost for credentialed staff.

Training and professional development opportunities

Please Note

This posting is subject to close once a suitable candidate pool or candidate has been selected.

The Department of Community Supervision is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or any other related statuses, protected by applicable state and federal statutes. Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application or screening processes by contacting the Office of Human Resources at human.resources@dcs.ga.gov.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you are an individual with a disability and wish to acquire this job announcements in an alternative format, or if you require assistance or other reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the selection process, you may contact the Office of Human Resources at ada.request@dcs.ga.gov.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in in counseling or a related field from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of job-related experience; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Behavioral Hlth Counselor 1 (HCP100) or position equivalent.--Note: Some positions may require certification or licensure.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services.

Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.

Key Responsibilities

Provide counseling and behavior modification services to individuals under community supervision within the criminal justice system. Coordinate essential services such as housing, employment, and mental health support while maintaining accurate case records and treatment plans.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor's degree in counseling or a related field, or equivalent addiction counselor certification. Candidates must be able to work towards obtaining professional certification if not already certified upon hire.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Case managementCrisis interventionTreatment planningSubstance abuse counselingCognitive behavioral therapyDocumentationAssessmentAdvocacyTeamwork

Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 26% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Georgia is 96.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$47k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $48k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Georgia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Behavioral Health jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$48k in purchasing powerGeorgia index 96.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Behavioral Health listings in Georgia11 active364 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 34% remote · 26% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Behavioral Health pay trend+9.7% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing 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

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

27 jobs · 22 employers
10
<$75k
9
$75k-90k
3
$95k
5
$105k-120k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

18 jobs
401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
39% this job
Sign-on bonus
33%
Loan repayment
17%
PSLF eligible
17%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Counselor (LPC, LCSW, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · Alpharetta, Georgia

up to $115,000
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$84k-$113k
#3

Licensed Behavioral Health Clinician (LCSW or LMFT)

$96k-$112k
#4

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, LMFT, LCSW)

$82k-$109k
+ 25 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 1.5
Below most Behavioral Health (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 360 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Georgia Department of Revenue logo

About Georgia Department of Revenue

Government Administration
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

13 Paid Holidays
Annual/Sick Leave Accrual
Work/Life Balance
Employee Wellness Program
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
Internal clinical supervision
CEUs at no cost
Certification costs provided by DCS

Living in Claxton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$152k≈ 3.3× annual pay
Median resident rent
$654/mo≈ 17% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.