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Emory Healthcare
Decatur, Georgia

Primary Therapist / PRN

Counselor / TherapistNo weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$42 hourly

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Will consider candidates with counseling degrees (LPC, LAPC, license eligible).
  • At least 2 years' experience in group counseling.
  • Experience with group counseling.

PRN Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Cover vacation/ sick leave. No weekends.

  • Hour range between 9:30am-8pm.
  • Rate: $42 hourly
  • Where you matter as much as the work you do!

Join Emory Healthcare (EHC) if you’re looking for an opportunity with one of the nation's leading Atlanta hospitals in cardiology and heart surgery, cancer, neurology, and more!

EHC is where those around you are dedicated to the power of teamwork, fostering an environment where you can learn, grow, and innovate with similarly passionate professionals.

Work with us to improve the quality of life throughout Georgia through partnerships with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia Institute of Technology, and other organizations and make a bigger, greater impact than you ever thought possible.

Description

Job Description

Coordinates the patient care process for patients with psychiatric diagnoses to enhance efficiency, patient satisfaction, and cost effective outcomes in accordance with the goals, vision, and mission of the hospital.

Validates the appropriateness of admissions to appropriate levels of care within Emory Healthare according to nationally recognized standards. Takes appropriate action to comply with third party payor requirements.

Provides information/education on appropriate community resources through triage process with individuals and alternate level of care providers. Knowldedgeable in State and Federal Regulatory requirements (i. e. Medicaid, Medicare). Performs other related duties as required.

Maintains an effective flow of information with patients, caregivers, interdisciplinary staff and third party payors to facilitate appropriate lengths of stay (LOS) and to ensure appropriate reimbursement and coverage.

When appropriate, completes a problem oriented or detailed psychosocial assessment on all patients who are referred for services. Initiates referrals to Social Services as appropriate. Assumes responsibility for identification of impediments, and communicates and/or addresses barriers to timely discharge.

Has strong working knowledge of medical and social interventions for patients who are influenced by health impairment. Assumes responsibility for identification and communication of impediments and addresses barriers to timely discharges.

Completes a clinical assessment on all patients referred for services using appropriate clinical standards. Identifies and addresses psychosocial factors which may inhibit full participation by the patient in treatment.

Collaborates with all individuals, payors, alternate level of care providers and interdisciplinary patient care team members to expedite the patient through the continuum of care. Provides patient and their families with referral information regarding community support services.

Collects and records required Utilization Management information for appropriate assessment of need for admission. Maintains accurate and complete productivity and statistical data on each case according to department protocol. Thorough knowledge of Emory electronic Medical Record (EeMR).

Uses this data daily to obtain financial and clinical patient information. Knowledge and use of all software packages and reports utilized within the department. Practices leadership in a changing health care environment that enhances collaboration, continuity, and cost-effective services.

Notifies Physician Service teams, unit director(s), unit staff, and Continuum of Care Management staff of patient admissions through alpha text paging system and/or telephone calls. Complies with established policies and procedures and implements pertinent changes to the Continuum of Care process as directed.

Takes action to achieve annual departmental goals. Maintains professional growth by participating in educational programs and professional organizations and activities to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices and developments.

Collects information and maintains accurate, legible, confidential documents and records pertaining to medical reviews. Facilitates the review process by ensuring the timely delivery of materials to the appropriate personnel.

Provides information to comply with regulations of third party payors and federal and state regulatory agencies.

Serves as a professional resource to Interdisciplinary Patient Care Teams, physicians, and other professionals within the community for the interpretation of external regulations and organizational policies and procedures pertaining to the Continuum of Care process.

Communicates nationally recognized criteria as appropriate. Utilizes medical knowledge as an advocate for the patient to provide pertinent information to third party payors. Serves as a resource in clinical pathway development.

Participates in the development and implementation of educational training programs, in-services and workshops for students, staff and other clinical and allied health professionals.

Minimum Qualifications

A master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field and LCSW, LMSW, LMFT, LMHC, LPC, LAPC or License Eligible. Completion of a comprehensive internship in a psychiatric setting. Licensure must be received within 90 days of employment. BLS certification required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium): 20-50 lbs; 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 11-25 lbs, 34-66% of the workday (frequently); 01-10 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 50 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks.

Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure Bio-hazardous waste Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors Communicable diseases Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required.

Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Additional Details

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Coordinates the patient care process for individuals with psychiatric diagnoses to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality outcomes. Facilitates communication between patients, caregivers, and interdisciplinary teams while managing utilization and discharge planning.

Requirements

Requires a master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or a related field with appropriate licensure or license eligibility. Candidates must have at least two years of experience in group counseling and possess BLS certification.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Psychiatric assessmentClinical documentationPatient advocacyCrisis interventionElectronic medical recordsRegulatory complianceInterdisciplinary collaborationCase managementPatient education

Counselor Career Context

Of the 46 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 41% are remote, 17% have no call, 76% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost of livingGeorgia index 96.3US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Georgia196 active7,906 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 41% remote · 17% no call · 76% no weekends46 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedGeorgia Counselor listings: 7% state a sign-on bonus · 16% offer loan repayment330 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,509 in the last 30 days1,511 the 30 days before (+66%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−2.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

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Salary Distribution

16 jobs
9
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3
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2
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$90k-105k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs
401k / retirement match
88%
CME allowance
56%
Loan repayment
16%
PSLF eligible
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.9
Better work-life than 30% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,895 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Decatur

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$254k
Typical market rent
$1,755/mo
Residents’ average commute
26 min
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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