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Ascension
Chicago, Illinois

Licensed Behavioral Health Counselor

CounselorNo nightsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 25m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Your future role at a glance
  • Location: Chicago, IL
  • Facility: Ascension Alexian Bonaventure House
  • Department: Community Outreach
  • Schedule: Day shift | Full-time
  • How you’ll make an impact in this role
  • Lead or coordinate shift operations of assigned activities, resources, and/or associates.
  • Assign, monitor, and review progress of work.
  • Oversee and evaluate orientation and training of assigned associates.
  • May provide input in the review and evaluation of staff performance.
  • What minimum requirements you’ll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration

One or more of the following required:

Clinical Counselor credentialed from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

Social Worker specializing in Clinical Practice credentialed from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credentialed from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation obtained prior to hire date or transfer date.

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credentialed from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

BLS Provider preferred. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.

Education

High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Technical degree with 1 year of experience OR 5 years of applicable cumulative job-specific experience required.

Additional Preferences

  • Master's Degree in Behavioral Science, Social Science, or Psychology required
  • LCPC/LCSW licensure required
  • Lead experience providing community support and outreach
  • Benefits that help you thrive
  • Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
  • Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
  • Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays

Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning

Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources

  • Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
  • Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
  • Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

Fraud Prevention Notice

Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees.

To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

E-Verify Statement

Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor will lead and coordinate shift operations, resources, and staff activities within the community outreach department. They are responsible for monitoring work progress, overseeing staff training, and providing input on performance evaluations.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a valid Illinois clinical credential such as LCSW or LCPC and possess a Master's degree in a relevant behavioral or social science field. A minimum of 1 to 5 years of experience is required depending on the level of education attained.

Qualifications

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

Certifications

BLS (preferred)

Key Skills

Behavioral health counselingStaff supervisionCase managementClinical assessmentCrisis interventionTreatment planningTeam leadershipPerformance evaluationDocumentationPatient careSocial work

Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 18% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is up 9.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Counselor Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution50 jobs · 37 employers

18
<$65k
12
$65k-80k
8
$80k-95k
8
$95k-110k
4
$110k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks41 jobs · 37 employers

401k / retirement match
88% this job
Loan repayment
37%
CME allowance
37%
Sign-on bonus
34%
PSLF eligible
24%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Warren, Michigan

$115k-$120k
#2

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Decatur, Illinois

$115k-$120k
#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$117k
#4

Genetic Counselor-Personalized Medicine Research

$35.16-$54.5/hr
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 70% of Behavioral Health (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 341 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

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About Ascension

Hospitals and Health Care
St. Louis, MO
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
Employer-matched 403(b)
Disability and life insurance
Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare)
Employee Assistance Program
Parental leave
Adoption assistance