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Confidential Employer
Southgate, Michigan

Adult intake Therapist

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$53,079/yr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

As a recognized leader in our field, The Guidance Center provides a broad range of services that have helped children, adults and families unlock potential and build better lives since 1958. With 25 programs we offer treatment, prevention, growth and education services to more than 14,200 people annually. Together we: Nurture development. Foster resilience. Cultivate well-being

We have an exciting opportunity for an Intake Therapist to join our team of talented professionals.

We have a market-based compensation structure. The estimated salary for this position will vary based on a candidate's transferable work experience and qualifications. Salary ranges start at $53,079.00 per year.

The range provided is just one component of total compensation including a comprehensive benefit package of affordable medical plans, employer paid dental, vision and long-term disability, 401(K), flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent, paid time off, 11 paid holidays.

As an Intake Therapist in the Adult Behavioral Health Program, you will be responsible for the following:

Conduct intake assessments to identify areas of need and service preferences, and complete documentation within 48 hours;

Gather and integrate information from all available sources at the time of intake, including consumer self-reports, reports from family members, guardians and Adult Foster Care providers, documented medical and treatment history, needs surveys, assessments from other disciplines, etc.;

Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to assess and articulate the motivation of consumers to address specific needs identified during the assessment process;

Provide consumers, family members and guardians with complete and accurate information regarding each of the services and supports available to meet needs identified during the assessment process;

Assist consumers with initiating the person-centered planning process (consistent with principles of Person-Centered Planning, Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, Self-Determination and current Medicaid Guidelines);

  • Develop Safety Plans as circumstances require based on needs identified during the assessment process;
  • Identify those consumers who require more extensive evaluation to identify their needs and preferences, and facilitate referrals for psychological testing, discovery groups, etc. as needed;
  • Consider and promote the utilization of group and recovery support services;
  • Participate in regularly scheduled clinical supervision, case consultations and team meetings;
  • Document all face-to-face service activity and phone contact pertaining to consumers;
  • Perform within acceptable standards of productivity;
  • Complete all documentation within expected timeframes;
  • Respond in writing to routine chart reviews and audits;
  • Maintain appropriate state licensure or certification;
  • Complete 24 hours of program and/or position specific training on an annual basis;
  • Maintain appropriate professional ethics and boundaries;
  • Abide by all Guidance Center policies and procedures;
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

To qualify for this position, you will need the following:

Must have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology or Counseling and possess the corresponding State of Michigan licensure and have at least one year post-Master’s experience providing mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illness. All state licensure must continually remain active, in effect, and free from disciplinary action.

Candidates must obtain the Qualified Mental Health Professional and Qualified Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Professional credential within 120 days of hire.

Must possess a CAADC credential, or be on an active, approved registered MCBAP certification Development Plan within six weeks of hire.

The Intake Therapist must have the ability to engage and develop therapeutic alliances with adult mental health consumers, their families and supporters.

Must be an expert in helping consumers identify their service needs and preferences, develop initial treatment plans, and transition to longer-term services based on their treatment plans.

Additional requirements include a nonjudgmental approach that reflects cultural competency and sensitivity to the unique needs and diverse experiences of adults with mental illness, substance abuse/dependence, their families and providers.

Candidates must demonstrate effective organizational, verbal and written communication skills.

The Guidance believes that our team members are our most valuable resources, and we invest in them accordingly. We offer our employees a competitive salary, flexible scheduling opportunities, a team-oriented work environment and much more!

The Guidance Center is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a welcoming place for everyone.

Key Responsibilities

The Intake Therapist conducts comprehensive intake assessments to identify service needs and develops initial treatment and safety plans for adult consumers. They also facilitate referrals, maintain clinical documentation, and participate in team consultations to ensure high-quality care.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Safety planningCrisis interventionCase managementTreatment planningTherapeutic allianceMental health assessmentSubstance abuse counselingReferral coordination

Counselor Career Context

Confidential Employer ranks #18 of 20 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 38% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Michigan is 96.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$53k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $55k in an average-cost state. 61.8% of Michigan clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

25 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution25 jobs · 21 employers

7
<$75k
9
$75k-95k
4
$95k-115k
5
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks24 jobs · 21 employers

401k / retirement match
92% this job
Sign-on bonus
38%
CME allowance
33%
Loan repayment
29%
PSLF eligible
25%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Davie, Florida

$115k-$120k
#2

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Gotham Enterprises · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

$115k-$120k
#3

Float Therapist (Remote)

$110k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$117k
+ 23 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

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

Living in Southgate

Rent affordability

33% of gross pay

Market rent compared with this listing’s advertised pay.

Purchasing power

$52,921/yr

At national-average prices · Before taxes

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$209k≈ 3.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,446/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
100.3
State income tax
Up to 4.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use the advertised annual pay range’s lower bound, before taxes. Regional prices are not a personal budget.

Peer group: counselor · mental health therapy · Full-time · hours not stated · Pay composition not stated. National listings with usable annual USD pay and local data, posted within 180 days of the 2026-09-22 snapshot. Rankings use lower pay bounds; higher percentiles mean more favorable comparisons. Only the same rent observation month is compared.

Ratings need at least 30 other listings, five employers and three locations; no employer may contribute over 35%. Strong: top quarter; Typical: middle half; Weaker: bottom quarter. Missing ratings mean insufficient comparable data, not a poor offer. These are offer comparisons, not city grades.

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About Confidential Employer

Mental Health Care
Southgate, Michigan
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Affordable medical plans
Employer paid dental
Vision
Long-term disability
401(K)
Flexible spending accounts
Paid time off
11 paid holidays