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Specialized Education Services
Mount Prospect, Illinois

Therapist

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$55k-$60k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 24m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Champion possibility and fuel student success by providing social-emotional services for students who need additional support to shine in school. As a vital, integrated member of a multidisciplinary team, you’ll collaborate with school teams and families in delivering SESI’s proven, high-quality services—including individual or group counseling services.

Responsibilities

Work with a diverse group of students from varying developmental, cultural, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Provide individual, group, or push-in counseling services to students in accordance with their individualized education plan (IEP) or behavior intervention plan (BIP).

Collaborate on creating IEPs, including social-emotional IEP goal setting and IEP meeting participation.

Complete social-emotional and behavior assessments, analyze data to identify student strengths and weaknesses, and develop functional behavior assessments, BIPs, and other transition plans.

Implement behavior management and intervention strategies, including de-escalation techniques, crisis management, and physical restraint when necessary to maintain the safety of students and staff.

Support social-emotional learning skill development through targeted curricula, assessments, and more intensive behavior support as needed.

  • Provide in-service training with other teams, including expressive therapy and clinical teams.
  • Collaborate with external partners and providers to support students, families, and staff.
  • Maintain documents in student files according to regulatory agency requirements.

Qualifications

Professional licensure, including LPC or LCPC, LCSW or LMSW, and LMFT or LMHC, LCMHC.

Master’s degree in social work, human services, or related field (mental health, psychology, counseling).

2 years of experience working with children and adolescents in a school, special education, or behavior health setting preferred.

Posted Salary Range

USD $55,000.00 - USD $60,000.00 /Yr.

Physical Requirements

Ability to run short distances and move swiftly in response to student needs, including bending, kneeling, and crouching.

Ability to lift and assist students with mobility challenges, often requiring the handling of up to 50 pounds or more.

Skill in managing fine motor tasks, such as helping students with writing, manipulating small objects, or using adaptive devices.

Ability to operate a computer or tablet for up to 8 hours daily.

Capacity to notice and respond to non-verbal cues from students.

Capacity to remain calm and composed during physically and emotional demanding situations, ensuring student safety and well-being

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Behavior intervention plansIndividualized education plansBehavior assessmentData analysisClinical documentationMultidisciplinary collaborationStudent support

Counselor Career Context

Specialized Education Services ranks #12 of 21 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, 34% have no call, 52% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$55k–$60kMental Health Therapy median $68k (middle half $58k–$74k)12 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$58k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Illinois331 active7,539 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 44% remote · 34% no call · 52% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedIllinois counselor listings (all specialties): 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 19% offer loan repayment541 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,563 in the last 30 days1,376 the 30 days before (+86%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−1.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Specialized Education Services#12 of 21 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

35 jobs · 27 employers
15
<$70k
9
$70k-85k
7
$85k-100k
2
$100k-115k
2
$115k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

29 jobs · 27 employers
401k / retirement match
93%
CME allowance
48%
Sign-on bonus
38%
Loan repayment
28%
PSLF eligible
21%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

LifeStance Health · Maplewood, Minnesota

$74k-$117k
#2

Licensed Clinical Therapist (LSCSW, LCPC, LCMFT) Sign-on Bonus $5,000

LifeStance Health · Lawrence, Kansas

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#3

Remote Licensed Talk Therapist - Fee For Service

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#4

IL Licensed Clinician - LCSW or LPC - Behavioral Health - Pediatrics

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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 7,479 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Specialized Education Services logo

About Specialized Education Services

Education Administration Programs
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
201-500 employees

Living in Mount Prospect

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$443k≈ 8.1× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,835/mo≈ 40% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
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.