Mental Health Therapist

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$28.84-$33/hr

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

  • Mental Health Therapist – Youth Behavioral Health
  • Location: Lebanon, TN
  • Job Type: Full-Time
  • Pay: $28.84 - $33.00 / Hour

About Youth Opportunity & Lebanon Youth Academy

Youth Opportunity is a nationally recognized leader in residential and behavioral health treatment for at‑risk youth. Lebanon Youth Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee offers an 18‑bed trauma‑informed Youth Academy for boys ages 12 to 17. Serving youth needing structured treatment and emotional support, the center combines individual, family, and group therapy with academic programming, restorative justice, life skills training, and social skill development.

Youth typically remain for 3 to 6 months, engaging in victim‑impact awareness, pre‑vocational preparation, and family involvement. Programming is conducted in small group living units to support reintegration into home and community settings.

Position Summary – Mental Health Therapist

We are hiring a Mental Health Therapist to join the clinical team at Lebanon Youth Academy. This role is ideal for a master’s-level clinician seeking experience in youth behavioral health, crisis stabilization, and residential assessment services. The therapist provides direct clinical care, supports youth stabilization, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to guide treatment and discharge planning.

  • Mental Health Therapist Job Benefits
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with up to 4% employer match with Immediate Vesting
  • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays – earn 4 hours of PTO every pay period
  • Free RX delivery on most medications
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development
  • Robust Employee Assistance Program
  • Supportive, mission-driven work environment

Why Join Youth Opportunity?

  • Make an impact during a critical entry and assessment phase of care
  • Work in a clinically focused, fast-paced treatment setting
  • Gain experience in assessment, stabilization, and treatment planning
  • Access ongoing supervision, training, and career growth opportunities
  • Mental Health Therapist Responsibilities
  • Coordinate and implement individualized mental health and substance abuse treatment plans
  • Provide ongoing evaluation, assessment, and counseling to youth and families under clinical supervision
  • Deliver individual, group, and family therapy sessions
  • Document clinical services including weekly progress notes, treatment plans, reviews, and aftercare plans
  • Develop youth behavioral health discharge and transition plans
  • Assess family dynamics and functioning to implement appropriate intervention strategies
  • Collaborate with leadership on compliance, quality assurance, and performance improvement initiatives
  • Additional Duties
  • Participate in daily group routines and activities with youth and counselors
  • Maintain a high standard of professional role model behavior
  • Attend required training and professional development activities
  • Report incidents, concerns, and use of physical force per policy
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in counseling, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, special education, or a related human services field

Two years of experience working with youth with serious emotional disturbances or substance use challenges preferred

  • Experience preferred but not required with an appropriate master’s degree
  • Strong understanding of group leadership, group dynamics, and experiential education
  • Advanced written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to pass background check and meet state requirements

Other Requirements

Physical Demands

  • Must be in good physical health and emotionally stable
  • Able to actively engage with youth, participate in physical interventions, and transport youth or staff as needed
  • Must be free of communicable diseases as defined by the state
  • Must pass evaluation of physical techniques and certification exams

Other

  • Valid state driver’s license required
  • Must meet state criminal background check requirements
  • Occasional irregular hours may be required

How to Apply

Click “Apply Now” through Indeed to submit your application and learn more about joining the Youth Opportunity team at Harpeth Primary Assessment Center.

Youth Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist provides direct clinical care, including individual, group, and family therapy, while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to guide treatment and discharge planning. They are responsible for documenting clinical services and coordinating individualized mental health and substance abuse treatment plans.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related human services field. Two years of experience working with youth with serious emotional disturbances or substance use challenges is preferred.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Mental health therapyIndividual therapyClinical assessmentTrauma-informed careCase documentationInterdisciplinary collaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% are remote, 42% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$64k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $70k in an average-cost state. 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$60k–$69kMental Health Therapy median $63k (middle half $62k–$67k)12 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$70k in purchasing powerTennessee index 91.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Tennessee167 active7,831 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 38% remote · 42% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
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.

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$64k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$5k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

30 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

30 jobs · 22 employers
16
<$85k
6
$85k-100k
2
$100k-115k
5
$115k-130k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs · 22 employers
401k / retirement match
96% this job
CME allowance
44%
Sign-on bonus
28%
Loan repayment
8%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Dental Therapist

InterDent Service · Salem, Oregon

From $155k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Behavioral Health Clinician (POTFF)

$59k-$124k
+ 28 more · ranked by pay

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 7,863 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Youth Opportunity Investments logo

About Youth Opportunity Investments

Individual and Family Services
Carmel, IN
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) with up to 4% Employer Match
Paid Time Off (4 hours per pay period)
Paid Holidays
Free RX Delivery
Tuition Reimbursement

Living in Lebanon

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$398k
Typical market rent
$1,613/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
96.3
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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