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Helio Health
Utica, New York

Counselor Aide - Per Diem

Counselor / TherapistPer Diem

Listed compensation

$17-$19/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Helio Health, one of Central NY’s premier behavioral healthcare providers, is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Counselor Aide. The Counselor Aide is responsible to operate as a team member in providing services to residents with mental health issues and chemical addictions. This position is vital in supporting our patients’ success in their treatment and allows for many long-term career opportunities!

This particular opportunity will work on a Per Diem basis at our Insights Residential Stabilization and Rehabilitation Program in Utica, NY.

Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour.

Responsibilities

Assists with the following counseling responsibilities: screening, intake, orientation, referral, counseling, crisis response, patient education, case management, reporting and record keeping, and consultation with other professionals.

  • Participates in program administrative and clinical committees as assigned.
  • Represents the agency to the community.
  • Performs quality assurance activities.

Displays knowledge of addiction/recovery and/or behavioral health self-help group processes and principles of counseling.

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma/GED required.
  • Customer service and/or human services experience preferred.
  • Valid NYS Driver’s License, based on service settings.

Helio Health provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), parental status, religion, national origin, citizenship, status as a victim of domestic violence, age, military or veteran status, handicap or disability, family medical history or predisposing genetic characteristics or carrier status, marital status, family status, political affiliation, felony conviction record, status as a victim of a crime, or status as an employee who has complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit, or any other categories, status or activity protected by federal, state or local law.

Salary and hourly compensation ranges are provided in accordance with NYS law and are based on Helio Health's good faith belief of what is accurate at the time of posting. Salary and hourly compensation offers are based on candidate's education level and experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager and program.

Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$37k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $35k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 58% are remote, 16% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

What does the Behavioral Health market look like in New York?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$35k in purchasing powerNew York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Behavioral Health listings in New York41 active336 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 58% remote · 16% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNew York counselor listings (all specialties): 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 10% offer loan repayment807 active listings, Nov 2026
New Behavioral Health listings839 in the last 30 days472 the 30 days before (+78%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Behavioral Health pay trend−13.2% 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

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

27 jobs
13
<$75k
3
$75k-100k
2
$100k-125k
9
$125k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

21 jobs
401k / retirement match
81%
CME allowance
67%
Sign-on bonus
19%
Loan repayment
14%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Outpatient Therapist TF-CBT

Northeast Family Services · New Rochelle, New York

$70-$100/hr
#2

Outpatient Therapist TF-CBT

Northeast Family Services · Bronx, New York

$70-$100/hr
#3

Part Time Remote Group Therapist - Texas Licensed

$62-$96/hr
#4

Mental Health Therapist- Contract 1099

$70-$90/hr
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 2.8
Better work-life than 50% of Behavioral Health (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 333 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Utica

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$214k
Typical market rent
$1,392/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.7
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Utica-Rome, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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