Mental Health Counselor-Social Work

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$71k-$98k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Title: Mental Health Counselor-Social Work

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: $70,701.00-$97,567.00

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Va Center for Behavioral Rehab

Agency Website: jobs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The purpose of this position is to provide the full array of treatment services including but not limited to individual therapy, group therapy, assessment of residents, treatment planning, discharge planning, case management and being a member of the treatment team.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Knowledge and ability to provide case management and coordinate resources for residents
  • Discharge planning to include referrals to various community resources
  • Experience with sex offenders is preferred but not essential.
  • Ability and skills in providing individual and group educational/supportive/insight/cognitive/behavioral counseling as well as family therapy
  • Ability to, in conjunction with interdisciplinary teams, develop goals and implement treatment plans
  • Working knowledge of the principles and techniques of counseling, education about psychological constructs, and various intervention techniques; ability to evaluate and document treatment progress; exercise independent judgment in coordination and delivery of services and collaborate with treatment team, conflict management, and mediation
  • Demonstrated ability and skills in providing task orientation and facilitate psychoeducational groups
  • Knowledge, skills and ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing (basic word processing and computer skills)
  • Ability to use good judgment
  • Ability to interact with other professionals from various disciplines
  • Ability to administer CPR and First Aid

Ability to work evenings, weekends, and overtime

Graduation from an accredited school or university with a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or psychology required

Additional Considerations

  • Virginia licensure as LCSW, professional counselor, or psychologist strongly preferred
  • Experience working with inpatient or residential mental health population preferred
  • Experience working with forensic mental health population preferred

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and pre-employment drug screen. The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI); local agency checks; Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services check; employment verification; and verification of education (relevant to employment).

Under Virginia Code §§ 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers, persons who have been convicted of specific (“barrier”) crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending (“barrier”) charges (Go to the code section to see barrier crimes and related information).

Please provide all relevant work experience. In describing your relevant experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

This position is open until filled; however, applications/resumes will begin to be reviewed within five (5) days of the date of this posting.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the American with Disabilities Act.

If you are a person with a disability and desire assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at(804) 766-3277 during business hours, 8:00 a. m. to 4:30 p. m.

VCBR offers a comprehensive benefit package to include your choice of health plan, paid life insurance and retirement plans, discounts, employee referral programs, 12 paid holidays, annual, family personal and sick leave.

VCBR is a tobacco-free, smoke-free work environment.

VCBR is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer, that provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We highly encourage veterans, and active members of the Virginia National Guard and/or U.S. Military Reserve members to apply, and to respond accordingly on the state application.

Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (VCBR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all applicants regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability.

Minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people with National Service experience are encourage to apply. EEO/AA/TTY.

Contact Information

Name: Jessica Aliff

Phone: 804-766-3326

Email: jessica.aliff@dbhds.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process.

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI).

Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor provides a full array of treatment services including individual and group therapy, assessment, and treatment planning. They also manage cases, coordinate discharge planning, and collaborate as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or psychology. Professional licensure as an LCSW, professional counselor, or psychologist is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 32% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$84k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $83k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Virginia Information Technologies Agency ranks #20 of 25 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 31 employers

10
<$80k
10
$80k-95k
8
$95k-110k
5
$110k-125k
4
$125k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs · 31 employers

401k / retirement match
94% this job
CME allowance
48%
Loan repayment
18%
Sign-on bonus
9%
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Mental Health Therapist

Brightways Counseling Group · Portland, Oregon

$131k
#2

Behavioral Health Therapist 2 Community Behavioral Health

Inova · Leesburg, Virginia

$80k-$130k
#3

Behavioral Health Therapist 2 Mental Health Programs

$80k-$130k
#4

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

$92k-$125k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 3.0
Better work-life than 10% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 561 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
Virginia Information Technologies Agency logo

About Virginia Information Technologies Agency

IT Services and IT Consulting
Richmond, VA
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health plan
Paid life insurance
Retirement plans
12 paid holidays
Annual leave
Family personal leave
Sick leave