Crisis Counselor, Project Impact- Part Time

CounselorIncludes callIncludes weekendsPart-Time

Listed compensation

$22.92–$23.92 /hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), is a leading not-for-profit organization providing healing, justice and wholeness to people and communities. For over 150 years, LSSI has made a difference in the lives of children and families, and we're still a strong, viable presence in the State of Illinois, continuing that commitment to making a difference.

LSSI is hiring a part-time Crisis Counselor, Saturdays and one additional day per week, to be determined. The Crisis Counselor will be responsible for providing timely and effective support to individuals presenting to the emergency department who may be experience a mental health, behavioral health, or substance use crisis.

*This position complies with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule, which requires that employees working in certain programs are fully vaccinated unless you have a medical or religious exemption. Routine COVID-19 Testing is required from the COVID-19 vaccination*

Benefits and Perks

LSSI is growing! Come be a part of this rewarding environment, and enjoy the knowledge that you’re helping make a positive difference in the lives of others, as well as these career advantages:

  • On Demand Flexible Paydays for earned wages through an app called Dayforce Wallet.
  • Competitive salary based upon relevant education, experience, and licensure.
  • Salary $22.92-$23.92/Hourly.
  • Opportunity for advancement.
  • Comprehensive benefits package for Full-Time employees includes healthcare insurance, up to 26 days of paid time off per calendar year, 11 paid holidays, sick time, 403(b) plan, Employee Assistance Program, and flexible hours.
  • The paid training you need to learn, grow, and succeed!

Essential Functions

Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments with patients to determine the most appropriate interventions and discharge plans, prioritizing patient safety, and well-being.

Develop and maintain familiarity with local resources to best serve the diverse needs of patients across various situations.

Ensure compliance with HIPAA and privacy standards while adhering to clinical guidelines and maintaining accurate documentation.

  • Ensure adherence to ethical standards of practice and treatment.
  • Ensure documentation in Electronic Health record System is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Operate within a multidisciplinary setting ensuring effective communication between supervisor staff, collateral contact and agencies, and other involved teams to support patient well-being and safety.
  • Ensure comprehensive and compassionate care is provided to patients and families.

Demonstrate professional, positive behavior and carry out responsibilities with integrity, treating clients, families, other LSSI workforce members, and collaborative organizations and/or individual in a dignified, respectful, honest, and fair manner.

Position Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mental or behavioral health-related field required.
  • Master's degree in mental or behavioral health-related field preferred
  • Background check clearance required.
  • Successful completion of IM-CATS training and credentialing exam.
  • Licensure (LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, CADC) in mental or behavioral health field preferred.
  • Minimum of one (1) year experience in the mental health or behavioral health field required.
  • Experience providing and coordinating a wide scope of services with emphasis on continuity of care.
  • Experience working in an emergency department setting preferred.
  • Experience working with Medicaid/Medicare and other insurances preferred.
  • Familiarity and experience with Electronic Health Record systems preferred.
  • Demonstrated understanding of HIPAA/privacy and documentation standards.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate in a clear, comprehensible manner, both verbally and in writing.

Excellent organization, presentation, and pc/computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) along with other related software.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, pregnancy, any other characteristic protected by law.

Key Responsibilities

The Crisis Counselor provides timely clinical assessments and support to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises in an emergency department setting. They are responsible for developing discharge plans, maintaining accurate documentation, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure patient safety.

Requirements

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in a mental or behavioral health-related field and at least one year of relevant experience. Successful completion of IM-CATS training and background check clearance are required for this role.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Crisis interventionSubstance use counselingHIPAA complianceElectronic health recordsMultidisciplinary collaborationCase managementEmergency department support

Counselor Career Context

Of the 44 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% are remote, 23% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution24 jobs · 22 employers

12
<$70k
5
$70k-90k
3
$90k-110k
4
$110k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks39 jobs · 22 employers

CME allowance
64%
401k / retirement match
59% this job
Loan repayment
28%
Sign-on bonus
18%
PSLF eligible
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W-2)Contract

Two Chairs · Maryland

$58.5-$85/hr
#2

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)Contract

Two Chairs · Ohio

$58.5-$85/hr
#3

Psychotherapist Outpatient Clinic – LCSW / LMHC / LMFT/Independent Contractor/The Villages

$60-$70/hr
#4

Psychotherapist Outpatient Clinic – LCSW / LMHC / LMFT/Independent Contractor/Port St Lucie

$60-$70/hr
+ 41 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 4.5
Better work-life than 30% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 579 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$356k
Typical market rent
$2,342/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois logo

About Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

Non-profit Organizations
Des Plaines, IL
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

On Demand Flexible Paydays
Competitive salary
Opportunity for advancement
Healthcare insurance
Up to 26 days PTO
11 paid holidays
Sick time
403(b) plan