Associate Behavioral Health Counselor or Rehab Assistant
Listed compensation
$16.5-$36/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.
Work Shift
12 Hours - Night Shifts (United States of America)
Scheduled Weekly Hours
36
Compensation
Salary Range: $16.50 - $36.00 Associate Behavioral Health Counselor: $22.50 - $36.00 | Behavioral Health Rehab Assistant: $16.50 - $25.50
Union Position
- No
- Department Details
Summary
The Associate Behavioral Health Counselor requires a broad, yet solid, understanding of human behavior and theories of counseling. May work with a wide range of patient populations and presenting issues, requiring a foundation in a variety of treatment modalities. This role is a team-based role where responsibility for patient well-being is diffused among the treatment team and the overall responsibility lies with a clinical supervisor or admitting provider.
Job Description
The Associate Behavioral Health Counselor assesses patient needs, develops treatment plans, and implements treatment interventions specific to patient needs. Continually assesses patients' progress and revises treatment plans and interventions accordingly. Documents treatment sessions.
Provides patient progress updates to interdisciplinary team, as needed. May educate patient support members about patient issues and interventions. May refer for additional clinical services or to specialists, as needed. Must stay current on emerging issues in the profession.
The Associate Behavioral Health Counselor may work in a variety of settings, with duties varying by setting.
In a clinic setting (other than primary care), the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor conducts scheduled face-to-face counseling sessions designed to assess and improve patients' emotional, mental, and behavioral health.
In a hospital setting, the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor may have a broad scope of duties, depending upon assignment. Hospital assignments include psychiatric inpatient treatment and/or specific hospital units.
Psychiatric inpatient treatment duties include development, implementation, and evaluation of treatment plan, individual and family counseling, and consultation with all Mental Health Professionals. Hospital unit duties include crisis intervention, assessment, and referral.
In a community setting, the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor coordinates and provides treatment for patients with severe and persistent mental illness. This may include community-based interventions aimed at improving daily living skills, social skills, and self-regulation skills.
The community-based Associate Behavioral Health Counselor consults with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure treatment compliance.
In a residential setting, the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor coordinates and provides treatment for patients requiring a higher level of care than outpatient therapy; however, do not meet the criteria for psychiatric inpatient treatment.
Treatment occurs at the residential treatment facility and includes a broad range of duties: assessment and screening, individual and group counseling, development, implementation, and evaluation of treatment programs, and consultation and coordination with a multi-disciplinary team.
Qualifications
Associate Behavioral Health Counselor
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in behavioral sciences or related field preferred, and completion of a practicum or internship.
In Minnesota, must follow Minnesota State statute defining Mental Health Practitioner.
At least 4,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of services to persons with: mental illness, substance use disorders or emotional disturbances, traumatic brain injury or developmental disabilities,
OR,
Has at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in behavioral sciences or related fields and at least 2,000 hours of supervised work experience in the delivery of services to persons with: mental illness, substance use disorders or emotional disturbances, traumatic brain injury or developmental disabilities.
A valid driver's license is required.
Behavioral Health Rehab Assistant
Must meet state-specific requirements. Per Minnesota Statute, must hold a High School Diploma or GED and meet one of the following criteria:
- Agreed to work exclusively overnight shifts; or
- Completed 2,000 hours of work experience providing health and human services to individuals; or
- Completed three years of personal life experience with mental illness within the previous 10 years; or
- Completed three years of personal life experience as the primary caregiver to an adult with a mental illness, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder, or developmental disability; or
- Holds an Associate of Arts degree; or
- Completed 15 semester or 23 quarter hours post-secondary education in behavioral science or related field
A valid driver's license is required.
Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Key Responsibilities
The role involves assessing patient needs, developing and implementing treatment plans, and providing interventions to improve emotional, mental, and behavioral health. The counselor or assistant works within an interdisciplinary team to document progress and provide crisis intervention or community-based support.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Minnesota is 98.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$55k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $55k in an average-cost state. 63.4% of Minnesota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 38% have no call, 58% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$55k in purchasing power | Minnesota index 98.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Behavioral Health listings in Minnesota | 7 active | 333 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 56% remote · 38% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Minnesota Counselor listings: 15% state a sign-on bonus (median $2k) · 28% offer loan repayment239 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Behavioral Health listings | 833 in the last 30 days | 532 the 30 days before (+57%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Behavioral Health pay trend | −6.5% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Top Counselor Jobs
29 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
29 jobs · 21 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
23 jobs · 21 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
LifeStance Health · Lake Oswego, Oregon
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon
Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)
$117k-$134kPelvic Health Therapist
$91k-$131k