Counselor, Emergency Services - License Eligible
Listed compensation
$62,406
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
- Emergency Services Counselor - License Eligible (LPC or LCSW)
- Annual Salary: $62,406
- Work Schedule: Evenings, Weekends, and Holidays
Join Our Team
The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board (H-NNCSB) provides compassionate behavioral health, developmental disability, and substance use disorder services to the residents of Hampton and Newport News. We are seeking a License-Eligible (LPC or LCSW) Emergency Services Counselor to join our Crisis Services team and provide critical behavioral health assessments and crisis intervention to individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
Required Qualifications
- Master's in a human services field eligible for VA licensure (LPC or LCSW)
- One (1) year of experience in a psychiatric care setting including counseling and crisis intervention functions.
- Eligible to register as a QMHP-T with the Virginia Board of Counseling within 30 days of hire.
- Pre-admission screener certification training modules must be completed within 30 days of hire.
What You'll Do
As an Emergency Services Counselor, you will provide crisis assessments, intervention, and care coordination to help individuals receive the most appropriate level of behavioral health treatment.
Responsibilities Include
- Conduct comprehensive psychiatric crisis assessments and mental status evaluations.
- Provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and stabilization services.
- Determine appropriate levels of care and coordinate referrals, hospital admissions, and discharge planning.
- Collaborate with hospitals, law enforcement, emergency responders, and community providers.
- Assist with Temporary Detention Order (TDO) and Emergency Custody Order (ECO) processes.
- Attend hearings as needed and communicate recommendations to treatment providers.
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation.
Benefits Package
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Annual and Sick Leave
- 11 paid holidays
- Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
Clinical Supervision
Apply to bring your clinical judgment and steady presence to emergency behavioral health response.
The selected candidate must successfully pass a criminal history fingerprint background investigation, DMV record check, Child Registry search, drug screening test and employment reference checks.
Key Responsibilities
The counselor conducts comprehensive psychiatric crisis assessments and provides intervention and stabilization services to individuals in emergency situations. They also coordinate care, manage hospital admissions, and collaborate with community partners and law enforcement.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a human services field and be eligible for Virginia licensure as an LPC or LCSW. At least one year of experience in a psychiatric care setting is required, along with the ability to obtain QMHP-T registration.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$62k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $62k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 42% have no call, 60% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$62k in purchasing power | Virginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 62% remote · 42% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Virginia counselor listings (all specialties): 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $2k) · 13% offer loan repayment416 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Behavioral Health listings | 839 in the last 30 days | 472 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 |
| Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board | #19 of 19 for pay | Top Employers work-life index |
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