Lurie Children's Hospital logo
Lurie Children's Hospital
Chicago, Illinois

Milieu Therapist

CounselorIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$22.25–$36.38 /hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 4mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design.

As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Evening (United States of America) Location Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Job Description Under the direction of the Charge Nurse, Clinical Managers/Manager of Clinical Services or Unit Director, functions as a leader of milieu activities and supporter of clinical operations within the treatment team.

Knowledgeable and competent in identifying and intervening in patient crises. Provides consistent reports of patient progress to parent(s)/guardian and treatment team.

Understands and integrates into the delivery of patient care the needs of pediatric and adolescent patients in regard to their growth and development process.

The position actively supports the Hospital's and the Department's quality goals and service excellence principles. 1.

Clinician - Provides direct patient care in a therapeutic environment focusing on areas of behavior modification, improved social skills, more effective coping skills, etc. - Completes duties assigned by Charge Nurse, Clinical Managers/ Manager of Clinical Services and/or Unit Director. - Leads and co-leads milieu activities per program. - Actively sets and communicates age/developmentally appropriate individual goals, expectations and behavioral limits within the parameters of the program. - Implements plans of care and individual behavior programs initiated by team. - Assists in group therapy, recreational therapy, classroom and other activities as assigned. - Maintains safety in the milieu, utilizing prevention and de-escalation CCM techniques. - Independently performs unit specific procedures, protocols and precautions. - Intervenes in anticipated emergency situations and knows emergency protocols. - Communicates changes in health or behavior to appropriate staff (nurse, primary therapist, physician, etc.). - Documents patient status and progress in patient's Medical Record as per program guidelines.

2. Team Membership - Supports clinical operations and decisions related to treatment plans. - Responds to environmental concerns (maintenance/cleanliness) of the area. - Participates in staff meetings as scheduled. - Adheres to scheduling requirements. 3.

Professional Development. - Maintains mandatory yearly reviews. - Appropriately seeks out supervision to function in professional role. - Assumes responsibility for professional development through participation in continuing educational events, conferences, group supervision and in-services, etc. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1.

Bachelor’s degree required in psychology, nursing, social services or other related fields. Minimum of one year of direct experience in a mental health setting, paid or unpaid, preferred. 2.

Must have strong knowledge of basic child care and development, mental disorders affecting children, signs of physical abuse/neglect, appropriate adult conduct towards normal and disturbed children, etc. 3. Special physical requirements: sits and stands throughout the day.

Physical management of patients in crisis situation may be necessary.

Education Bachelor's Degree (Required) Pay Range $22.25-$36.38 Hourly At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise.

The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions.

In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs.

For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes: Medical, dental and vision insurance Employer paid group term life and disability Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Accounts Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave 403(b) with a 5% employer match Various voluntary benefits: Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage Tuition assistance Student loan servicing and support Adoption benefits Backup Childcare and Eldercare Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities Discount purchasing program There’s a Place for You with Us At Lurie Children’s, we embrace and celebrate building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that different life experiences strengthen our workplace and the care we provide to the Chicago community and beyond.

We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care. Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Support email: peoplequestions@luriechildrens.org Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design.

As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do.

Key Responsibilities

The Milieu Therapist leads therapeutic activities and supports clinical operations to improve patient behavior and coping skills. They are responsible for maintaining safety in the milieu, implementing care plans, and documenting patient progress.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in psychology, nursing, social services, or a related field is required. Preference is given to candidates with at least one year of direct experience in a mental health setting.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Crisis InterventionDe-escalation TechniquesChild DevelopmentClinical DocumentationGroup Therapy SupportPatient MonitoringMental Health SupportInterdisciplinary Collaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 24% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$61k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $61k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution35 jobs · 28 employers

8
<$60k
6
$60k-70k
9
$70k-80k
5
$80k-90k
7
$90k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs · 28 employers

401k / retirement match
82% this job
Sign-on bonus
45%
CME allowance
33% this job
Loan repayment
27% this job
PSLF eligible
21%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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#2

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#3

Behavioral Health Clinician - Adult Outpatient

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#4

Substance Use Counselor

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+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,026 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes call

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.

Lurie Children's Hospital logo

About Lurie Children's Hospital

Hospitals and Health Care
Chicago, IL
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, vision
Employer paid life and disability
Health Savings Account contribution
Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
403(b) with 5% match