Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LPC, MHSP)
Listed compensation
$69k-$104k
Listing transparency3 of 6 stated
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.
- Employment & setting
- Full-Time
- Call expectations
- No call
- Weekends
- Not specified
Job Description
Bearden Behavioral Health of Tennessee, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Licensed Behavioral Health Clinician to join our team in Knoxville, Tennessee. As a member of the Optum Behavioral Care team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.
As a Licensed Clinical Therapist, you will treat a wide variety of mental health conditions that reflect the needs of our diverse patient population. We offer a variety of solutions that meet the unique needs of our workforce and the patients they serve. From clinical operations such as credentialing to business operations such as contracting, we provide organizational support that allows our providers to focus on what matters - providing care.
Primary Responsibilities
Screen and assess patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders
Provide treatment for mental health conditions using various approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and other evidence-based methods
Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications
Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic medical records and clinical documentation, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements
Participate in our patient growth strategy by providing a profile for online directories and other marketing efforts
We are committed to your well-being and growth, offering a comprehensive package of perks and benefits with varying eligibility based on role, including:
- Competitive hourly pay & uncapped productivity incentives
- Flexible work models & paid time off when you need it
Health and well-being benefits like health insurance, 401k matching, and other family support and wellness resources
Professional development with continuing education (CE) reimbursement and dedicated learning time to advance your career
You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related counseling field
- Clear, active and unrestricted license (LCSW, or LPC- MHSP) in the state of Tennessee
- 1+ years of professional experience post master’s degree providing behavioral health services
Preferred Qualifications
Experience providing direct psychotherapy services to individuals and families in an outpatient setting
Experience working with computers for professional communication and medical documentation - Excel, Outlook, Athena RMS (or other EHRs)
Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively with equal effectiveness
Explore opportunities at Optum Behavioral Care. We’re revolutionizing behavioral health care delivery for individuals, clinicians and the entire health care system. Together, we are bringing high-end medical service, compassionate care and industry leading solutions to our most vulnerable patient populations. Our holistic approach addresses the physical, mental and social needs of our patients wherever they may be - helping patients access and navigate care anytime and anywhere. We’re connecting care to create a seamless health journey for patients across care settings. Join our team, it’s your chance to improve the lives of millions while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Pay Range: $69,100 - $103,800 annual total cash target pay
Annual total cash compensation for this role assumes full time employment and generally follows the range above, includes earnings from hourly pay (25/hr) and incentive pay and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your pay, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Key Responsibilities
The therapist will screen and assess patients for mental health and substance abuse disorders while providing evidence-based treatments. They are also responsible for maintaining accurate electronic medical records and tracking patient treatment responses.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in psychology, social work, or a related counseling field. A clear, active, and unrestricted LCSW or LPC-MHSP license in Tennessee is required, along with at least one year of post-master's professional experience.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LPC, MHSP) at UnitedHealth Group a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Social Work counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.
Social Work — Counselor Career Context
UnitedHealth Group ranks #4 of 11 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay, and holds silver-tier status on the Top Employers work-life index, composite score 77/100, 1,088 active listings.
Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 64% are remote, 32% have no call, 62% require no weekends.
Social Work pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$86k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $94k in an average-cost state. 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Location & Logistics
Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$86k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$6k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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