Therapy Smarts logo
Therapy Smarts
Durham, North Carolina

Associate Mental Health Counselor

LPC / LMHCFull-Time

Listed compensation

$55k-$65k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

We are looking for an Associate Mental Health Therapist to provide mental health counseling to children and to the parents of children who are receiving services from Therapy Smarts Inc.

Requirements

  • Qualities that fit this opportunity
  • Experience: Psychotherapy as intern and under supevision of Clinical Supervisor
  • License/Certification: Actively pursuing and applied with the board to practice in North Carolina (no supervision) (Required)
  • A Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.

Actively pursuing an application for licensure or certification as required by state regulations (e. g., Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist).

  • Strong communication and active listening skills.
  • Empathy and the ability to build a therapeutic rapport with clients.
  • Cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse populations.
  • Knowledge of various therapeutic approaches and evidence-based interventions.
  • Ethical conduct and a commitment to maintaining client confidentiality.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Excellent time management and organizational skills.
  • Being bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus!
  • Essential Job Functions
  • Timely completion of effective clinical documentation, 48 hours
  • Ensures initial client intakes are conducted fully and in a timely manner.

Train and Conduct Assessments

  • Partner with Patient Services & Scheduling departments to promote care management for the individuals served, ensuring they have access to many beneficial services in our continuum
  • Represents the company professionally and ethically to internal and external stakeholders
  • Manages a caseload of clients with supervision oversight.
  • Conduct initial assessments, reassessments, and write progress reports

Develop & monitor individualized treatment plans and behavior support plans, behavior management protocols, and behavior intervention plans for children

Provide support, instruction, and feedback to families and caregivers with regard to managing challenging behaviors and teaching replacement behaviors through the principles of Mental Health Counseling

Maintain Clinical Supervision to Full Licensure

  • Receive Supervision and mentorship from a Licensed Clinical supervisor.
  • Ensure that the supervisee and supervisor complete documentation of Hours completed in pursuit of Full Licensure
  • Follow North Carolina Board rules and regulations for Clinical Supervision
  • Engage in weekly supervision and staffing of cases for Associate Licensed Clinician.
  • Receive training/mentorship to earn full licensure.
  • Manage/organize ongoing scheduling of clinically appropriate caseload.
  • Learn and develop clinical skills
  • Settings
  • Clinics
  • Schools
  • Daycares

Headstarts

Benefits that set us apart - Exceptional earnings potential! One of the best you will find.

  • Competitive compensation with monthly incentive bonuses
  • PTO (Paid Time Off)
  • Paid federal holidays
  • Up to 5 days off during the end-of-year shutdown
  • Continuing education reimbursement
  • License Dues Reimbursement
  • Health, Vision, and dental insurance for full-time employees
  • Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account
  • Voluntary Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, and Short Term Disability
  • 401K to full-time employees
  • Mileage reimbursement
  • Yearly performance BONUS
  • Referral BONUS
  • Electronic subscription to the Latest Therapy Material Resources
  • Fun, multi-disciplinary setting with supervision and mentorship programs
  • Opportunity for growth within the company - Leadership and management opportunities open to all

Additional Benefits

  • Office staff for intake, billing, and support, meaning you only have to treat and complete your documentation!
  • Report templates for easy report writing
  • Web-based, electronic documentation system

Take the next steps to a new opportunity and a new career. Let Therapy Smarts inspire you to work hard, succeed, and create miracles for our clients, together.

  • Working as a therapist for Therapy Smarts is not another job; it is a meaningful career!
  • Interested candidates should email Luis at hr.coordinator@therapysmarts.net or apply online.

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Mental Health Counselor will manage a caseload of clients, conducting assessments and developing individualized treatment plans under clinical supervision. They will also provide support to families and caregivers while maintaining timely and accurate clinical documentation.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Case managementTreatment planningClinical assessmentCollaboration

Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$60k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $64k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Mental Health Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 44% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

What does the Mental Health Counseling market look like in North Carolina?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$55k–$65kMental Health Counseling median $66k (middle half $62k–$71k)10 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$64k in purchasing powerNorth Carolina index 94.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Counseling listings in North Carolina20 active784 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 50% remote · 44% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Mental Health Counseling pay trend+18.1% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

26 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

26 jobs · 19 employers
14
<$80k
4
$80k-95k
3
$95k-110k
5
$110k-125k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

19 jobs
401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
26% this job
Loan repayment
21%
CME allowance
16% this job
PSLF eligible
16%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Gotham Enterprises · Pinehurst, North Carolina

$115k-$120k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LCSW, LPC)

Gotham Enterprises · Anchorage, Alaska

$115k-$120k
#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$117k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC, LCSW, LMFT) - Ballantyne Office

$80k-$115k
+ 24 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 783 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Therapy Smarts logo

About Therapy Smarts

Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists
Durham, North Carolina
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Monthly incentive bonuses
PTO
Paid federal holidays
End-of-year shutdown (up to 5 days)
Continuing education reimbursement
License dues reimbursement
Health, vision, and dental insurance
Health Savings Account

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$358k≈ 6.5× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,626/mo≈ 35% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.