Behavioral Health Therapist Licensed - PERS
Listed compensation
$76k-$114k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
City/State
Harrisonburg, VA
Work Shift
Third (Nights)
Overview
Sentara Health is now hiring a Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist. This position will be a part of the Psychiatric Emergency Response team that assess patients in the Sentara Emergency Departments who present with behavioral/mental health concerns and will provide recommendations for treatment.
Education
- Master’s Degree – Social Work, Counseling, or other related field – (Required)
- Certification/Licensure
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - (Required)
Experience
- At least 1 years of outpatient or inpatient experience (Preferred)
- Crisis experience (Preferred)
- Excellent clinical skills, documentation, and communication skills
- Duties/Responsibilities
Assesses the social, psychological, cultural, environmental, and financial situation, as well as disposition needs, for each assigned patient.
Collaborates with patients, families, healthcare team members, and community agencies to develop and implement plans to address identified needs.
- Evaluates effectiveness of developed plans and initiates change as needed..
- Benefits: Caring For Your Family and Your Career
- Medical, Dental, Vision plans
- Adoption, Fertility and Surrogacy Reimbursement up to $10,000
- Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
- Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave
- Emergency Backup Care
- Long-Term, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness plans
- Life Insurance
- 401k/403B with Employer Match
- Tuition Assistance – $5,250/year and discounted educational opportunities through Guild Education
- Student Debt Pay Down – $10,000
- Reimbursement for certifications and free access to complete CEUs and professional development
- Pet Insurance
- Legal Resources Plan
- Colleagues may have the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus if established system and employee eligibility criteria is met
Sentara RMH Medical Center, a Magnet designated hospital located in Harrisonburg VA, serves a seven-county area with a population of 218,000 residents, employing 2600 locals. The 238-bed community hospital has been serving Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and surrounding areas since 1912, then partnered with the Sentara Health System in May of 2011. Sentara RMH features the RMH Hahn Cancer Center, a state-of-the-art center equipped with the latest cancer fighting technologies available in the nation administrating more than 18,000 cancer treatments. With 1800 delivered babies, 60,000 emergency patients and 21,000 surgical procedures, Sentara has a position for you. We improve health every day, come be a part of the community.
Our Caring Workplace Environment
- A Caring Commitment serving our community for 100+ years
- Free and convenient parking
- Collaboration and shared governance
- CMS 5-Star and Magnet designated hospital
- EAP – 24 x 7
Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves.
In support of our mission “to improve health every day,” this is a tobacco-free environment.
For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states:
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Key Responsibilities
The therapist assesses the social, psychological, and disposition needs of patients presenting with behavioral health concerns in the emergency department. They collaborate with healthcare teams and families to develop, implement, and evaluate effective treatment plans.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field and possess an active LPC or LCSW license. At least one year of clinical experience in an inpatient or outpatient setting is preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Psychiatry — Counselor Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$95k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $94k 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 Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 22% have no call, 40% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 25% in psychiatry (counseling) | ranked against 45 Psychiatry (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$94k in purchasing power | Virginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 62% remote · 22% no call · 40% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Virginia counselor listings (all specialties): 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $2k) · 12% offer loan repayment415 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Psychiatry listings | 1,317 in the last 30 days | 923 the 30 days before (+43%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Psychiatry pay trend | −16.8% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
| Sentara Health | #5 of 22 for pay | Top Employers work-life index |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Behavioral Health Therapist Licensed - PERS at Sentara Health a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Psychiatry (Counseling) — ranked against 45 active Psychiatry (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.
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