Behavioral Health Outpatient - Intake and Counseling Therapist

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$35.58 Hourly

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

  • Job Location: McKinney, TX 75069
  • Position Type: Full Time
  • Education Level: 4 Year Degree
  • Salary Range: $35.58 Hourly
  • $2000.00 sign -on-bonus* Position performs complex therapeutic and psychosocial intake services including counseling, screening, diagnoses, skills training, routine case management, and others as clinically indicated. All services are delivered from a person-centered, culturally, and linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed perspective. Primary responsibilities include providing psychotherapy using state approved evidence-based models (CBT, TF-CBT, CPT, Play Therapy, PCIT, and Family Therapy) and conducting psychosocial and diagnostic assessments as credentials permit. Ensures individuals seeking services meet financial and clinical requirements for LifePath programs and has ability to explain offerings based on individual’s level of care. Develops individual recovery plans and collaborates with the individual/family to determine appropriate route of services and level of care. Collaboratively works within intake team to ensure same day access to services. Requires use of initiative and independent judgment to provide interventions in the community, home, and school to best meet the individual’s need. Must be effective at troubleshooting and organizing support, interventions, and services to achieve outcomes. Must have the ability to work independently and collaboratively as needed and have effective communication with supervisory staff when necessary. Ensures services provided meet the guidelines in accordance with individual’s benefit plans. Ensures compliant with TAC requirements/rules with all services provided. Expectations include timely and thorough documentation, time management and organizational skills, effective scheduling, adherence to crisis procedures and availability to assist with crisis and other coverage areas as needed. General Targets: Productivity target of 80 services hours per month. All progress notes are signed within 2 business days of service. All documentation meets 90 percent passing auditing standards. All required trainings are completed prior to due date. If Bilingual and receiving stipend, employee will be available to translate for other staff as needed and will utilize approved language in the provision of services as needed.

Qualifications Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or related field required. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred. CCBHC knowledge and experience preferred.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Play Therapy, and/or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) certification preferred. Bilingual Spanish/English preferred. Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care Practices required. Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.

Key Responsibilities

Perform complex therapeutic intake services, including counseling, screening, and diagnostic assessments using evidence-based models. Develop individual recovery plans and collaborate with families to ensure appropriate levels of care and same-day access to services.

Requirements

Requires a Master's degree in counseling, social work, or a related field, with a valid driver's license and reliable transportation. Professional licensure (LPC, LCSW, or LMFT) and certifications in evidence-based therapies are preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Psychosocial AssessmentDiagnostic AssessmentCrisis InterventionTreatment PlanningClinical Documentation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Behavioral Health Outpatient - Intake and Counseling Therapist at COLLIN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH RETARDATION CENTER a 6.7 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,479 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 24% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.7 / 10 · above average in mental health therapy (counseling)ranked against 7,479 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$74kMental Health Therapy median $45k (middle half $41k–$58k)17 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$76k in purchasing powerTexas index 97.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Texas410 active7,476 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 42% remote · 24% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$2k sign-onTexas counselor listings (all specialties): 8% state a sign-on bonus · 21% offer loan repayment646 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,512 in the last 30 days1,354 the 30 days before (+86%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−2.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (7,479 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$74k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$5k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

37 jobs · 31 employers
8
<$70k
14
$70k-85k
10
$85k-100k
5
$100k-115k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs
401k / retirement match
80%
Sign-on bonus
40% this job
CME allowance
40%
Loan repayment
8%
PSLF eligible
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Talk Therapist - Fee For Service

Thriveworks · Cypress, Texas

#2

Military & Family Life Counselor - School - Milton, FL

Vet Jobs · Milton, Florida, United States

$60k-$100k
#3

CA Licensed Mental Health Therapist (Remote)

$90k-$100k
#4

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)

$75k-$100k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.7
Better work-life than 60% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,479 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Collin County Mental Health Retardation Center logo

About Collin County Mental Health Retardation Center

Mental Health Care
McKinney, Texas
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-On Bonus ($2,000)

Living in McKinney

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$391k
Typical market rent
$1,741/mo
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.