State of Indiana logo
State of Indiana
Madison, Indiana

Inpatient Clinical Therapist

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

starts at $60K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 7m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Work for Indiana Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About Madison State Hospital

Madison State Hospital is located in a rural area overlooking the Ohio River and has served the citizens of Indiana for over a century, opening its door to patients in 1910.

As part of the Indiana State Psychiatric Hospital Network, our staff offer comprehensive treatment programs utilizing a Trauma Informed Care approach.

Patients admitted for treatment can participate in individual therapy, medication therapy, family therapy, psycho-educational groups, rehabilitation therapies, chaplain services, co-occurring programming, as well as employment opportunities. Unit-based programming is augmented with campus-wide specialty groups.

MSH has been a state leader in evidenced-based medication prescribing to both reduce the risks associated with polypharmacy and optimize clinical outcomes. The hospital clinical and medical leadership collaborate with the unit treatment teams to provide the most contemporary and comprehensive care possible.

Role Overview: Clinical Service Specialist 1 (CSS1) functions as an experienced clinician with a background in psychology, social work, mental health, and/or substance use that provides the knowledge and skills to provide inpatient clinical treatment for patients admitted to Madison State Hospital.

The incumbent will provide initial assessment of patients, recommendations for therapeutic interventions, and group and/or individual counseling/therapy.

Clinical work experience with adults, groups, and/or families that experience Intellectual Disabilities and Serious Mental Illness is preferred with a working knowledge of assessment and skills/experience in developing behavioral and/or treatment plans for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses.

Completion of an accredited master’s level program in behavioral/mental health specialty with a current Indiana licenses in one of the following areas: LCSW, (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMHC (License Mental Health Counselor), LMFT (License Marriage and Family Therapist), or Licensed/Certified Behavioral Analyst is required.

This position will be expected to work collaboratively with other interdisciplinary treatment staff to deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions as a member of the psychology department.

Salary

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $59,800.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our

Compensation

Calculator to view the total compensation package. A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows: Evaluates cases to identify therapeutic treatment and service needs, for patients who may have experienced trauma or are impacted by severe mental illness. Initiates multidisciplinary team responses to ensure positive outcomes and safety for the patient.

Provides education and collaboration with other professionals to assess patient needs, plan and implement clinical treatment interventions, and make treatment and placement recommendations. Recommends options and solutions to address the needs of the patient to ensure clinical recommendations are fulfilled.

Establishes and maintains a therapeutic alliance with the patient and family/caregivers by facilitating family therapy as needed, with focus on resolving barriers to patient progress and community support connections in discharge planning.

Develops and maintains processes related to collaboration with patients referred to the state hospital, acute hospitals, and intensive residential placements. Evaluates the effectiveness of counseling or educational programs.

May provide individual or group therapy to patients to decrease problematic symptoms and enhance treatment outcomes. May consult with agency field staff and attorneys regarding the assessment and therapeutic treatment of patients.

May address legal issues, assist in hearings and/or provide testimony as required by Court. The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.

Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time. What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following: Experience providing crisis management, including time sensitive, solution focused treatment.

Knowledge of the principles of mental health and/or social work, state and federal laws, policies and regulations related to the administration of therapeutic services. Knowledge of the characteristics and social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances and developmental disabilities.

Knowledge of the scope and activities of local and private health and welfare agencies and community organizations. Knowledge of evidence-based counseling and/or psychotherapeutic interventions.

Ability to respond supportively and empathetically to individuals struggling with mental illness and unsafe behaviors from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Ability to obtain accurate social data, to record such data systematically and to write clear, accurate and concise reports with realistic and meaningful recommendations. Ability to make independent clinical judgments.

Ability to evaluate client treatment needs and collaborate with community-based and residential staff to develop an effective course of action. Effectively communicate both orally and in writing. Cultural awareness and sensitivity. Valid driver’s license and access to transportation.

Master’s Degree in Social Work, Mental Health or related field from an accredited University. Active Indiana licensure through the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Associate Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-A), or an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT-A).

Clinical work experience with children, adults and/or families required. Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes: Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plansWellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewardsHealth savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contributionDeferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer matchTwo (2) fully-funded pension plan optionsA robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothersUp to 15 hours of paid community service leaveCombined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off12 paid holidays, 14 on election yearsEducation Reimbursement ProgramGroup life insuranceReferral Bonus programEmployee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visitsQualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ProgramFree Parking for most positionsFree LinkedIn Learning access Equal Employment Opportunity: The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance.

Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.

If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.

Key Responsibilities

The Clinical Service Specialist provides initial patient assessments, develops treatment plans, and delivers individual or group therapy within an inpatient psychiatric setting. They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure patient safety, facilitate family therapy, and coordinate discharge planning.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in a behavioral or mental health specialty and possess an active Indiana license such as LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT. Experience in crisis management and clinical work with adults or families experiencing serious mental illness is required.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical assessmentTreatment planningPsychotherapyMental health counselingSubstance use counselingInterdisciplinary collaborationReport writingEvidence-based practiceClinical documentation

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 32% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$60kMental Health Therapy median $95k (middle half $85k–$118k)214 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$64k in purchasing powerIndiana index 93.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Indiana124 active7,839 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 46% remote · 32% no call · 72% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentIndiana Counselor listings: 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 24% offer loan repayment205 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,535 in the last 30 days1,455 the 30 days before (+74%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−3.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

29 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

29 jobs · 15 employers
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

24 jobs · 15 employers
401k / retirement match
92% this job
CME allowance
38%
Sign-on bonus
29%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,900 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

State of Indiana logo

About State of Indiana

Hospitality
Indianapolis, Indiana
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Three medical plan options with RX coverage
Vision and dental plans
Wellness Rewards Program
Health savings account with bi-weekly state contribution
Deferred compensation 457(b) with employer match
Two fully-funded pension plan options
150 hours paid New Parent Leave
Up to 15 hours paid community service leave

Living in Madison

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$240k≈ 4.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,500/mo≈ 30% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
State income tax
Up to 3.1%
Sources & methodology

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

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