Behavioral Health Counselor Associate (50618)
Listed compensation
$36.83-$45/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
- Job Location: QCH Annex - Aberdeen, WA 98520
- Position Type: Full Time
- Education Level: Graduate Degree
- Salary Range: $36.83 - $45.00 Hourly
- Travel Percentage: Negligible
- Job Shift: Any
- Job Category: Health Care
Do you believe in meeting people where they are and walking alongside them as they heal, grow, and thrive? We are seeking a Mental Health Counselor Associate who is passionate about providing compassionate, ethical, and culturally responsive care to individuals and families in our community. This is an excellent opportunity for a developing clinician who wants strong supervision, a collaborative environment, and the chance to build a solid foundation toward independent licensure. Quinault Community Health is located on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, surrounded by the great outdoors. Locally we have many city, county, state, and federal parks. We are surrounded by an extravagant number of outdoor activities including hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, ocean beaches, lakes, rivers, bird watching and much more. We offer our employees a wonderful benefits plan. All full-time employees are eligible for Medical, Prescription, Vision and Dental. If your plan is employee only, we will cover 100% of the premiums, you will also have the option to add dependents at an additional cost. We pay 100% of the premiums for our full-time employees for both short-term and long-term disability plans. We have a gracious employee leave program to include 14 holidays, paid annual leave and paid sick leave. We reimburse 100% of the costs of your licenses and certifications required for your position. The Mental Health Counselor Associate provides proficiency in counseling that includes providing assessments, individual counseling, and case management; possesses strong crisis intervention and will be able to provide comprehensive individual and group therapy. Essential Job Functions for the Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate include but are not limited to:
- Provides oversight and quality assurance of all mental health services including record keeping and direct services, while under the supervision of licensed professional.
- Reviews treatment plans, case notes, and written correspondence to verify that such documents meet appropriate regulatory agencies.
- Collaborates with a multidisciplinary treatment team consisting of the COO, Medical Director, Substance Use Disorder Professionals, and Nurses to identify and meet the needs of the patient within the treatment planning process and to assist in their overall well-being.
- Provides guidance and direction to behavioral health staff on clinical intervention strategies, treatment planning, group therapy dynamics, and behavioral health screenings as necessary for excellent service delivery standards at QCH and QWC.
- Ensures that clinical services follow county, state, and federal regulatory agencies to include adherence to all HIPAA and documentation requirements.
- Conducts risk assessments; provides recommendations and triage accordingly.
- Works in collaboration with Billing, inter-agency departments, and the Medical Director and under the direction of the Clinical Supervisor to develop and implement behavioral/mental health quality improvement processes as required for providing behavioral health services, and in compliance with all Federal, State, and County requirements.
- Conducts intake assessment interviews, writes intake assessments, and diagnoses utilizing mental health diagnostic manual DSM 5.
- Conducts individual, family, or group therapy sessions for co-occurring disorders based on ethical and medical necessity guidelines.
- Develops treatment plans for patients who are dually diagnosed at the clinics.
- Provides the appropriate documentation for service delivery including treatment goals, crisis plans, and progress notes in a timely manner.
- Develops and provides psycho-educational groups or ongoing therapy groups.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Adheres to QCH and QWC Policies. Qualifications
Required: Master’s degree in a mental health discipline, LMHC, LMHCA, LMFT, LMSW, or LMFTA. One (1) year experience in mental health treatment. Preferably one year of experience in working with dually diagnosed patients.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental dysfunctions, to provide counseling and guidance. Knowledge and adherence to state (RCW, WAC) and federal confidentiality regulations (42 CFR part 2). Applicants must always conduct self ethically and professionally.
Knowledge of HIPAA and PHI requirements. Knowledge of common office and administrative procedures. Skills in the operation of a personal computer and standard office programs and equipment.
Ability to work in a cross-culture environment and understands the social and cultural context of the patients at the Quinault Wellness Center, understanding the role of trauma, historical, community, family, and personal experience in wellness and recovery.
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with frequent interruptions. Ability to provide excellent customer service. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, staff, and outside agencies
Key Responsibilities
The associate provides mental health assessments, individual and group therapy, and case management while ensuring clinical documentation meets regulatory standards. They collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop treatment plans and provide guidance on clinical intervention strategies.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in a mental health discipline and possess at least one year of experience in mental health treatment. Professional licensure or associate status (LMHC, LMHCA, LMFT, LMSW, or LMFTA) is required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Behavioral Health listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 36% have no call, 78% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$85k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $80k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $77k–$94k | Behavioral Health median $94k (middle half $86k–$104k)14 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$80k in purchasing power | Washington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Behavioral Health listings in Washington | 8 active | 354 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 62% remote · 36% no call · 78% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Behavioral Health pay trend | +9.7% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
| Quinault Community Health & Quinault Wellness Cent | silver tier, 76/100 | Top Employers work-life index6 active listings |
Location & Logistics
Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$85k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$6k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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