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Summit BHC
Knoxville, Tennessee

Lead Therapist - Outpatient

Counselor Top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling)Full-Time

Compensation

Pay not disclosed

  • 80%better work-life than Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) peers
  • +15%Mental Health Therapy listings, last 30 days

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting and call expectations.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Lead Therapist - Outpatient | Creekside Behavioral Health | Knoxville, Tennessee

About the Job

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The Therapist I is a part of the multidisciplinary team responsible for providing direct clinical services to patients and their families with most emphasis on completing Psychosocial Assessments; providing individual, group and family therapy for patients; facilitating psycho-educational training, family meetings, discharge planning; assisting in program development; developing, implementing, and reviewing Treatment Plans; and providing linkage to outside resources.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  • Conducts a psychosocial assessment and develops an initial discharge plan.
  • Develops and implements treatment plans for patient based on assessment and coordinates any additional services needed, revising as necessary.
  • Conducts individual, group or family sessions as appropriate for the treatment plan of the patient.

Applies psychotherapeutic techniques and interventions in the delivery of services to individuals and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed emotional and behavioral disorders.

Participates in multi-disciplinary treatment planning conferences. Presents appropriate patient information to the treatment team. Recommends effective treatment interventions.

  • Maintains a caseload as assigned.
  • Develops and implements special patient groups or program modules.

Timely prepares progress notes and treatment updates in the medical record. Maintains all clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory and accrediting standards.

Ensures each assigned patient has a structured and clinically appropriate post hospitalization care plan. Acts as Liaison to referral sources and support of continuation of care.

  • Provides crisis intervention to patients and families in acute distress.
  • Provides introduction and initial coordination of wide range of community resources: financial, housing, legal, social/recreational, occupational, spiritual and support groups.
  • May perform case management, discharge or after care planning as needed.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements

  • Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling or Psychology required.
  • Requires at least one year of experience as a therapist with all age groups.
  • Clinical interviewing and assessment using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Ability to effectively assess, plan and implement therapeutic social work services in a multidisciplinary setting.

Skill in assessment, considerable knowledge of social work principles and practice, social health and welfare programs and government eligibility for these programs; ability to mobilize and coordinate resources effectively.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications

Requisite state or national licensure for professional therapy providers or eligible for state licensure as a professional therapy provider.

CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).

First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Supervisory Requirements

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Why Creekside Behavioral Health? Creekside Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Creekside Behavioral Health is an EOE.

Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.

Key Responsibilities

The Lead Therapist is responsible for providing direct clinical services, including psychosocial assessments and individual, group, and family therapy. They also coordinate treatment plans, facilitate discharge planning, and act as a liaison to referral sources to ensure continuity of care.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Psychology and possess at least one year of experience working with all age groups. Professional licensure or eligibility for licensure in the state is required, along with proficiency in clinical interviewing and assessment.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapy

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Lead Therapist - Outpatient at Summit BHC a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,933 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 32% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Counselor Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 32 employers

11
<$60k
13
$60k-80k
8
$80k-100k
5
$100k-120k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks35 jobs · 32 employers

401k / retirement match
80%
CME allowance
57%
Sign-on bonus
29%
Loan repayment
11%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Behavioral Health Clinician (Adult & Pediatric) LMSW, LCSW, LPC and LMFT

UnitedHealth Group · Maryville, Tennessee

$60k-$107k
#2

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · South Bend, Indiana

$84k-$107k
#3

Couples/Family Therapist (LMFT)

$84k-$107k
#4

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LPC, MHSP)

$69k-$104k
+ 39 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 7.2
Better work-life than 80% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,933 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Knoxville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$358k
Typical market rent
$1,712/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.6
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Knoxville, TN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Summit BHC logo

About Summit BHC

Hospitals and Health Care
Franklin, Tennessee
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive benefit plan
Competitive salary