School Based Counselor
Listed compensation
$47k-$67k
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
About Us
When you join the Arrowleaf team, you are committing to a meaningful career where your work will make a difference for your neighbors throughout Southern Illinois and strengthen our region as a whole. You’ll have a chance to build well-being not just for the people you work with, but for yourself as well, as you gain life-changing experiences, enjoy highly competitive benefits, and experience unmatched opportunities for advancement.
Mission: Arrowleaf’s mission is to help all Southern Illinoisans reach their full potential. We provide resources and opportunities that support individuals of all ages so they can thrive, make our communities more vibrant, and build economic prosperity that benefits everyone.
Vision: We envision a Southern Illinois where all individuals are contributing to a community that is safe and vibrant for everyone.
Visit our website: myarrowleaf.org/employment to learn more about Arrowleaf
Job Title: School Based Counselor
Home Office: Anna, IL or Cairo, IL. Location is dependent on office space availability.
Area of Focus: Behavioral Health
Program(s): Behavioral Health - Outpatient Mental Health Programming helps individuals build life skills and well-being through behavioral health counseling, psychiatric care, and other care coordination and support services.
Immediate Supervisor: Assistant Director
Hours of Work: Full-time, 40 hours/week - Afterhours on-call rotation required.
School Based Counselor Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field. Qualifies as a Mental Health Professional (MHP).
School Based Counselor Skills & Knowledge: Knowledge of various behavioral and human development theories and practices; ability to understand mental health and substance use diagnoses, treatment planning processes, and evidence-based curriculums; knowledge of local health and human services resources; knowledge of basic crisis intervention and conflict resolution techniques; excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent computer skills.
School Based Counselor Special Requirements: Travels to off-site/community-based/locations for direct service delivery; participates in after-hours crisis response rotation; ability to schedule evening appointments; maintains and provides proof of a valid driver's license; maintains and provides proof of personal vehicle liability insurance; at least 21 years of age.
School Based Counselor Job duties include, but are not limited to:
- Intervenes and evaluates consumers and establishes the diagnosis.
- Develops treatment plan collaboratively with consumers by defining goals, specific outcomes, and time‑frames for treatment. Monitors consumers' behavior.
- Intervenes therapeutically to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of consumers to improve individual and family level of functioning.
- Provides crisis intervention to stabilize the consumer's condition by utilizing short-term crisis intervention techniques and/or referral to other support services.
- Maintains networking and referral contacts with other human service providers both internally and externally.
- Carries a caseload as assigned by a direct supervisor.
- Completes required monthly direct service hours to consumers as defined on Direct Service Requirement sheet.
- Facilitates recreation/socialization and cultural activities for consumers who provide enjoyable outings that prepare and encourage them to engage in activities independent of the agency.
- Effectively teaches life-management skills to consumers.
- Provides and arranges transportation services to consumers which they translate to their natural environment.
School Based Counselor Benefit Package
- Health, vision and dental insurance options available after 1st day of the month after 60 calendar days of employment
- Up to $50,000 life insurance policy
- 401(k) with company match for qualifying staff.
- Voluntary Benefits (Critical Illness, Short-Term disability, Accident/Incident, Hospital Indemnity)
- Mileage reimbursement
- Up to 376 hours of paid time off just within your first year of employment! Includes 13 paid holidays, up to 40 hours personal time, 12 sick days, 40 hours bereavement leave, 12 vacation days (6 month probation period), and 8 hours volunteer paid time off per year.
- Paid advanced trainings and certification opportunities
- Free clinical supervision for licensure (LCSW, LCPC, CADC)
- Leadership & Advancement Opportunities
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer
- CCBHC Workforce Career Accelerator Program
- National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Eligible Site
- Additional opportunities for compensation are available above starting salary
Salary Range: $47,132 - $67,267 annually (salary is dependent on education level and credentials)
Questions? visit myarrowleaf.org/employment or call 618-658-3079 to learn more!
Arrowleaf is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Arrowleaf will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship.
If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources.
Arrowleaf is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) and to compliance with all Federal, State and local laws regarding it.
EEO is a set of standards that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital status, national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information (including family history), order of protection status, or military status or unfavorable discharge from military service.
The laws apply to all types of work situations, including recruiting, hiring, disciplinary actions, terminations, promotions, pay practices, training, wages, and benefits.
Key Responsibilities
The counselor evaluates consumers, establishes diagnoses, and develops collaborative treatment plans to improve individual and family functioning. They also provide crisis intervention, maintain caseloads, and teach life-management skills while coordinating with other service providers.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field and qualify as a Mental Health Professional (MHP). The role requires a valid driver's license, personal vehicle liability insurance, and the ability to participate in an after-hours crisis response rotation.
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, 46% are remote, 32% have no call, 60% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$57k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $57k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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