Family Forward logo
Family Forward
Saint Louis, Missouri

Therapist - Mental Health Counselor

LPC / LMHCNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$53k-$63k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 20m ago · Verified live

Job Description

As a Therapist - Mental Health Counselor at FamilyForward’s Developmental Trauma Center (DTC), you will provide mental health counseling services to children ages 4-19 who have experienced child abuse, neglect, or family violence victimization. You will provide trauma-informed psychoeducation and interventions to help children navigate their social, emotional, relational, and behavioral challenges and assist caregivers in enhancing their understanding of and confidence in supporting their child’s challenges resulting from the experience of adverse life events.

FamilyForward is committed to upholding the Organizational Health Anchors that we have set for the agency, including safety; mindfulness and self-regulation; relational health; cultural diversity, inclusivity, equity, and anti-racism; clinical lens; vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in social work or other relevant helping profession and a professional license specific to degree (LMSW, LCSW, PLPC or LPC).

What Puts FamilyForward Out Front

  • Smaller caseloads than traditional non-profit mental health service organizations
  • Therapists can create their own schedules (must include a minimum of 2 evenings) and can flex time as needed.

40hr. work week. No work on weekends.

  • Brand new facility built intentionally to support the needs of therapists and clients.
  • Paid time-off December 25th to January 1st.
  • No on call hours.
  • Therapeutic service provision based in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics.
  • Emphasis on professional learning, growth, and development.

How We Wholeheartedly Take Care of Our People

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
  • Optional short-term disability
  • Virtual medical and mental health care coverage
  • Pre-tax medical flexible spending accounts
  • Health Reimbursement Account for deductible expenses over $1000
  • 3% dollar for dollar company matched 403(b) retirement savings account
  • Company-paid long-term disability and life insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Additional 10 paid holidays, including 2 floating holidays for religious/cultural days
  • Generous paid vacation time and health and wellness leave
  • Education assistance program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer
  • National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Eligible Site
  • Member and active participant in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
  • Diversity Awareness Partnership Non-Profit Partner

What to expect on a given day as a Mental Health Therapist/Counselor:

New team members receive a robust and supportive orientation process that allows them to shadow DTC colleagues, start their training in NMT and other trauma-informed frames used by FamilyForward, while gradually building their caseload.

Your mornings are typically time for non-direct clinical work such as individual and group supervisory meetings, administrative work, and professional development trainings.

Afternoons and evenings are devoted to direct clinical work such as individual, family, and group therapy. Therapists have the ability to see clients in their office at the DTC or meet the family in their home depending on necessity and the appropriateness of location.

The Therapy Team is supportive of one another and always willing to assist a colleague when needed.

You will be responsible for achieving 60 billable hours per month.

You will communicate with caregivers on a consistent basis, including engaging in caregiver support and family therapy sessions, to ensure continuity of care from therapy session to daily life.

You will connect the family to community resources and be an advocate for the child and family in various settings when needed.

You will maintain clinical documentation of all work with the family in FamilyForward’s electronic medical record system.

  • You’ll engage in monthly team building and cultural humility activities.
  • You would be a good fit for this position if you:
  • Have compassion for children, families, and caregivers who have experienced adverse life events.
  • Are willing to grow your knowledge of developmental trauma to better understand our clients and engage in regular training and skills-building.
  • Enjoy using creativity to develop interventions for children and families.
  • Can develop trust-based relationships with children, caregivers, and co-workers.
  • Are comfortable supporting children experiencing challenging behaviors.

Starting salary range is $53,000 - $59,000; negotiable up to $63,000 depending on full licensure and experience.

Key Responsibilities

Provide trauma-informed mental health counseling services to children and support caregivers in navigating developmental trauma. Maintain clinical documentation, achieve billable hour targets, and advocate for families within the community.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Trauma-informed careCrisis interventionCase managementAdvocacyChild developmentEmotional regulationRelationship building

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Therapist - Mental Health Counselor at Family Forward a 7.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,895 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 34% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.9 / 10 · top 10% in mental health therapy (counseling)ranked against 7,895 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$53k–$63kMental Health Therapy median $95k (middle half $85k–$118k)214 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$64k in purchasing powerMissouri index 90.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Missouri139 active7,943 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 34% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentMissouri Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $9k) · 16% offer loan repayment223 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,623 in the last 30 days1,577 the 30 days before (+66%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−2.0% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (7,895 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.

Top Counselor Jobs

32 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

32 jobs · 23 employers
11
<$80k
8
$80k-100k
4
$100k-120k
7
$120k-140k
2
$141k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs · 23 employers
401k / retirement match
92% this job
Sign-on bonus
28%
CME allowance
28%
Loan repayment
24% this job
PSLF eligible
12% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist

LifeStance Health · Lake Oswego, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Mental Health Therapist

$131k
+ 30 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.9
Among the best 10% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,895 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No weekends
  • On-site
Family Forward logo

About Family Forward

Individual and Family Services
St Louis, Missouri
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Optional short-term disability
Virtual medical and mental health care coverage
Pre-tax medical flexible spending accounts
Health Reimbursement Account
3% dollar-for-dollar 403(b) match
Company-paid long-term disability and life insurance
Employee Assistance Program

Living in St. Louis

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$255k≈ 4.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,292/mo≈ 29% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
95.1
State income tax
Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · St. Louis, MO-IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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