Private Practice Therapist

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

Listed compensation

$65K - $80K

  • 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 work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Waco, TX 76712Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 SalaryPOSITION SUMMARY The Private Practice Therapist provides high-quality mental health services to clients in an outpatient setting.

This role involves conducting assessments, creating individualized treatment plans, and delivering evidence-based therapy to support client well-being. The therapist works independently while contributing to the collaborative and client-focused culture of the clinic.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Clinical Care: Provide individual, couple, and/or family therapy based on expertise and client needs. Conduct thorough intake evaluations, including patient history, mental status examinations, and diagnostic assessments.

Formulate accurate psychiatric diagnoses and develop personalized treatment plans individually tailored to client goals. Provide crisis intervention and risk assessments for patients experiencing acute mental health issues.

Collaboration: Work closely with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare providers to ensure a cohesive approach to patient care. Participate in case consultations and team meetings to review treatment plans and progress.

Refer patients to higher levels of care or additional services as needed, ensuring continuity of care. Patient Education & Advocacy Educate patients and families about psychiatric conditions, treatment options, medication adherence, and self-care strategies.

Advocate for patient needs within the healthcare system and community resources. Documentation & Compliance: Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) system. Ensure compliance with clinic policies, legal regulations, and ethical standards in psychiatric practice.

Monitor and address issues related to prescribing controlled substances in alignment with DEA and state guidelines. Professional Development: Stay current on advancements in psychiatric care through continuing education, professional memberships, and clinical supervision.

Contribute to quality improvement initiatives within the clinic. Note: The essential job functions of this position are not limited to the duties listed above.

Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Psychology or Social Work preferred. Experience: Experience working in substance use is preferred but not required. Two years of experience in private practice setting preferred.

Licensure: Must be independently licensed and in good standing as an LPC, LCSW, or equivalent. Will accept provisionally licensed associates. Additional Requirements: A thorough knowledge of The Joint Commission, OSHA, CMS, DHS, State Regulations, and Federal Regulatory Standards. Complete TB testing, Drug Screening, and Background check upon being hired.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist provides high-quality mental health services, including individual, couple, and family therapy in an outpatient setting. They are responsible for conducting intake evaluations, formulating diagnoses, and developing personalized treatment plans while collaborating with other healthcare providers.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work and possess an independent license such as LPC or LCSW. Experience in private practice and substance use treatment is preferred, along with knowledge of regulatory standards like The Joint Commission and OSHA.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Individual therapyCouple therapyPsychiatric diagnosisTreatment planningRisk assessmentPatient advocacyCase consultation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Private Practice Therapist at MIND BODY OPTIMIZATION 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, 64% 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 Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$73k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $75k in an average-cost state. 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$73k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$5k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

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Salary Distribution36 jobs · 26 employers

10
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$70k-90k
6
$90k-110k
5
$110k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks31 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
81%
CME allowance
35% this job
Sign-on bonus
29%
Loan repayment
6%
Relocation assistance
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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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 Waco

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$205k≈ 3.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,363/mo≈ 25% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.5
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 · Waco, TX metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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