Merakey logo
Merakey
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Drug and Alcohol Licensed Therapist

Counselor / TherapistContract

Listed compensation

$40 per hour

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 7mo ago

Job Description

Merakey is seeking a compassionate and skilled Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) to provide therapy services to individuals in substance use recovery. This role involves delivering both individual and group therapy, supporting client engagement, and collaborating with the treatment team to ensure comprehensive care.

Starting rate of $40.00 per hour

Location: 730 Colonial Drive Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806

This is a Fee-for-Service position. You’ll be compensated per service provided, allowing you the flexibility to create a schedule that suits you. This position is ideal for professionals seeking flexibility and the opportunity to manage their caseload.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide Individual and Group Therapy: Facilitate structured and open-topic group sessions and conduct individualized therapy tailored to each client’s stage of recovery and clinical needs.
  • Conduct Clinical Assessments: Evaluate clients to determine appropriate services, considering both clinical necessity and readiness for change.
  • Manage a Caseload: Maintain an active caseload, tracking treatment progress, engagement levels, and evolving needs while ensuring timely and accurate documentation.
  • Conduct Assessments and Develop Treatment Plans: Complete clinical and SUD-specific assessments using tools such as ASAM criteria, create individualized treatment plans, and facilitate therapeutic group sessions aligned with each client’s diagnosis, goals, and stage of recovery.
  • Engage and Motivate Clients: Use motivational interviewing and other clinical techniques to encourage participation, especially among resistant or disengaged individuals.
  • Collaborate with the Treatment Team: Work closely with case managers and other team members to coordinate care, share updates, and ensure clients are connected to necessary community resources.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security,

and work-life balance, including:

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
  • Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
  • DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
  • On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
  • Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
  • Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
  • Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
  • Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn More About Our Full Benefits Package

  • merakey.org

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey.

Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status.

Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in a behavioral health field (e. g., Counseling, Social Work, Psychology).
  • Active Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) in Louisiana — accepted credentials include LCSW, LPC, or LMFT.
  • 1 year of experience providing therapeutic services, preferably within a substance use treatment setting preferred.
  • Experience supporting individuals with co-occurring (dual) diagnoses is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Individual TherapyTreatment PlanningCaseload ManagementTreatment Coordination

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Drug and Alcohol Licensed Therapist at Merakey 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 7,838 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include flexible scheduling.

Counselor Career Context

Merakey ranks #8 of 13 employers hiring contract/1099 Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 30% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.2 / 10 · top 25% in mental health therapy (counseling)ranked against 7,838 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$83kMental Health Therapy median $125k (middle half $72k–$146k)62 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$94k in purchasing powerLouisiana index 88.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Louisiana44 active7,860 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 56% remote · 30% no call · 74% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Merakey#8 of 13 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (7,838 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

35 jobs · 18 employers
12
<$85k
5
$85k-100k
3
$100k-115k
14
$115k-130k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

29 jobs · 18 employers
401k / retirement match
97% this job
Sign-on bonus
41%
CME allowance
24%
Loan repayment
7%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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InterDent Service · Salem, Oregon

From $155k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Behavioral Health Clinician (POTFF)

$59k-$124k
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.2
Better work-life than 80% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,838 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Merakey logo

About Merakey

Non-profit Organizations
Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Retirement Plan
Flexible Schedule
Employee Assistance Program

Living in Baton Rouge

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$237k
Typical market rent
$1,301/mo
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
90.8
State income tax
Up to 4.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Baton Rouge, LA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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