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Summit BHC
Harlingen, Texas

Therapist I - Acute

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Therapist I - Acute | Palms Behavioral Health | Harlingen, Texas

About the Job

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The Therapist is part of the multidisciplinary team responsible for providing direct clinical services to patients and their families by diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral. Completes 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

Conducts a psychosocial assessment focused on factors impacting mental health and psychiatric symptoms, as well as risk and safety factors. Incorporates patient strengths and goals for treatment into therapeutic plan of care.

In conjunction with the patient, support system and/or treatment team, develops an initial discharge plan. Ensures each assigned patient has a structured and clinically appropriate post hospitalization care plan that is documented per facility policies.

Develops and implements treatment plans for patients based on assessment and coordinates any additional services needed, reviewing and updating treatment plans per expected timeframes.

Conducts individual, group or family sessions as appropriate for the treatment plan of the patient.

Applies evidence-supported psychotherapeutic techniques and interventions in the delivery of services to individuals and families for the purpose of treating 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 of patients, as assigned.

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

  • 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.
  • Evaluates patient's needs and determines if referrals to other programs or facilities are needed.
  • May coordinate various clinical and psychosocial or educational activities with patients and their families.
  • May assist in the assigned components of training of new clinical staff and interns.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements

  • Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling or Psychology or similar educational field required.
  • With licensure, no professional post-graduate experience is required.
  • Based on licensure level, ongoing clinical supervision per state requirements may be required.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications

Current and valid state issued licensure as a social worker, counselor or therapist either as an entry level licensure or independent level licensure.

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.

WORK LOCATION: This position is onsite and is not a remote position.

Supervisory Requirements

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Why Palms Behavioral Health? Palms Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Palms 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 therapist provides direct clinical services including psychosocial assessments, individual, group, and family therapy to patients with mental and emotional disorders. They are also responsible for developing treatment plans, facilitating discharge planning, and providing crisis intervention within a multidisciplinary team.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a similar field and possess a current, valid state-issued license. No professional post-graduate experience is required for entry-level licensure, but CPR and de-escalation certifications are mandatory.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyMental health diagnosisCase management

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 26% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost of livingTexas index 97.1US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Texas442 active7,880 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 26% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedTexas Counselor listings: 7% state a sign-on bonus · 20% offer loan repayment690 active listings, Oct 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend+2.3% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

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

Top Counselor Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

50 jobs · 37 employers
23
<$80k
14
$80k-100k
6
$100k-120k
7
$120k-140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

34 jobs
401k / retirement match
82%
CME allowance
32%
Sign-on bonus
26%
Loan repayment
18%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Remote Licensed Mental Health TherapistContract

Adjuvant Behavior Health · Huntington, West Virginia

$60-$62/hr
#2

Remote Licensed Professional Therapist

Adjuvant Behavior Health · Dallas, Texas

$60-$62/hr
#3

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR LMFT

$48-$62/hr
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$126k
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 4.5
Better work-life than 30% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,885 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Summit BHC logo

About Summit BHC

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

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive benefit plan
Competitive salary

Living in Harlingen

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$216k
Typical market rent
$1,157/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
86.0
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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