Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Connecticut
Behavioral Health Specialist jobs in Connecticut concentrate in community mental health centers, substance use treatment programs, hospital-based behavioral health units, and state-funded human services agencies, with demand at every level from entry-level case aide to licensed clinical supervisor. Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport generate the largest share of openings, anchored by employers like Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The most consistent demand is for specialists with experience in crisis intervention, substance use disorder counseling, and integrated care coordination. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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At Waterbury Hospital we offer our RN’s with scheduled hours:
- Employer paid pension plan
- Sign on bonuses for experienced RN’s
- Employee Referrals
- Opportunity for training in specialty areas
- Generous student loan forgiveness
- Education reimbursement
- Shift incentives
- Clinical Ladders
SCOPE OF POSITION:
As a member of the multi-disciplinary care delivery team, the professional nurse practices, delegates, and collaborates with other team members to facilitate the coordination and delivery of patient care for assigned patient population. Report to Department Director or designee.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Utilizing the nursing process develop and implement a plan of care and demonstrate leadership to ensure all patient/family needs are met, considering age specific factors.
- Contribute to the efficient operation of the patient care area, delegating responsibilities to appropriate members of the care delivery team based upon an understanding of others' roles, scope of practice, knowledge, and capabilities to ensure optimal utilization of personnel. Apply the principles of case management to patient care, and exercise autonomy, capability and motivation to be identified as one of the principle care givers for the patient, providing and/or referring services across the continuum of care.
- Promote a professional and collaborative approach to patient care, communicating appropriately with all members of the care team while working cooperatively to resolve problems and ensure excellence in clinical practice.
- Actively participate in initiatives to ensure quality outcomes of patient care.
- Maintain required knowledge and skills; complete general/unit/department specific competencies.
- Demonstrate skills and judgment necessary to manage routine, urgent and crisis psychiatric situations by group therapy methods in the context of a therapeutic milieu. Identifies the appropriate care/treatment for the population serviced which includes adolescent, adult and/or geriatric patients.
- Perform similar and related duties as required.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Good communication skills.
- Ability to work well as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to work in a time oriented environment including exposure to all patient elements i.e., blood borne pathogens, physical requirements: lifting and pulling of patients, pushing stretchers and standing and walking.
- May be exposed to environmental hazards such as anesthetic gases or elements.
- Ability to interact with patients with tact and confidentiality.
- Ability to approach clinical responsibilities for patients with regard to growth and developmental issues related to the specific age groups of the population served.
- Must have basic computer skills and ability to access internet and other programs applicable to Waterbury Hospital procedures.
- Perform automated functions that fall within job responsibility.
- Licensed Registered Nurse in State of Connecticut.
Location: Waterbury Hospital · Psych Adult (Pps)
Schedule: Full Time, Evenings, 14:45-23:15
At Waterbury Hospital we offer our RN’s with scheduled hours:
- Employer paid pension plan
- Sign on bonuses for experienced RN’s
- Employee Referrals
- Opportunity for training in specialty areas
- Generous student loan forgiveness
- Education reimbursement
- Shift incentives
- Clinical Ladders
SCOPE OF POSITION:
As a member of the multi-disciplinary care delivery team, the professional nurse practices, delegates, and collaborates with other team members to facilitate the coordination and delivery of patient care for assigned patient population. Report to Department Director or designee.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Utilizing the nursing process develop and implement a plan of care and demonstrate leadership to ensure all patient/family needs are met, considering age specific factors.
- Contribute to the efficient operation of the patient care area, delegating responsibilities to appropriate members of the care delivery team based upon an understanding of others' roles, scope of practice, knowledge, and capabilities to ensure optimal utilization of personnel. Apply the principles of case management to patient care, and exercise autonomy, capability and motivation to be identified as one of the principle care givers for the patient, providing and/or referring services across the continuum of care.
- Promote a professional and collaborative approach to patient care, communicating appropriately with all members of the care team while working cooperatively to resolve problems and ensure excellence in clinical practice.
- Actively participate in initiatives to ensure quality outcomes of patient care.
- Maintain required knowledge and skills; complete general/unit/department specific competencies.
- Demonstrate skills and judgment necessary to manage routine, urgent and crisis psychiatric situations by group therapy methods in the context of a therapeutic milieu. Identifies the appropriate care/treatment for the population serviced which includes adolescent, adult and/or geriatric patients.
- Perform similar and related duties as required.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Good communication skills.
- Ability to work well as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to work in a time oriented environment including exposure to all patient elements i.e., blood borne pathogens, physical requirements: lifting and pulling of patients, pushing stretchers and standing and walking.
- May be exposed to environmental hazards such as anesthetic gases or elements.
- Ability to interact with patients with tact and confidentiality.
- Ability to approach clinical responsibilities for patients with regard to growth and developmental issues related to the specific age groups of the population served.
- Must have basic computer skills and ability to access internet and other programs applicable to Waterbury Hospital procedures.
- Perform automated functions that fall within job responsibility.
- Licensed Registered Nurse in State of Connecticut.
Location: Waterbury Hospital · Psych Adult (Pps)
Schedule: Full Time, Evenings, 14:45-23:15
See All 74 Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Connecticut
Find roles in Connecticut that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsBehavioral Health Specialist Jobs by City in Connecticut
Where Connecticut roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Behavioral Health Specialist Job Market in Connecticut
A snapshot from current Connecticut openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Hartford HealthCare19
- Community Health Center8
- Connecticut Children's6
- Yale New Haven Health5
- Masonicare4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Connecticut Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health specialist jobs across Connecticut.
- Active Connecticut license or eligibility through the Department of Public Health preferred
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related behavioral health field
- Experience conducting behavioral health assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
- Familiarity with Connecticut DHMAS regulations and state-funded service delivery standards
- Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical documentation in compliance settings
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel to community or outpatient sites across the state
Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Connecticut: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a behavioral health specialist in Connecticut?
Most behavioral health specialist roles in Connecticut require at minimum a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or counseling, with many clinical positions requiring licensure through the Connecticut Department of Public Health, such as an LPC, LCSW, or LADC credential. Entry-level positions in state-funded programs often accept candidates who are license-eligible and working toward supervised hours. The Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement and the state DHMAS system both publish guidance on credential pathways for those new to the field.
Which companies hire behavioral health specialists in Connecticut?
Employers hiring behavioral health specialists in Connecticut right now include Hartford HealthCare, Community Health Center, and Connecticut Children's, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Connecticut's large integrated health systems and state-contracted community mental health providers account for a substantial share of consistent openings across the state.
Which Connecticut cities have the most behavioral health specialist jobs?
Hartford, Norwich, and Stamford have the most behavioral health specialist openings in Connecticut. Hartford leads because it is home to major health systems and state agency headquarters, while New Haven's concentration of academic medical centers and Bridgeport's large urban community health networks each generate strong ongoing demand for behavioral health professionals at multiple levels.
Are there remote behavioral health specialist jobs in Connecticut?
Yes, but they're less common than in fully desk-based fields, since many behavioral health specialist roles involve in-person assessment, crisis response, or community outreach. About 29% of behavioral health specialist openings tied to Connecticut are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with telehealth counseling and care coordination roles being the functions most frequently offered in a remote or hybrid format.
How can I get hired as a behavioral health specialist in Connecticut with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for behavioral health technician, case aide, or crisis counselor associate roles at Connecticut's community mental health centers and substance use treatment agencies, which regularly hire candidates who are still completing licensure hours. Hartford HealthCare and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families both run new professional programs that onboard candidates with limited clinical experience. A completed bachelor's degree in a behavioral health field plus any voluntary crisis line or community service experience meaningfully strengthens an application at this level.
Where can I find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in Connecticut?
You can find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in Connecticut on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings, identify the roles that match your experience and credentials, and apply directly to the ones that fit. No account or profile is required to view openings and submit an application.
See All 74 Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Connecticut
Find roles in Connecticut that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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