Behavioral Health Therapist Jobs in Kentucky
Behavioral Health Therapist jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green, where established systems like Baptist Health, Norton Healthcare, and Seven Counties Services maintain steady hiring across outpatient, community mental health, and substance use treatment settings. Demand is strong at every level from associate therapist to clinical supervisor, with the most consistent openings in trauma-informed care, co-occurring disorders, and child and adolescent behavioral health. Kentucky's community mental health center network and its ongoing response to opioid-related behavioral health needs keep this one of the more active hiring markets in the region. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 35+ Behavioral Health Therapist jobs
PERKS & PAY
- Non-Independently Licensed Pay – Up to an annual salary of $60,000 for full-time. This position is also eligible for monthly incentives based on monthly billable hours.
- Independently Licensed Pay – Up to an annual salary of $75,000 for full-time. This position is also eligible for monthly incentives based on monthly billable hours
- Potential for up to 12% annual contingency bonus
- Generous plan for paid time off (PTO) (Up to 16 days the first year)
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Individual and family insurance coverage: Various medical, vision, and dental plans to choose from
- HSA Employer match up to $1000, depending on plan
- 401(k) with employer match
- Professional Development
- FREE Supervision!
- Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree or above in a clinical field of study related to behavioral health from an accredited institution. Licensed independently or willingness to obtain independent licensure while under supervision,
- Relevant education, training, experience, knowledge, and expertise to meet the needs of clients through individual, family, and group therapy, including but not limited to addressing trauma and promoting recovery of children with serious emotional disturbance and/or adults with serious mental illness.
- Knowledge of Housing First principles, trauma-informed care, homeless services systems, and housing resources preferred.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the service area required.
- Ability to provide services in community and non-traditional treatment settings.
- Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.
- Experience providing community-based behavioral health services, outreach, case management, or care coordination preferred.
JOB DUTIES
- Implement and maintain the Behavioral Healthcare program's philosophy, principles, and procedures in all facets of performance related to the assigned treatment program.
- Provide services and conduct oneself in a manner consistent with the professional Code of Conduct of NorthKey Community Care.
- Conduct street outreach, community-based engagement, and therapeutic outreach activities to identify, assess, and engage individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
- Complete behavioral health assessments, diagnostic evaluations, treatment plans, and reassessments promptly and in accordance with organizational standards.
- Provide individual, family, and group therapy; crisis intervention; counseling; psychoeducation; and other clinically appropriate behavioral health services.
- Utilize evidence-based and trauma-informed practices to address mental health, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and barriers to recovery and housing stability.
- Engage clients in a structured, collaborative relationship that promotes recovery, empowerment, self-determination, and self-management of behavioral health conditions.
- Develop person-centered treatment plans based on client-identified needs, diagnoses, strengths, and recovery goals.
- Address trauma and promote recovery for adults with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions.
- Collaborate with shelters, housing providers, healthcare organizations, social service agencies, and other community partners to support client recovery, stability, and housing outcomes.
- Participate in interdisciplinary staffing, care coordination, and case consultation meetings to identify needs, address service gaps, and coordinate appropriate services and referrals.
- Assist clients in accessing benefits, entitlements, healthcare, housing resources, and other community supports necessary to achieve treatment and recovery goals.
- Participate in SOAR-related efforts and collaborate with team members to support eligible clients in applying for SSI/SSDI and other benefits.
- Provide services in office, community, shelter, residential, and other field-based settings as clinically appropriate. Identify and address risks that may contribute to psychiatric hospitalization, emergency department utilization, continued homelessness, or loss of community functioning.
- Complete documentation, treatment records, and billing requirements accurately and within established timeframes.
- Participate in ongoing training and professional development activities related to behavioral health treatment, homelessness, outreach engagement, housing interventions, and care coordination, including traveling to training throughout the state as needed.
- Contribute to a culture of safety and quality by using data to support decision-making, improve services, and ensure positive outcomes.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Adhere responsibly to all NorthKey policies and procedures.
- Adhere to confidentiality in all matters pertaining to client information.
- Maximize efficiency and effective use of time in maintaining accurate and punctual time reporting.
- Attend internal meetings relating to responsibilities and duties.
- Maintain a professional and business-like manner in dealing with all internal staff, Board members, state and governmental staff, sub-contractors, and vendors of NorthKey.
- Represent NorthKey in a professionally appropriate manner
NORTHKEY COMMUNITY CARE - COMPANY OVERVIEW
Since 1966, NorthKey Community Care (NorthKey) has provided quality, evidence-based mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities services to the Northern Kentucky region with the commitment to providing the right service, at the right time, and in the right place. With multiple convenient locations throughout the Northern Kentucky region (Kenton, Boone, Campbell, Grant, Carroll, Gallatin, Pendleton, and Owen counties), NorthKey offers a wide array of mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities services unparalleled in the region. Join our team to help us fulfill our mission of Transforming Lives and Communities Through Excellence in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disabilities Services!
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PERKS & PAY
- Non-Independently Licensed Pay – Up to an annual salary of $60,000 for full-time. This position is also eligible for monthly incentives based on monthly billable hours.
- Independently Licensed Pay – Up to an annual salary of $75,000 for full-time. This position is also eligible for monthly incentives based on monthly billable hours
- Potential for up to 12% annual contingency bonus
- Generous plan for paid time off (PTO) (Up to 16 days the first year)
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Individual and family insurance coverage: Various medical, vision, and dental plans to choose from
- HSA Employer match up to $1000, depending on plan
- 401(k) with employer match
- Professional Development
- FREE Supervision!
- Potential eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree or above in a clinical field of study related to behavioral health from an accredited institution. Licensed independently or willingness to obtain independent licensure while under supervision,
- Relevant education, training, experience, knowledge, and expertise to meet the needs of clients through individual, family, and group therapy, including but not limited to addressing trauma and promoting recovery of children with serious emotional disturbance and/or adults with serious mental illness.
- Knowledge of Housing First principles, trauma-informed care, homeless services systems, and housing resources preferred.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the service area required.
- Ability to provide services in community and non-traditional treatment settings.
- Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.
- Experience providing community-based behavioral health services, outreach, case management, or care coordination preferred.
JOB DUTIES
- Implement and maintain the Behavioral Healthcare program's philosophy, principles, and procedures in all facets of performance related to the assigned treatment program.
- Provide services and conduct oneself in a manner consistent with the professional Code of Conduct of NorthKey Community Care.
- Conduct street outreach, community-based engagement, and therapeutic outreach activities to identify, assess, and engage individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
- Complete behavioral health assessments, diagnostic evaluations, treatment plans, and reassessments promptly and in accordance with organizational standards.
- Provide individual, family, and group therapy; crisis intervention; counseling; psychoeducation; and other clinically appropriate behavioral health services.
- Utilize evidence-based and trauma-informed practices to address mental health, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and barriers to recovery and housing stability.
- Engage clients in a structured, collaborative relationship that promotes recovery, empowerment, self-determination, and self-management of behavioral health conditions.
- Develop person-centered treatment plans based on client-identified needs, diagnoses, strengths, and recovery goals.
- Address trauma and promote recovery for adults with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions.
- Collaborate with shelters, housing providers, healthcare organizations, social service agencies, and other community partners to support client recovery, stability, and housing outcomes.
- Participate in interdisciplinary staffing, care coordination, and case consultation meetings to identify needs, address service gaps, and coordinate appropriate services and referrals.
- Assist clients in accessing benefits, entitlements, healthcare, housing resources, and other community supports necessary to achieve treatment and recovery goals.
- Participate in SOAR-related efforts and collaborate with team members to support eligible clients in applying for SSI/SSDI and other benefits.
- Provide services in office, community, shelter, residential, and other field-based settings as clinically appropriate. Identify and address risks that may contribute to psychiatric hospitalization, emergency department utilization, continued homelessness, or loss of community functioning.
- Complete documentation, treatment records, and billing requirements accurately and within established timeframes.
- Participate in ongoing training and professional development activities related to behavioral health treatment, homelessness, outreach engagement, housing interventions, and care coordination, including traveling to training throughout the state as needed.
- Contribute to a culture of safety and quality by using data to support decision-making, improve services, and ensure positive outcomes.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Adhere responsibly to all NorthKey policies and procedures.
- Adhere to confidentiality in all matters pertaining to client information.
- Maximize efficiency and effective use of time in maintaining accurate and punctual time reporting.
- Attend internal meetings relating to responsibilities and duties.
- Maintain a professional and business-like manner in dealing with all internal staff, Board members, state and governmental staff, sub-contractors, and vendors of NorthKey.
- Represent NorthKey in a professionally appropriate manner
NORTHKEY COMMUNITY CARE - COMPANY OVERVIEW
Since 1966, NorthKey Community Care (NorthKey) has provided quality, evidence-based mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities services to the Northern Kentucky region with the commitment to providing the right service, at the right time, and in the right place. With multiple convenient locations throughout the Northern Kentucky region (Kenton, Boone, Campbell, Grant, Carroll, Gallatin, Pendleton, and Owen counties), NorthKey offers a wide array of mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities services unparalleled in the region. Join our team to help us fulfill our mission of Transforming Lives and Communities Through Excellence in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disabilities Services!
bFost03loH
See All 35 Behavioral Health Therapist Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsBehavioral Health Therapist Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Behavioral Health Therapist Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health therapist jobs across Kentucky.
- Active Kentucky licensure as an LPCA, LPCC, CSW, LCSW, or equivalent recognized credential
- Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a closely related clinical field
- Experience providing individual and group therapy in outpatient or community mental health settings
- Familiarity with evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, or motivational interviewing
- Ability to complete clinical documentation accurately within an electronic health record system
- Valid Kentucky driver's license for positions requiring community-based or mobile outreach services
Behavioral Health Therapist Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a behavioral health therapist in Kentucky?
You become a behavioral health therapist in Kentucky by completing a master's degree in counseling, social work, or a related clinical field, then applying for licensure through the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors or the Kentucky Board of Social Work, depending on your degree. Most roles require either an LPCA or CSW at entry level, with supervised hours needed to advance to full LPCC or LCSW standing. Kentucky also recognizes licensure by endorsement for clinicians already licensed in other states.
Which companies hire behavioral health therapists in Kentucky?
Employers hiring behavioral health therapists in Kentucky right now include Humana, Mercy Health, and Lumera Healthcare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Kentucky's network of community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, and large regional hospital systems like Baptist Health and Norton Healthcare account for a significant share of ongoing openings across the state.
Which Kentucky cities have the most behavioral health therapist jobs?
The cities with the most behavioral health therapist openings in Kentucky are Paducah, Louisville, and Lexington. Louisville drives the largest share of postings as the state's most populous metro and home to its biggest hospital systems, while Lexington's concentration of university-affiliated clinics and community health centers and Bowling Green's growing healthcare infrastructure account for much of the activity in the rest of the state.
Are there remote behavioral health therapist jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, and more than most clinical fields, because telehealth has become a widely accepted delivery model for outpatient therapy. About 20% of behavioral health therapist openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how broadly telehealth has been adopted since its expansion. Individual therapy, psychiatric intake assessments, and case management coordination are the parts of the role most commonly offered in a remote or hybrid format.
How can I get hired as a behavioral health therapist in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for associate-level or provisional roles at Kentucky's community mental health centers, which routinely hire clinicians who hold a master's degree but are still accumulating supervised hours toward full licensure. Organizations like Seven Counties Services, Comprehend, and regional federally qualified health centers run structured supervision programs for early-career therapists. Moving laterally from a case manager, behavioral health technician, or crisis counselor role is another well-worn path, and holding a Kentucky LPCA or CSW credential before applying gives candidates a meaningful edge over those who have not yet started the licensure process.
Where can I find and apply to behavioral health therapist jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to behavioral health therapist jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, specialization, and preferred work setting, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 35 Behavioral Health Therapist Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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