Counselor Jobs in Kentucky
Counselor jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green, where demand runs from entry-level case managers to licensed clinical directors. Behavioral health, school counseling, and substance use treatment are the most consistently recruited specialties, driven by employers such as Seven Counties Services, the University of Kentucky, and Baptist Health. Openings exist at community mental health centers, school districts, and hospital systems throughout the Commonwealth. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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NorthKey Community Care is seeking a Crisis Counselor & Therapist to provide behavioral health services on-site, 2nd shift, 11:00 am to 7:30 pm (FOUR TENS AVAILABLE) to clients experiencing a mental health crisis. This position requires licensure in Kentucky in a clinical field of study, and an independent license is preferred.
PERKS & PAY
- Salary: Independent licensure: $75,000; Non-independent licensure: $60,000
- Flexible schedule opportunities. (11 am to 7 pm, 12 pm to 8 pm)
- Family and team-oriented work environment
- Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued each year of employment (Two weeks in the first year)
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Individual and family health insurance, individual life insurance policy, and other insurance plans offered
- HSA with Employer match up to $1000, depending on plan
- 401(k) with employer match
- Potential eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Company-paid license reimbursement
- In-service training
- Professional liability coverage for clinical staff
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Master's degree or above in a clinical field of study related to behavioral health and MUST be licensed in KY (LPCC, LCSW, etc.) Independent licensure is preferred.
- Experience in Crisis
JOB DUTIES
- Complete diagnostic evaluations promptly required for a mental health crisis response and make recommendations regarding the level of care needed to respond to current behavioral health symptoms.
- Develop and perform psycho-social interventions during evaluations utilizing evidence-based practices to address client’s behavioral health symptoms.
- Develop treatment plans for clients related to their diagnosis and symptoms utilizing appropriate theories and evidence-based practices.
- Work with clients to interpret and deal effectively with their needs. Involve family systems in treatment planning to facilitate meeting the client’s clinical needs.
- Maintain multi-disciplinary working relationships with clinicians and other related professionals in the community. This will include making appropriate referrals, sharing of clinical information within HIPAA guidelines, and providing clinically appropriate multi-disciplinary interventions and collaborations.
- Complete timely and accurate documentation, prepare and complete clinic progress notes, assessments, reports, schedules, and other material required as a function of the position.
- Meet all documentation requirements as defined by organizational policies.
- Fully participate in staff development opportunities offered to enhance professional growth, especially to maintain license, certification, or identified program performance skills.
- Participate in planned supervision and case consultation conferences as necessary.
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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NorthKey Community Care is seeking a Crisis Counselor & Therapist to provide behavioral health services on-site, 2nd shift, 11:00 am to 7:30 pm (FOUR TENS AVAILABLE) to clients experiencing a mental health crisis. This position requires licensure in Kentucky in a clinical field of study, and an independent license is preferred.
PERKS & PAY
- Salary: Independent licensure: $75,000; Non-independent licensure: $60,000
- Flexible schedule opportunities. (11 am to 7 pm, 12 pm to 8 pm)
- Family and team-oriented work environment
- Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued each year of employment (Two weeks in the first year)
- 9 Paid Holidays
- Individual and family health insurance, individual life insurance policy, and other insurance plans offered
- HSA with Employer match up to $1000, depending on plan
- 401(k) with employer match
- Potential eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Company-paid license reimbursement
- In-service training
- Professional liability coverage for clinical staff
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Master's degree or above in a clinical field of study related to behavioral health and MUST be licensed in KY (LPCC, LCSW, etc.) Independent licensure is preferred.
- Experience in Crisis
JOB DUTIES
- Complete diagnostic evaluations promptly required for a mental health crisis response and make recommendations regarding the level of care needed to respond to current behavioral health symptoms.
- Develop and perform psycho-social interventions during evaluations utilizing evidence-based practices to address client’s behavioral health symptoms.
- Develop treatment plans for clients related to their diagnosis and symptoms utilizing appropriate theories and evidence-based practices.
- Work with clients to interpret and deal effectively with their needs. Involve family systems in treatment planning to facilitate meeting the client’s clinical needs.
- Maintain multi-disciplinary working relationships with clinicians and other related professionals in the community. This will include making appropriate referrals, sharing of clinical information within HIPAA guidelines, and providing clinically appropriate multi-disciplinary interventions and collaborations.
- Complete timely and accurate documentation, prepare and complete clinic progress notes, assessments, reports, schedules, and other material required as a function of the position.
- Meet all documentation requirements as defined by organizational policies.
- Fully participate in staff development opportunities offered to enhance professional growth, especially to maintain license, certification, or identified program performance skills.
- Participate in planned supervision and case consultation conferences as necessary.
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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See All 45 Counselor Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Counselor JobsCounselor Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Counselor Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in counselor jobs across Kentucky.
- Active Kentucky counselor license issued by the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
- Master's degree in counseling, social work, or a closely related mental health field
- Experience providing individual or group therapy in a clinical or community setting
- Familiarity with electronic health records and documentation standards required by Kentucky agencies
- Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and evidence-based treatment models
- Ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams across Kentucky's community mental health centers
Counselor Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a counselor in Kentucky?
To become a licensed professional counselor in Kentucky, you must earn a master's degree in counseling or a related field, then apply to the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors for your Licensed Professional Counselor Associate credential while completing supervised hours. After accumulating the required supervised experience, you sit for the National Counselor Examination and apply for full Licensed Professional Counselor status. School counselors follow a separate path through the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.
Which companies hire counselors in Kentucky?
Kentucky counselor roles are posted by Behavioral Health, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and Grant Gardens and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Kentucky's network of regional community mental health centers, along with large health systems and public school districts, accounts for a significant share of ongoing openings across the state.
Which Kentucky cities have the most counselor jobs?
Louisville, Lexington, and Hazard lead Kentucky in counselor openings. Louisville drives the largest volume as the state's most populous metro, home to major health systems and a dense network of behavioral health agencies, while Lexington's concentration of university programs and regional medical facilities sustains steady demand, and Bowling Green's growing population has expanded its community health infrastructure in recent years.
Are there remote counselor jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since much counseling work involves in-person sessions, site-based school placement, or on-call crisis response. About 29% of counselor openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with telehealth roles making up the largest share of those flexible positions. Outpatient and substance use counseling are the sub-areas most likely to offer a telehealth or hybrid schedule.
How can I get hired as a counselor in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a supervised associate position, which Kentucky's licensing structure formally recognizes through the Licensed Professional Counselor Associate credential. Community mental health centers such as Seven Counties Services and Comprehend in the Lexington region regularly bring on associates who complete supervised hours on the job. Case manager and mental health technician roles at hospital systems or residential programs are common lateral moves that build the clinical hours needed for licensure. Completing a Kentucky-accredited internship placement during your graduate program and obtaining CPR and crisis intervention certification give candidates a measurable edge in early applications.
Where can I find and apply to counselor jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to counselor jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings to identify roles that match your license level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 45 Counselor Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Counselor Jobs