Counselor Jobs in Washington
Counselor jobs in Washington are concentrated in community mental health, school districts, substance use treatment, and veteran services, with demand at every level from entry-level case manager to licensed clinical supervisor. Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma are the largest hiring markets, where organizations like Swedish Medical Group, MultiCare Health System, and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services consistently maintain counselor openings. School counseling, substance use disorder counseling, and mental health counseling are the most sought-after specialties across the state. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 82+ Counselor jobs
Description
DSHS SCC Residential Rehabilitation Counselor 3
DSHS's Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration (BHHA), is seeking a Residential Rehabilitation Counselor 3 (RRC 3) to join the Special Commitment Center (SCC) on McNeil Island in the Puget Sound.
In this role, you will guide staff working with disorderly, psychotic, and aging adult residents who may require intensive 1:1 care, close observation, and active engagement. Residents may present imminent safety risks to themselves or others, be vulnerable to harm, attempt to escape, or engage in behaviors that include property damage or sabotage.
Steilacoom offers a quieter waterfront setting, parks, and views of Puget Sound. If you enjoy being near the water and spending time outdoors, the area has plenty to offer. The role also requires willingness to travel by ferry and bus daily, so the commute is an important part of deciding whether this opportunity fits your life. Ferry transportation is provided to McNeil Island employees.
Additional pay incentives:
Special Commitment Center (SCC) employees also receive an additional $10 per day premium pay in addition to advertised salary and a free ORCA card for transportation use. Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
Some of what you'll do:
- Help staff explain and apply policies, procedures, and unit rules with residents.
- Encourage residents to take part in approved activities.
- Support staff with unit operations and daily contact with residents.
- Help staff write behavior reports, incident reports, witness statements, and observation reports when residents break rules or act in unsafe ways.
- Work with staff to solve resident concerns and answer their questions.
- Encourage residents to work toward their treatment and living unit goals. Give residents clear direction each day and take the lead when staff respond first to incidents.
-
Who should apply?
Two years of experience providing direct care in a residential or in-patient behavioral health setting.
OR
One year of experience as a supervisor/lead worker and one years of experience providing direct care in a residential or in-patient behavioral health setting.
Equivalent education/experience.
Additional knowledge, skills, and abilities we are looking for:
- De-escalation: Calms tense situations with clear, respectful words before they grow.
- Leadership: Guides residential counselors through daily routines and models steady responses during incidents.
- Communication: Gives residents and staff clear, direct instructions and keeps supervisors informed.
- Writing: Records incidents and resident behavior in accurate, detailed reports others can rely on.
- Problem solving: Works through resident concerns with staff to find fair, workable answers.
- Judgment: Stays alert when working alone on a unit and knows when to call for help.
- Flexibility: Covers other units, fills in as unit staff, and provides breaks as needs come up.
- Inclusion: Treats every resident and coworker with fairness and respect across differences in background, culture, and ability.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Questions? Please contact Georgina.Pringle@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 06265.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Description
DSHS SCC Residential Rehabilitation Counselor 3
DSHS's Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration (BHHA), is seeking a Residential Rehabilitation Counselor 3 (RRC 3) to join the Special Commitment Center (SCC) on McNeil Island in the Puget Sound.
In this role, you will guide staff working with disorderly, psychotic, and aging adult residents who may require intensive 1:1 care, close observation, and active engagement. Residents may present imminent safety risks to themselves or others, be vulnerable to harm, attempt to escape, or engage in behaviors that include property damage or sabotage.
Steilacoom offers a quieter waterfront setting, parks, and views of Puget Sound. If you enjoy being near the water and spending time outdoors, the area has plenty to offer. The role also requires willingness to travel by ferry and bus daily, so the commute is an important part of deciding whether this opportunity fits your life. Ferry transportation is provided to McNeil Island employees.
Additional pay incentives:
Special Commitment Center (SCC) employees also receive an additional $10 per day premium pay in addition to advertised salary and a free ORCA card for transportation use. Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
Some of what you'll do:
- Help staff explain and apply policies, procedures, and unit rules with residents.
- Encourage residents to take part in approved activities.
- Support staff with unit operations and daily contact with residents.
- Help staff write behavior reports, incident reports, witness statements, and observation reports when residents break rules or act in unsafe ways.
- Work with staff to solve resident concerns and answer their questions.
- Encourage residents to work toward their treatment and living unit goals. Give residents clear direction each day and take the lead when staff respond first to incidents.
-
Who should apply?
Two years of experience providing direct care in a residential or in-patient behavioral health setting.
OR
One year of experience as a supervisor/lead worker and one years of experience providing direct care in a residential or in-patient behavioral health setting.
Equivalent education/experience.
Additional knowledge, skills, and abilities we are looking for:
- De-escalation: Calms tense situations with clear, respectful words before they grow.
- Leadership: Guides residential counselors through daily routines and models steady responses during incidents.
- Communication: Gives residents and staff clear, direct instructions and keeps supervisors informed.
- Writing: Records incidents and resident behavior in accurate, detailed reports others can rely on.
- Problem solving: Works through resident concerns with staff to find fair, workable answers.
- Judgment: Stays alert when working alone on a unit and knows when to call for help.
- Flexibility: Covers other units, fills in as unit staff, and provides breaks as needs come up.
- Inclusion: Treats every resident and coworker with fairness and respect across differences in background, culture, and ability.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Questions? Please contact Georgina.Pringle@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 06265.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
See All 82 Counselor Jobs in Washington
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Find Counselor JobsCounselor Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Counselor Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in counselor jobs across Washington.
- Active Washington State license such as LMHC, LICSW, or LASW or eligible for licensure
- Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated experience with a specific population such as youth, veterans, or individuals with substance use disorders
- Familiarity with evidence-based treatment modalities including CBT, DBT, or motivational interviewing
- Ability to maintain accurate clinical documentation in an electronic health record system
- Clearance through Washington State Patrol background check and DSHS background requirements
Counselor Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a counselor in Washington?
To become a licensed counselor in Washington, you complete a master's degree in counseling or a related field and then apply through the Washington State Department of Health, which oversees credentials including the Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, and Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor designations. Most clinical licenses require supervised post-degree hours and a passing score on a board-approved exam such as the National Counselor Examination before the Department of Health issues a full license.
Which companies hire counselors in Washington?
Companies currently hiring counselors in Washington include Associated Recreation Council, Steve & Kate's Camp, and Washington State Health Care Authority, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Washington's large integrated health systems, county behavioral health agencies, and federally qualified health centers are among the most consistent sources of counselor openings across the state.
Which Washington cities have the most counselor jobs?
Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver have the most counselor openings in Washington. Seattle drives the largest share due to its dense concentration of hospital systems, community mental health centers, and nonprofit behavioral health agencies, while Spokane and Tacoma generate steady demand through their own regional health systems and county-funded behavioral health programs serving substantial local populations.
Are there remote counselor jobs in Washington?
Yes, but they're more selective than in purely desk-based fields, since much counseling work involves direct client interaction that many employers prefer on site. About 29% of counselor openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting steady telehealth adoption since the pandemic. Outpatient mental health counseling and employee assistance program roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility compared to school-based or residential positions.
How can I get hired as a counselor in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing an Agency Affiliated Counselor registration through the Washington State Department of Health, which allows supervised practice before full licensure and is accepted by many community behavioral health agencies for associate-level roles. Large Washington employers such as MultiCare and county behavioral health departments regularly hire counseling associates and case managers who are completing their supervised hours. Adjacent roles like case manager, crisis line counselor, and residential support specialist are common stepping stones that build the clinical documentation and population experience Washington hiring managers look for.
Where can I find and apply to counselor jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to counselor jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your license level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 82 Counselor Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Counselor Jobs