H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs
Behavioral Health Counselor roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a directly related field. Many hospitals, community mental health centers, and nonprofit agencies sponsor H-1B petitions for licensed counselors, making this a viable path to long-term U.S. work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsCounselor-Behavioral Health MS Licensed-PRN
Job Description
Overview
Position Title: Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Licensed
Location: Riley Hospital
Shift: PRN
Position Summary
The Behavioral Health Counselor, MS Licensed facilitates patient involvement in the milieu of treatment and education, performing individual, group, and family counseling as well as utilization review and discharge planning functions. This role communicates and collaborates with all members of the health care team to ensure patients receive safe, timely, and comprehensive care, while interpreting and communicating complex patient and family needs and role modeling caring practices to other caregivers. The Counselor assesses patients' and families' psychosocial risk factors, counsels on the emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness or disability, and mobilizes family and community resources to meet identified needs. This position serves as the point person for child abuse/neglect, adult and elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence cases, acting as liaison between Indiana University Health and state and county protective service teams, and provides intervention related to guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements.
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitates patient involvement in the milieu of treatment and education.
- Performs functions of individual, group, and family counseling.
- Performs all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning.
- Communicates and collaborates with all members of the health care team to facilitate the episode of care so the patient receives services in a safe and timely manner, and the patient and family are provided all necessary resources and education.
- Interprets and communicates complex patient/family needs and role models caring practices to other caregivers.
- Assesses patients' and families' psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning levels, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to cope.
- Counsels patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability.
- Accesses and mobilizes family/community resources to meet identified needs.
- Provides mental health assessments of patients upon physician referral.
- Provides therapeutic intervention to facilitate complex discharge planning.
- Serves as the point person in child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
- Serves as liaison between Indiana University Health and state and county child and adult protective teams.
- Provides intervention in guardianship (temporary/permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements.
Qualifications
Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health field such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field is required.
Requires 3-5 years of relevant experience.
Requires current license in the state of Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC or HSPP.
Certification in crisis intervention may be required.
BLS certification may be required.
Requires relevant health care, mental health, or community-based experience.
Requires knowledge of the impact of the disease process and of human behavior to provide psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention to patients, families and staff.
Requires knowledge and implementation of relevant Evidenced Based Practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
Requires knowledge of state and county adult and child protective legal mandates.
Requires knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
Maintains principles, practices and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
Requires the ability to provide a safe and therapeutic environment, including instruction of daily activities and programming.
Requires basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Record and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Requires the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with the community, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/CPS, schools, probation and other agencies as indicated.
About IU Health
IU Health is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, with nearly 40,000 team members, 16 hospitals, and $8.64 billion in operating revenue. Our programs in cancer, cardiovascular, neuroscience, orthopedics, pediatrics, and transplants are nationally recognized. In partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, IU Health combines research, education, and clinical excellence to improve health outcomes for Indiana communities.
Benefits Designed for You
We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Indiana University Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state. Our partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine gives our team members access to the very latest science and the very best training, advancing care for all. We’re looking for team members who share the things that matter most to us. People who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day. People who are always ready to apply themselves.
Counselor-Behavioral Health MS Licensed-PRN
Job Description
Overview
Position Title: Behavioral Health Counselor-MS Licensed
Location: Riley Hospital
Shift: PRN
Position Summary
The Behavioral Health Counselor, MS Licensed facilitates patient involvement in the milieu of treatment and education, performing individual, group, and family counseling as well as utilization review and discharge planning functions. This role communicates and collaborates with all members of the health care team to ensure patients receive safe, timely, and comprehensive care, while interpreting and communicating complex patient and family needs and role modeling caring practices to other caregivers. The Counselor assesses patients' and families' psychosocial risk factors, counsels on the emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness or disability, and mobilizes family and community resources to meet identified needs. This position serves as the point person for child abuse/neglect, adult and elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence cases, acting as liaison between Indiana University Health and state and county protective service teams, and provides intervention related to guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements.
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitates patient involvement in the milieu of treatment and education.
- Performs functions of individual, group, and family counseling.
- Performs all functions related to utilization review and discharge planning.
- Communicates and collaborates with all members of the health care team to facilitate the episode of care so the patient receives services in a safe and timely manner, and the patient and family are provided all necessary resources and education.
- Interprets and communicates complex patient/family needs and role models caring practices to other caregivers.
- Assesses patients' and families' psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning levels, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to cope.
- Counsels patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability.
- Accesses and mobilizes family/community resources to meet identified needs.
- Provides mental health assessments of patients upon physician referral.
- Provides therapeutic intervention to facilitate complex discharge planning.
- Serves as the point person in child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
- Serves as liaison between Indiana University Health and state and county child and adult protective teams.
- Provides intervention in guardianship (temporary/permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health level II placements.
Qualifications
Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health field such as Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field is required.
Requires 3-5 years of relevant experience.
Requires current license in the state of Indiana as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAC or HSPP.
Certification in crisis intervention may be required.
BLS certification may be required.
Requires relevant health care, mental health, or community-based experience.
Requires knowledge of the impact of the disease process and of human behavior to provide psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention to patients, families and staff.
Requires knowledge and implementation of relevant Evidenced Based Practices (CBT, MI, DBT).
Requires knowledge of state and county adult and child protective legal mandates.
Requires knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
Maintains principles, practices and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
Requires the ability to provide a safe and therapeutic environment, including instruction of daily activities and programming.
Requires basic proficiency in Electronic Medical Record and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Requires the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with the community, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/CPS, schools, probation and other agencies as indicated.
About IU Health
IU Health is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, with nearly 40,000 team members, 16 hospitals, and $8.64 billion in operating revenue. Our programs in cancer, cardiovascular, neuroscience, orthopedics, pediatrics, and transplants are nationally recognized. In partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, IU Health combines research, education, and clinical excellence to improve health outcomes for Indiana communities.
Benefits Designed for You
We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Indiana University Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state. Our partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine gives our team members access to the very latest science and the very best training, advancing care for all. We’re looking for team members who share the things that matter most to us. People who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day. People who are always ready to apply themselves.
See all 10,328+ H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Behavioral Health Counselor
Verify your licensure transfers across states
State licensure requirements for behavioral health counselors vary significantly. Confirm that your credentials meet the licensing board requirements of the state where the employer operates before applying, since your H-1B petition is tied to a specific work location.
Check employer LCA filing history first
Before reaching out to a potential employer, search their Labor Condition Application history through Migrate Mate to confirm they've sponsored H-1B petitions for counseling or mental health roles, not just unrelated positions.
Target cap-exempt employers in behavioral health
Nonprofit mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, and university-affiliated clinics are often cap-exempt H-1B employers. Filing through these organizations bypasses the annual lottery entirely and lets you start sooner.
Confirm your role meets specialty occupation standards
Use O*NET to document that Behavioral Health Counselor roles require a specific bachelor's degree or higher. USCIS scrutinizes this requirement closely for counseling positions, so having the occupation profile ready strengthens your petition.
Request the employer file before your OPT expires
If you're transitioning from F-1 OPT, give your employer at least 90 days before your OPT end date to file the H-1B petition. USCIS processing under standard service can run three to five months, and cap-gap protection only applies if the petition is filed on time.
Negotiate the prevailing wage tier into your offer
The DOL assigns your role a prevailing wage level based on duties and supervision. Use OFLC Wage Search to identify the wage level your employer selected on the LCA, and ensure your offered salary meets or exceeds that level before signing.
H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Behavioral Health Counselor role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, if the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a closely related field. USCIS evaluates this on a case-by-case basis, so the job description must specify the degree requirement. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field are more likely to receive a Request for Evidence.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for behavioral health counselors?
Hospitals, community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, nonprofit behavioral health agencies, and university counseling programs are common sponsors. Many of these organizations are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year without entering the annual lottery. You can filter for verified sponsors on Migrate Mate.
Does my state license affect my H-1B petition as a counselor?
Yes, directly. Your H-1B is tied to the state where you'll work, and USCIS expects you to hold or be eligible for the applicable state license. If your home-country credentials require a licensure evaluation before you can obtain a state license, start that process early since it can take several months and may affect your petition timeline.
Can I switch behavioral health counselor employers on an H-1B?
Yes, under H-1B portability rules established by AC21, you can transfer to a new employer once your original petition has been pending for 180 days or more. Your new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition before you start, and the new role must remain in a specialty occupation. The 60-day grace period gives you time to secure a new petition if you're laid off.
What documentation should I prepare for an H-1B petition in this field?
Your employer will need your academic transcripts, any credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., state licensure documentation or eligibility confirmation, and a detailed job description that ties the role to your specific degree field. A foreign credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization is typically required if your counseling degree was earned abroad.