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 JobsINTRODUCTION
The Senior Behavioral Health Program Manager serves as the lead behavioral health clinician for the Ryan White Program and is responsible for the delivery, coordination, and continuous improvement of behavioral health services for individuals living with HIV. This position maintains an active clinical caseload, providing evidence-based counseling, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, treatment planning, and care coordination to support client engagement, retention in care, and overall health outcomes.
In addition to direct clinical services, this role provides clinical leadership for the behavioral health program through supervision of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) supervisees, consultation to interdisciplinary care teams, staff development, quality improvement activities, and program planning. The position ensures compliance with Ryan White Program requirements, professional standards, and applicable regulatory guidelines while supporting the expansion and enhancement of behavioral health services to meet the evolving needs of the population served.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibility 1: Direct Client Care (70%)
- Serve as the lead behavioral health provider for the Ryan White Program, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services to individuals living with HIV.
- Maintain an active client caseload and provide individual, family, and group counseling services.
- Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, mental health evaluations, crisis intervention, and risk assessments.
- Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans that support client engagement, retention in care, and improved health outcomes.
- Collaborate with medical providers, case managers, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and address barriers to treatment adherence and care engagement.
- Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences and provide behavioral health expertise to support complex client care.
- Facilitate referrals and linkages to behavioral health, substance use, and community-based support services.
- Ensure clinical services are delivered in accordance with Ryan White Program requirements, agency policies, and professional standards.
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation within the electronic health record.
Responsibility 2: Clinical Supervision (15%):
- Provide individual and group clinical supervision to LCSW supervisees pursuing clinical licensure.
- Review and approve clinical documentation, assessments, and treatment plans completed by supervisees.
- Monitor supervisee progress toward licensure requirements and professional development goals.
- Provide coaching and consultation on clinical interventions, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and client engagement.
- Support staff development through training, mentoring, and professional growth opportunities.
- Maintain supervision records in accordance with Virginia licensing requirements.
Responsibility 3: Program Administration and Quality Improvement (10%):
- Support planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral health services within the Ryan White Program.
- Participate in quality management and quality improvement initiatives.
- Monitor program outcomes and performance measures and assist with required grant reporting activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, access to care, and client outcomes.
- Participate in program meetings, committees, trainings, and strategic planning activities.
Responsibility 4: Other Duties as Assigned (5%):
- Assist or execute other tasks as needed by the program or supervisor.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
Licensure
- Current, unrestricted Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Board-approved Clinical Supervisor designation or eligibility to provide supervision under Virginia licensing regulations.
Experience
- Minimum of three years of post-licensure clinical experience providing behavioral health services to adults with complex medical and behavioral health needs.
- Experience working with individuals living with HIV/AIDS, chronic illness, substance use disorders, trauma, or co-occurring conditions preferred.
- Prior supervision experience preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of HIV-related psychosocial issues and Ryan White Program requirements.
- Knowledge of evidence-based behavioral health interventions and trauma-informed care practices.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from all backgrounds and underserved communities.
- Excellent assessment, treatment planning, and clinical documentation skills.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership abilities.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.
- Maintain a strong collaborative relationship with VCU members, international site partners, directors, and program coordinators.
- Demonstrate experience building, leading, motivating, and assessing small professional teams.
- Ability to advise team on the implementation and modification of technological components of medical education.
- Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret information for senior University leaders.
- Ability to oversee team training and access University systems.
- Exemplify the University's educational mission, strategic aims, and programs.
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
SALARY RANGE
- Up to $95,000 (Commensurate with experience)
BENEFITS
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
HOURS PER WEEK: 40
RESTRICTED POSITION: Yes
ORP ELIGIBLE: Yes
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT: Hybrid
UNIVERSITY JOB TITLE: 2121S - Sr Counselor HS Senior
CONTACT NAME: Jewel Jefferson
CONTACT EMAIL: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org
LOCATION
- 907 Floyd Avenue, MCV Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
- 907 Floyd Avenue, VCU Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
JOB TYPE
- Full-Time (Salaried)
INTRODUCTION
The Senior Behavioral Health Program Manager serves as the lead behavioral health clinician for the Ryan White Program and is responsible for the delivery, coordination, and continuous improvement of behavioral health services for individuals living with HIV. This position maintains an active clinical caseload, providing evidence-based counseling, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, treatment planning, and care coordination to support client engagement, retention in care, and overall health outcomes.
In addition to direct clinical services, this role provides clinical leadership for the behavioral health program through supervision of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) supervisees, consultation to interdisciplinary care teams, staff development, quality improvement activities, and program planning. The position ensures compliance with Ryan White Program requirements, professional standards, and applicable regulatory guidelines while supporting the expansion and enhancement of behavioral health services to meet the evolving needs of the population served.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibility 1: Direct Client Care (70%)
- Serve as the lead behavioral health provider for the Ryan White Program, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services to individuals living with HIV.
- Maintain an active client caseload and provide individual, family, and group counseling services.
- Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, mental health evaluations, crisis intervention, and risk assessments.
- Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans that support client engagement, retention in care, and improved health outcomes.
- Collaborate with medical providers, case managers, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and address barriers to treatment adherence and care engagement.
- Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences and provide behavioral health expertise to support complex client care.
- Facilitate referrals and linkages to behavioral health, substance use, and community-based support services.
- Ensure clinical services are delivered in accordance with Ryan White Program requirements, agency policies, and professional standards.
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation within the electronic health record.
Responsibility 2: Clinical Supervision (15%):
- Provide individual and group clinical supervision to LCSW supervisees pursuing clinical licensure.
- Review and approve clinical documentation, assessments, and treatment plans completed by supervisees.
- Monitor supervisee progress toward licensure requirements and professional development goals.
- Provide coaching and consultation on clinical interventions, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and client engagement.
- Support staff development through training, mentoring, and professional growth opportunities.
- Maintain supervision records in accordance with Virginia licensing requirements.
Responsibility 3: Program Administration and Quality Improvement (10%):
- Support planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral health services within the Ryan White Program.
- Participate in quality management and quality improvement initiatives.
- Monitor program outcomes and performance measures and assist with required grant reporting activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, access to care, and client outcomes.
- Participate in program meetings, committees, trainings, and strategic planning activities.
Responsibility 4: Other Duties as Assigned (5%):
- Assist or execute other tasks as needed by the program or supervisor.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
Licensure
- Current, unrestricted Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Board-approved Clinical Supervisor designation or eligibility to provide supervision under Virginia licensing regulations.
Experience
- Minimum of three years of post-licensure clinical experience providing behavioral health services to adults with complex medical and behavioral health needs.
- Experience working with individuals living with HIV/AIDS, chronic illness, substance use disorders, trauma, or co-occurring conditions preferred.
- Prior supervision experience preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of HIV-related psychosocial issues and Ryan White Program requirements.
- Knowledge of evidence-based behavioral health interventions and trauma-informed care practices.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from all backgrounds and underserved communities.
- Excellent assessment, treatment planning, and clinical documentation skills.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership abilities.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.
- Maintain a strong collaborative relationship with VCU members, international site partners, directors, and program coordinators.
- Demonstrate experience building, leading, motivating, and assessing small professional teams.
- Ability to advise team on the implementation and modification of technological components of medical education.
- Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret information for senior University leaders.
- Ability to oversee team training and access University systems.
- Exemplify the University's educational mission, strategic aims, and programs.
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
SALARY RANGE
- Up to $95,000 (Commensurate with experience)
BENEFITS
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
HOURS PER WEEK: 40
RESTRICTED POSITION: Yes
ORP ELIGIBLE: Yes
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT: Hybrid
UNIVERSITY JOB TITLE: 2121S - Sr Counselor HS Senior
CONTACT NAME: Jewel Jefferson
CONTACT EMAIL: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org
LOCATION
- 907 Floyd Avenue, MCV Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
- 907 Floyd Avenue, VCU Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
JOB TYPE
- Full-Time (Salaried)
See all 11,935+ 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.