H-1B Visa Family Counselor Jobs
Family Counselor roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Many positions in community mental health centers, hospital systems, and nonprofit agencies actively file LCAs through DOL and sponsor H-1B petitions annually.
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For over 35 years, Youth Villages has transformed the lives of children and families nationwide through innovative, research-based programs focused on preserving and restoring families.
As a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, we serve more than 47,000 youth, young people, and their families annually across 29 states and Washington, D.C. Our proven treatment models drive long-term success in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems. At Youth Villages, we do what works — partnering with others to expand our impact and advocate for meaningful, lasting change.
We're seeking purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about making a difference. With a dedicated team of more than 5,000 staff, Youth Villages is committed to investing in and supporting our employees by offering opportunities to build a fulfilling career through professional growth, personal development, and a mission that matters— helping children and families live successfully.
Program Overview:
Youth Villages provides intensive in-home services for youth ages 12 to 17 through Multisystemic Therapy (MST®), an evidence-based therapeutic model designed to support adjudicated youth—adolescents who are involved in or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system—and their families. MST focuses on the multiple systems that influence a young person’s behavior, including their family, peer group, school, and community. Family Counselors work directly with the youth and caregivers in the home, school, and community settings and are available 24/7 to provide therapeutic and crisis support.
The primary goal of MST is to equip caregivers with effective tools to manage challenging behaviors, reduce the risk of out-of-home placement, and promote lasting positive change. Specific objectives include improving school attendance and academic performance, decreasing substance use, enhancing prosocial connections, and strengthening family functioning.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The MST Family Counselor:
- Carries a caseload of 4 to 5 families
- Holds individual and family sessions with each family 3 times a week, scheduled at the convenience of the families
- Conducts multi-systemic therapy (MST) assessments that include identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context
- Engages primary caregivers and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying/overcoming barriers and maintains alignment while receiving services
- Provides direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices
- Provides on-call crisis support to the youth and family (schedules vary by location)
- Attends 3 weekly meetings (individual, team, and clinical consultation) for professional development to help enhance clinical skills
- Completes accurate and timely documentation in an electronic medical record system (EMR)
- Performs other duties as assigned
Additional Information:
- Schedule is flexible and non-traditional as it is based around the availability of youth and families served.
- Applicants must possess a current, valid driver’s license, an automobile for work purposes, and proof of auto insurance.
- Community-based staff will be reimbursed for applicable mileage.
Salary
$58,000 - $66,000 / salary based on education and clinical license
Qualifications
It is Youth Villages’ policy to hire candidates that meet one of the following levels of education and experience:
Bachelor’s Degree Applicant Qualifications:
- Must possess degree at time of application.
- Degree must be in a clinical field of study.
- Must have two years of full-time clinical experience (4,000 hours) with designated population.
Master’s Degree Applicant Qualifications:
- Must possess degree at time of application.
- Degree must be in a clinical field of study.
- Must have one year of full-time clinical experience (2,000 hours) with designated population.
Clinical Licensed Applicant Qualifications:
- Must hold one of the following licenses in the state of North Carolina: LCMHC-A, LMFT-A, LCSW-A, or LCAS-A.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Basic computer knowledge
- Ability to maintain a flexible schedule
Youth Villages Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
- 401(k)
- Time off:
-
- 2 week paid vacation (full-time) / 1 week paid vacation (part-time)
- 12 paid sick days per year
- 11 paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable)
- Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision
- Growth & development through continuous training
- Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities
Benefits are excluded for variable status employees.
Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.
See all 114+ H-1B Visa Family Counselor Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Family Counselor
Verify your license meets state requirements
H-1B approval for Family Counselors depends partly on holding a state-recognized license or being license-eligible. Confirm your credentials align with the hiring state's licensure board before applying, since unlicensed roles rarely satisfy USCIS specialty occupation standards.
Use OFLC Wage Search to set salary expectations
Look up the prevailing wage for Family Counselor roles in your target city before negotiating offers. DOL requires employers to pay at least the prevailing wage in the LCA, so knowing the Level I through Level IV ranges prevents you from accepting a compliant but underpaid offer.
Target hospital systems and federally funded agencies
Hospital networks, federally qualified health centers, and Title IV-E agencies file LCAs more consistently than private practices. These employers have HR infrastructure for H-1B filings and are less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-process due to unfamiliarity with USCIS requirements.
Search Migrate Mate to find verified H-1B sponsors
Filter Family Counselor openings by employers with active H-1B LCA filing history. Migrate Mate surfaces DOL disclosure data so you're applying to organizations that have already committed to sponsoring this role, not ones guessing at the process.
Clarify degree equivalency before your employer files
If your counseling degree is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation from a NACES-approved organization before your employer submits Form I-129. USCIS scrutinizes foreign degree equivalency closely for behavioral health roles, and an unevaluated transcript often triggers an RFE.
Confirm the job description references a specific degree field
Family Counselor postings that say 'bachelor's degree in any field' typically can't support an H-1B petition. Ask your employer to specify counseling, psychology, social work, or marriage and family therapy in the offer letter and I-129 before USCIS reviews the specialty occupation claim.
H-1B Visa Family Counselor: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Family Counselor role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, if the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as counseling, psychology, social work, or marriage and family therapy. USCIS denies H-1B petitions for Family Counselor roles when the employer's job description accepts any bachelor's degree regardless of field, so the degree requirement must be role-specific and documented in the petition.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for Family Counselors?
Hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, university counseling centers, and large nonprofit behavioral health agencies file LCAs for Family Counselors most consistently. Private practices and small outpatient clinics rarely sponsor H-1B petitions because they lack the HR infrastructure. You can filter by verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate to identify employers who have filed for this role before.
Does a Family Counselor need a state license to get H-1B sponsorship?
Not always at the petition stage, but many employers require license eligibility or an associate license at minimum. Some states mandate licensure for billable clinical work, so an unlicensed role may not meet specialty occupation criteria under USCIS standards. Confirm the hiring state's licensure requirements and make sure your status is reflected accurately in the I-129 filing.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect Family Counselors seeking sponsorship?
Most Family Counselor positions at for-profit employers are subject to the annual H-1B cap of 65,000 regular-cap slots plus 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders. Employers must register in the USCIS lottery each March for an October 1 start date. Roles at nonprofit mental health agencies, government entities, or higher education institutions may qualify as cap-exempt, which allows filing at any time.
Can a Family Counselor change employers after receiving H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules established by AC21, you can start working for a new employer as soon as they file a new H-1B petition on your behalf, provided your current H-1B has been approved and you've maintained valid status. The new employer must file a new LCA with DOL and submit Form I-129 before your existing status expires.