Mental Health Counselor Jobs in Illinois
Mental Health Counselor jobs in Illinois are among the most active in the Midwest, with steady demand from community mental health centers, hospital systems, school districts, and substance use treatment programs at every level from entry-level associate counselor through senior clinician and clinical director. Chicago, Rockford, and the Springfield metro anchor the largest share of openings, where employers like Advocate Aurora Health, Lurie Children's Hospital, and Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare maintain ongoing hiring needs. The most in-demand specialties across Illinois are substance use counseling, trauma-informed care, and school-based mental health. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 11+ Mental Health Counselor jobs
Job Description:
Position Summary
The Mental Health Counselor provides counseling, crisis intervention, referral coordination, and wellness programming for The Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM) students. The Counselor serves as a trusted mental health resource for students, advises IllinoisCOM leadership on student wellness trends and concerns, and contributes to committees and initiatives that support student well-being and the learning environment.
This position requires full-time, in-person presence at the University’s Chicago campus.
Areas of Responsibility
Counseling and Clinical Services
- Provide individual and group counseling services to IllinoisCOM students.
- Evaluate student concerns and determine appropriate counseling, support, referral, or crisis intervention services.
- Provide crisis assessment, intervention, and support for students experiencing acute mental health concerns or situations involving risk of harm to self or others.
- Refer students to community providers and specialized services when appropriate and support continuity of care.
- Coordinate access to counseling and mental health resources for students, including support during emergency situations.
- Develop and deliver programs, workshops, and educational initiatives that support student wellness, successful adjustment to medical school, and the demands of medical education.
- Maintain professional standards of confidentiality, ethics, and clinical practice in accordance with applicable laws, licensure requirements, and institutional policies.
Consultation and Institutional Service
- Advise IllinoisCOM leadership regarding student wellness trends, emerging concerns, and opportunities to support student well-being.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and institutional partners to support student well-being and facilitate access to resources and services.
- Serve on committees, workgroups, and initiatives that support student wellness, student affairs, and the learning environment, including the Student Wellness Committee.
Program Assessment and Professional Practice
- Assess counseling and wellness services to identify utilization trends, student needs, resource requirements, and opportunities for program development.
- Administer and evaluate well-being assessment tools, as appropriate, and use findings to inform programming and services.
- Maintain records, documentation, and reporting practices in accordance with applicable laws, ethical standards, licensure requirements, and institutional policies.
- Maintain professional licensure and participate in continuing education and professional development activities.
Qualifications
Required
- Master's degree in Counseling, Counselor Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
- Current Illinois license in good standing that authorizes independent practice without supervision (e.g., LCPC, LCSW, licensed psychologist, or equivalent).
- Experience providing counseling, crisis intervention, and mental health support services.
Preferred
- Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in a relevant field.
- Experience working in a medical school, higher education, healthcare, or comparable mental health environment.
- Experience supporting graduate or professional students.
- Experience developing and facilitating wellness programming and educational initiatives.
- Experience counseling individuals experiencing academic stress, learning challenges, substance use concerns, career uncertainty, or other issues commonly encountered in higher education settings.
Compensation & Benefits
This opportunity is budgeted at $$85,000.00 - $105,000.00 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/career-opportunities/
The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Please note: For the protection of faculty, staff, students, and all who enter our facilities, The Chicago School strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC guidance.
Job Description:
Position Summary
The Mental Health Counselor provides counseling, crisis intervention, referral coordination, and wellness programming for The Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM) students. The Counselor serves as a trusted mental health resource for students, advises IllinoisCOM leadership on student wellness trends and concerns, and contributes to committees and initiatives that support student well-being and the learning environment.
This position requires full-time, in-person presence at the University’s Chicago campus.
Areas of Responsibility
Counseling and Clinical Services
- Provide individual and group counseling services to IllinoisCOM students.
- Evaluate student concerns and determine appropriate counseling, support, referral, or crisis intervention services.
- Provide crisis assessment, intervention, and support for students experiencing acute mental health concerns or situations involving risk of harm to self or others.
- Refer students to community providers and specialized services when appropriate and support continuity of care.
- Coordinate access to counseling and mental health resources for students, including support during emergency situations.
- Develop and deliver programs, workshops, and educational initiatives that support student wellness, successful adjustment to medical school, and the demands of medical education.
- Maintain professional standards of confidentiality, ethics, and clinical practice in accordance with applicable laws, licensure requirements, and institutional policies.
Consultation and Institutional Service
- Advise IllinoisCOM leadership regarding student wellness trends, emerging concerns, and opportunities to support student well-being.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and institutional partners to support student well-being and facilitate access to resources and services.
- Serve on committees, workgroups, and initiatives that support student wellness, student affairs, and the learning environment, including the Student Wellness Committee.
Program Assessment and Professional Practice
- Assess counseling and wellness services to identify utilization trends, student needs, resource requirements, and opportunities for program development.
- Administer and evaluate well-being assessment tools, as appropriate, and use findings to inform programming and services.
- Maintain records, documentation, and reporting practices in accordance with applicable laws, ethical standards, licensure requirements, and institutional policies.
- Maintain professional licensure and participate in continuing education and professional development activities.
Qualifications
Required
- Master's degree in Counseling, Counselor Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
- Current Illinois license in good standing that authorizes independent practice without supervision (e.g., LCPC, LCSW, licensed psychologist, or equivalent).
- Experience providing counseling, crisis intervention, and mental health support services.
Preferred
- Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in a relevant field.
- Experience working in a medical school, higher education, healthcare, or comparable mental health environment.
- Experience supporting graduate or professional students.
- Experience developing and facilitating wellness programming and educational initiatives.
- Experience counseling individuals experiencing academic stress, learning challenges, substance use concerns, career uncertainty, or other issues commonly encountered in higher education settings.
Compensation & Benefits
This opportunity is budgeted at $$85,000.00 - $105,000.00 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/career-opportunities/
The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Please note: For the protection of faculty, staff, students, and all who enter our facilities, The Chicago School strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC guidance.
See All 11 Mental Health Counselor Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mental Health Counselor JobsMental Health Counselor Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mental Health Counselor Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mental health counselor jobs across Illinois.
- Active Licensed Professional Counselor credential issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Master's degree in counseling, clinical psychology, social work, or closely related field
- Experience delivering individual and group therapy in a clinical or community setting
- Proficiency with electronic health records systems such as Epic or Credible
- Working knowledge of evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, or motivational interviewing
- Ability to complete clinical documentation and maintain compliance with HIPAA requirements
Mental Health Counselor Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mental health counselor in Illinois?
To become a licensed mental health counselor in Illinois, you must earn a master's degree in counseling or a closely related field, then apply for licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Illinois offers the Licensed Professional Counselor designation, which requires passing the National Counselor Examination, and the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor designation, which adds supervised post-degree clinical hours and qualifies you for independent practice.
Which companies hire mental health counselors in Illinois?
Employers hiring mental health counselors in Illinois right now include Thresholds, Focus HR, and Tutor Me Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's large integrated health systems, community mental health organizations, and school districts generate consistent openings across the state throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most mental health counselor jobs?
Chicago, Illinois, and Joliet have the most mental health counselor openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its concentration of hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and nonprofit behavioral health agencies, while Rockford and Springfield draw demand from regional medical centers and community mental health networks that serve large catchment areas outside the Chicago metro.
Are there remote mental health counselor jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many clinical roles, since telehealth has become a standard delivery model for outpatient counseling. About 43% of mental health counselor openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting continued investment in virtual behavioral health services. Individual therapy, case management, and intake assessment roles are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid schedules.
How can I get hired as a mental health counselor in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for counselor associate or behavioral health technician roles while completing the supervised hours required for full Illinois licensure. Large Illinois employers like Advocate Aurora Health, Heartland Health Centers, and county-run community mental health boards regularly hire candidates who hold a master's degree but have not yet reached independent licensure. Earning your Licensed Professional Counselor credential early and targeting programs with built-in clinical supervision strengthens your application considerably.
Where can I find and apply to mental health counselor jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to mental health counselor jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and credentials and apply directly to each employer.
See All 11 Mental Health Counselor Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mental Health Counselor Jobs