Mental Health Counselor Jobs in South Carolina
Mental Health Counselor jobs in South Carolina are concentrated in community mental health centers, hospital systems, school-based programs, and substance use treatment facilities, with demand at every level from licensed associate to clinical supervisor. The busiest hiring markets are Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston, where established employers like Prisma Health, MUSC Health, and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health sustain consistent openings year over year. The most in-demand specialties are trauma-informed care, substance use disorder counseling, and school counseling. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 9+ Mental Health Counselor jobs
Job Responsibilities
Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Mental Health Professional I/Alcohol Addiction Counselor/Assertive Community Team who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.
This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, 164 Waccamaw Medical Park Drive, Conway, SC 29526.
This position MAY be eligible for SCOMH Student Loan Repayment to cover some of the cost of your outstanding loan(s) balance associated with the completion of a healthcare degree that is relevant to the appliable position.
As the Mental Health Professional I, you will serve on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team providing evidenced based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.
Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I include:- Conduct comprehensive substance use assessments plus track beneficiary's stages of change readiness and stages of treatment.
- Ensure patients are seen in accordance with their needs and the team's treatment approaches are consistent with beneficiary's stages of change readiness.
- Facilitate access to 12 step and community groups.
- Provide direct services to patients using cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention, with outreach and motivational interviewing techniques in earlier states of change readiness.
- Enable the person-centered planning process for beneficiaries assigned to them.
- Participate in clinical supervision, treatment team meetings and pursue professional development.
- Serve as a consultant and educator to the ACT team members on the topic of integrated dual disorder treatment.
- Complete documentation according to State, Federal, Local, OMH, Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance and CARF standards.
- Timely completion of the prior authorization process.
- Required to complete all annual trainings regarding safety, clinical operations, cultural affairs and MAPS (Managing Agitated Patients).
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
- Presentation of comprehensive oral and written reports to peers, community members and senior leadership.
- Must identify and effectively utilize resources available in the community to accomplish agency and program objectives.
- Able to demonstrate knowledge of psychopathology family dynamics, group and family psychotherapy.
Minimum and Additional Requirements
- A master's degree in guidance, counseling or social services is a requirement.
- State of South Carolina licensure as a License Addiction Counselor or Certified Professional. Active or a master's in addiction counseling is a requirement. Master Level Certified Addictions Counselor. No exceptions.
- Must meet OMH credentialing requirements which include specific graduate course work including Psychopathology/Psychopathology Diagnostics/Clinical Assessments - Practice with Family Therapy (DSM) and medical ethics.
- Must be able to show one year evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care and working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. This experience maybe documented as a practicum, internship or post-graduate experience.
- Must provide current active Addiction Counseling state licensure with application or graduate transcript for addiction counseling.
- Ability to lift 20 pounds; ability to see, hear at normal volumes, stand, walk, reach, pull, stoop, bend and climb at least two (2) flights of stairs. Ability to tolerate noise level and circulate in patient areas for long periods of time. Must be able to work with repetitive patient behaviors.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.
Additional Comments
Post Hire, Employee Must:
- Be able to provide a 10-year driving record.
- Be able to use a state vehicle for work related purposes.
- Use clinical judgement while working independently at times and be self-directed.
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:
- Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
- 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
- 15 days sick leave per year
- 13 paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
-
Retirement benefit choices *
- State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.
Job Responsibilities
Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Mental Health Professional I/Alcohol Addiction Counselor/Assertive Community Team who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.
This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, 164 Waccamaw Medical Park Drive, Conway, SC 29526.
This position MAY be eligible for SCOMH Student Loan Repayment to cover some of the cost of your outstanding loan(s) balance associated with the completion of a healthcare degree that is relevant to the appliable position.
As the Mental Health Professional I, you will serve on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team providing evidenced based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.
Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I include:- Conduct comprehensive substance use assessments plus track beneficiary's stages of change readiness and stages of treatment.
- Ensure patients are seen in accordance with their needs and the team's treatment approaches are consistent with beneficiary's stages of change readiness.
- Facilitate access to 12 step and community groups.
- Provide direct services to patients using cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention, with outreach and motivational interviewing techniques in earlier states of change readiness.
- Enable the person-centered planning process for beneficiaries assigned to them.
- Participate in clinical supervision, treatment team meetings and pursue professional development.
- Serve as a consultant and educator to the ACT team members on the topic of integrated dual disorder treatment.
- Complete documentation according to State, Federal, Local, OMH, Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance and CARF standards.
- Timely completion of the prior authorization process.
- Required to complete all annual trainings regarding safety, clinical operations, cultural affairs and MAPS (Managing Agitated Patients).
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
- Presentation of comprehensive oral and written reports to peers, community members and senior leadership.
- Must identify and effectively utilize resources available in the community to accomplish agency and program objectives.
- Able to demonstrate knowledge of psychopathology family dynamics, group and family psychotherapy.
Minimum and Additional Requirements
- A master's degree in guidance, counseling or social services is a requirement.
- State of South Carolina licensure as a License Addiction Counselor or Certified Professional. Active or a master's in addiction counseling is a requirement. Master Level Certified Addictions Counselor. No exceptions.
- Must meet OMH credentialing requirements which include specific graduate course work including Psychopathology/Psychopathology Diagnostics/Clinical Assessments - Practice with Family Therapy (DSM) and medical ethics.
- Must be able to show one year evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care and working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. This experience maybe documented as a practicum, internship or post-graduate experience.
- Must provide current active Addiction Counseling state licensure with application or graduate transcript for addiction counseling.
- Ability to lift 20 pounds; ability to see, hear at normal volumes, stand, walk, reach, pull, stoop, bend and climb at least two (2) flights of stairs. Ability to tolerate noise level and circulate in patient areas for long periods of time. Must be able to work with repetitive patient behaviors.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.
Additional Comments
Post Hire, Employee Must:
- Be able to provide a 10-year driving record.
- Be able to use a state vehicle for work related purposes.
- Use clinical judgement while working independently at times and be self-directed.
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:
- Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
- 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
- 15 days sick leave per year
- 13 paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
-
Retirement benefit choices *
- State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.
See All 9 Mental Health Counselor Jobs in South Carolina
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Find Mental Health Counselor JobsMental Health Counselor Jobs by City in South Carolina
Where South Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mental Health Counselor Job Market in South Carolina
A snapshot from current South Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What South Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mental health counselor jobs across South Carolina.
- Active South Carolina LPC or LPCA license issued by the SC Board of Examiners in Counseling
- Master's degree in counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or closely related field
- Documented supervised clinical hours meeting South Carolina licensure requirements
- Experience conducting individual, group, or family therapy in a clinical or community setting
- Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical documentation standards
- Ability to complete required background checks and credentialing for South Carolina healthcare employers
Mental Health Counselor Jobs in South Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mental health counselor in South Carolina?
To become a licensed professional counselor in South Carolina, you must earn a master's degree in counseling or a related field, then apply to the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Counseling for a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate credential while you complete post-graduate supervised hours. After fulfilling the supervision requirement and passing the National Counselor Examination, you apply for full LPC licensure. Most South Carolina employers require licensure or active associate status before hiring independently.
Which companies hire mental health counselors in South Carolina?
Companies currently hiring mental health counselors in South Carolina include Oceanic Counseling Group, Thornwell, and Columbia Speaks, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. South Carolina's public mental health system, anchored by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and its statewide network of community mental health centers, also represents one of the largest and most consistent sources of openings in the state.
Which South Carolina cities have the most mental health counselor jobs?
Myrtle Beach, Horry County, and Columbia lead South Carolina for mental health counselor openings. Columbia drives the largest share of listings as the state capital and home to major employers like Prisma Health and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health headquarters, while Greenville reflects Upstate growth through Prisma Health's Upstate network and a growing outpatient sector, and Charleston's concentration of MUSC Health facilities and veteran-serving programs sustains strong demand there as well.
Are there remote mental health counselor jobs in South Carolina?
Yes, and more than most clinical fields, because telehealth counseling sessions are widely accepted by South Carolina insurers and Medicaid. About 0% of mental health counselor openings tied to South Carolina are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting continued telehealth adoption since its expansion across the state. Fully remote roles tend to be concentrated in individual therapy and case management functions rather than crisis or group-based work, which still requires in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a mental health counselor in South Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is obtaining your Licensed Professional Counselor Associate credential in South Carolina and applying directly to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health's community mental health centers, which routinely onboard new graduates into supervised clinical roles. Prisma Health and MUSC Health also offer practicum-to-hire pipelines and post-master's residency tracks. Adjacent roles like case manager, crisis stabilization specialist, or behavioral health technician at these same institutions are common lateral entry points that lead to counselor positions once licensure is in progress.
Where can I find and apply to mental health counselor jobs in South Carolina?
You can find and apply to mental health counselor jobs in South Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings for roles that match your license level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 9 Mental Health Counselor Jobs in South Carolina
Find roles in South Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mental Health Counselor Jobs