Mental Health Professional Jobs in Illinois
Mental Health Professional jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in community mental health centers, hospital systems, school districts, and integrated care settings, with openings from entry-level counselor and case manager roles through senior clinical supervisors and program directors. Chicago, Rockford, and Springfield account for the largest share of postings, with employers such as Advocate Health Care, Rush University Medical Center, and Thresholds actively hiring. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois include substance use disorder treatment, school-based mental health, and crisis intervention. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 48+ Mental Health Professional jobs
Join the team at Robert Young Center as a Jail-Based Mental Health Professional and make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals in need of behavioral health support. This position will be housed at the Rock Island County Jail, where you’ll provide trauma-informed care and case management services to adults with severe mental illness, including diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and coordination of care.
You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team to promote safety, stability, and recovery while connecting individuals with the support and resources they need. If you’re compassionate, collaborative, and passionate about making a difference in behavioral health, we invite you to join our dedicated team at Robert Young Center.
At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.
Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:
- Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
- Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
- Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.
With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.
And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.
Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.
Responsibilities:- Performs diagnostic assessments and collects diagnostic information to determine an individualized treatment plan for the client.
- Plans treatment modalities, coordinates treatment plans and follows clients through the treatment process.
- Provides counseling, problem-solving and community support (individual and group).
- Requests consultation for clients that includes but is not limited to providers, social workers, and nursing staff when necessary.
- Evaluate the client’s treatment plan through follow-up assessment and makes adjustments based on clinical findings.
- Requires a high school diploma or GED and a minimum of five years documented clinical experience in mental health or human services; or
- An individual possessing a certificate of psychiatric rehabilitation from a DHS-approved program, plus ahigh school diploma or GED, plus two years' documented exeprience in providing mental health services; or
- Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in human services field.
- Two years supervised experience in mental health or human services in preferred.
- Valid driver's license
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 6 months of hire.
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training within 6 months of hire.
- Obtain certification within 2 months of hire and re-certify annually according to the requirements set forth in the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services related to the Illinois Medicaid Comprehensive Needs & Strengths (IM+CANS)
- Specific offers are determined by various factors, such as experience, skills, internal equity, and other business needs. The salary range listed does not include other forms of compensation which may include bonuses/incentive, differential pay, or other forms of compensation or benefits that may be applicable to this role.
Join the team at Robert Young Center as a Jail-Based Mental Health Professional and make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals in need of behavioral health support. This position will be housed at the Rock Island County Jail, where you’ll provide trauma-informed care and case management services to adults with severe mental illness, including diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and coordination of care.
You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team to promote safety, stability, and recovery while connecting individuals with the support and resources they need. If you’re compassionate, collaborative, and passionate about making a difference in behavioral health, we invite you to join our dedicated team at Robert Young Center.
At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.
Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:
- Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
- Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
- Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.
With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.
And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.
Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.
Responsibilities:- Performs diagnostic assessments and collects diagnostic information to determine an individualized treatment plan for the client.
- Plans treatment modalities, coordinates treatment plans and follows clients through the treatment process.
- Provides counseling, problem-solving and community support (individual and group).
- Requests consultation for clients that includes but is not limited to providers, social workers, and nursing staff when necessary.
- Evaluate the client’s treatment plan through follow-up assessment and makes adjustments based on clinical findings.
- Requires a high school diploma or GED and a minimum of five years documented clinical experience in mental health or human services; or
- An individual possessing a certificate of psychiatric rehabilitation from a DHS-approved program, plus ahigh school diploma or GED, plus two years' documented exeprience in providing mental health services; or
- Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in human services field.
- Two years supervised experience in mental health or human services in preferred.
- Valid driver's license
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 6 months of hire.
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training within 6 months of hire.
- Obtain certification within 2 months of hire and re-certify annually according to the requirements set forth in the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services related to the Illinois Medicaid Comprehensive Needs & Strengths (IM+CANS)
- Specific offers are determined by various factors, such as experience, skills, internal equity, and other business needs. The salary range listed does not include other forms of compensation which may include bonuses/incentive, differential pay, or other forms of compensation or benefits that may be applicable to this role.
See All 48 Mental Health Professional Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsMental Health Professional Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mental Health Professional Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Non-Profit & Social Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mental health professional jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois licensure such as LCPC, LCSW, LMFT, or LPHA as applicable
- Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related clinical field
- Experience with evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, or trauma-informed care
- Proficiency in electronic health records platforms used in Illinois behavioral health settings
- Ability to complete IDPH-required background checks and Illinois DCFS clearance
- Strong documentation skills meeting Illinois Medicaid and managed care billing requirements
Mental Health Professional Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mental health professional in Illinois?
Most licensed mental health roles in Illinois require a master's degree followed by supervised clinical hours and a state exam administered through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which oversees credentials such as the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Candidates complete post-degree supervised experience, pass the relevant licensure exam, and apply to IDFPR for licensure before practicing independently in Illinois.
Which companies hire mental health professionals in Illinois?
Employers hiring mental health professionals in Illinois right now include Wellpath, Trinity Services, and UnityPoint Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois also has a strong nonprofit behavioral health sector, with organizations like Thresholds, Heartland Alliance, and Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare consistently posting clinical and case management roles.
Which Illinois cities have the most mental health professional jobs?
Chicago, Joliet, and Waukegan have the most mental health professional openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its dense concentration of hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and community mental health agencies, while Rockford and Springfield draw postings from regional medical centers, state government behavioral health programs, and school district contracts that serve their broader metro populations.
Are there remote mental health professional jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many clinical fields, because teletherapy has become an established delivery model for outpatient counseling and psychiatry. About 0% of mental health professional openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting ongoing telehealth expansion across the state. Outpatient therapy, care coordination, and utilization review positions are most likely to offer fully remote or hybrid arrangements, while crisis, residential, and school-based roles remain predominantly on-site.
How can I get hired as a mental health professional in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a mental health technician, case manager, or crisis line specialist role, which Illinois employers routinely fill with candidates who hold a bachelor's degree but are not yet licensed. Large Illinois systems such as Advocate Health Care and Cook County Health, along with nonprofits like Thresholds, run new-staff onboarding tracks that pair unlicensed staff with clinical supervisors. Completing pre-licensure supervised hours in these settings while pursuing an IDFPR-recognized credential like the LCPC or LCSW gives candidates a clear, structured path into fully licensed positions.
Where can I find and apply to mental health professional jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to mental health professional jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from Illinois employers across clinical, community, school-based, and telehealth settings. Search the listings to see roles that match your license level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 48 Mental Health Professional Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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