Entry Level Staff Counselor Jobs
New grad staff counselor jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong internship background or hands-on fieldwork can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles concentrated in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Government & Public Sector, with employers like Riverside Community Care, Youth Villages, and Eliot Community Human Services hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 254+ Entry Level Staff Counselor jobs
Child Mental Health Counselor – Child Partial Hospitalization Program
Child Mental Health Counselor in Holyoke, MA | Baystate Health Careers
Department: Child Partial Hospital Program
Location: Holyoke, Massachusetts
Job Type: Full-Time
Shift: Days
Make an Impact with Baystate Health
Baystate Health is seeking an Child Mental Health Counselor to join our Child Partial Hospitalization Program in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Our Child Partial Hospitalization Program provides compassionate, intensive crisis intervention and stabilization for children and adolescents ages 8–18 experiencing emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric needs.
As a Child Mental Health Counselor, you will play an important role in creating a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment where children and adolescents can develop the skills they need to improve their emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and increase daily functioning. The program provides an alternative to inpatient hospitalization or serves as a transition from inpatient care to a less intensive level of outpatient care. Through therapeutic engagement, group activities, behavioral support, and developmentally appropriate interventions, you will help patients work toward their individualized treatment goals while maintaining important family and community connections.
The Child Mental Health Counselor Will:
- Actively participate in the multidisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with team members to evaluate patients, plan therapeutic interventions, and develop individualized treatment goals.
- Attend weekly treatment team meetings, review patient admission and progress notes, and provide observations and updates regarding patients' mental status, behaviors, and progress toward treatment goals.
- Support the implementation of treatment plans and follow through with multidisciplinary team recommendations and decisions.
- Demonstrate effective use of behavioral management principles, Trauma-Informed Care, and Collaborative Problem Solving techniques when working with children and adolescents.
- Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment by recognizing potential safety concerns, identifying environmental hazards, and following established safety procedures.
- Complete daily sharps checks upon patient arrival and as indicated by the treatment team.
- Establish supportive relationships with patients by providing compassionate, respectful, and developmentally appropriate counseling and therapeutic engagement.
- Facilitate and lead therapeutic groups and unit activities based on patient needs, treatment goals, developmental stages, and appropriate developmental theories and concepts.
- Identify patient learning needs and provide appropriate education and therapeutic interventions in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
Schedule Details
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Shift: Days
- Hours: 36-hours per week
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
- Weekend Requirement: No weekends
- Other Scheduling Requirements: No holidays
Benefits That Support You
At Baystate Health, you get the best of both worlds: the resources, stability, and career opportunities of a large integrated healthcare system with the supportive culture of a community-focused organization.
Depending on eligibility, benefits may include:
- Competitive Pay & Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including local Health New England plans.
- Tuition & Training: Tuition assistance, CEUs, and professional development opportunities.
- Career Growth: Clinical advancement, leadership development, and internal career opportunities.
- Regional Opportunities: Career options across Baystate Health hospitals, practices, and services throughout western Massachusetts.
- Sign-On Bonuses: If applicable, Sign-On bonuses are paid to external hires only and are not applicable to internal or company transfers, unless otherwise specified. Former employees are eligible after one-year post-separation from Baystate Health.
- Retirement: Retirement savings and employer match.
- Paid Time Off: Generous PTO for eligible employees.
About Baystate Health
Baystate Health is an integrated healthcare system serving patients and communities throughout western Massachusetts. Our network includes Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Children's Hospital, Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Wing Hospital, Baystate Mercy Hospital, Baystate Medical Practices, and Baystate Home Health & Hospice.
Whether you provide direct patient care, clinical services, or operational support, your work at Baystate Health helps improve the health of the communities we serve.
Required Skills
Child Mental Health Counselor I
- Bachelor’s Degree
- 0-2 years of related experience
Child Mental Health Counselor II
- Master’s Degree
- 2 years of relevant experience
Preferred Qualifications & Skills
- Independently Licensed or License Eligible “Independent License Eligible” Clinician (as defined above) for: 1) LICSW (Lic. Independent Clin. Social Worker; MSWs must have current LCSW; 2) LMHC (Lic. Mental Health Counselor); or 3) LMFT (Lic. Marriage & Fam Therapist)
- CPR-BLS through the American Heart Association, required before start.
Education
Masters Degree (Required)
Certifications
Basic Life Support – American Heart Association, Licensed Clinical Social Worker – Other, Licensed Mental Health Counselor – Other, Licensed Professional Counselor – Other, Licensed Psychologist – State of Massachusetts, Licensed Social Worker – State of Massachusetts
Compensation
Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.
Minimum – Midpoint – Maximum
$27.13 – $32.44 – $39.83
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
Child Mental Health Counselor – Child Partial Hospitalization Program
Child Mental Health Counselor in Holyoke, MA | Baystate Health Careers
Department: Child Partial Hospital Program
Location: Holyoke, Massachusetts
Job Type: Full-Time
Shift: Days
Make an Impact with Baystate Health
Baystate Health is seeking an Child Mental Health Counselor to join our Child Partial Hospitalization Program in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Our Child Partial Hospitalization Program provides compassionate, intensive crisis intervention and stabilization for children and adolescents ages 8–18 experiencing emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric needs.
As a Child Mental Health Counselor, you will play an important role in creating a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment where children and adolescents can develop the skills they need to improve their emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and increase daily functioning. The program provides an alternative to inpatient hospitalization or serves as a transition from inpatient care to a less intensive level of outpatient care. Through therapeutic engagement, group activities, behavioral support, and developmentally appropriate interventions, you will help patients work toward their individualized treatment goals while maintaining important family and community connections.
The Child Mental Health Counselor Will:
- Actively participate in the multidisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with team members to evaluate patients, plan therapeutic interventions, and develop individualized treatment goals.
- Attend weekly treatment team meetings, review patient admission and progress notes, and provide observations and updates regarding patients' mental status, behaviors, and progress toward treatment goals.
- Support the implementation of treatment plans and follow through with multidisciplinary team recommendations and decisions.
- Demonstrate effective use of behavioral management principles, Trauma-Informed Care, and Collaborative Problem Solving techniques when working with children and adolescents.
- Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment by recognizing potential safety concerns, identifying environmental hazards, and following established safety procedures.
- Complete daily sharps checks upon patient arrival and as indicated by the treatment team.
- Establish supportive relationships with patients by providing compassionate, respectful, and developmentally appropriate counseling and therapeutic engagement.
- Facilitate and lead therapeutic groups and unit activities based on patient needs, treatment goals, developmental stages, and appropriate developmental theories and concepts.
- Identify patient learning needs and provide appropriate education and therapeutic interventions in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
Schedule Details
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Shift: Days
- Hours: 36-hours per week
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm
- Weekend Requirement: No weekends
- Other Scheduling Requirements: No holidays
Benefits That Support You
At Baystate Health, you get the best of both worlds: the resources, stability, and career opportunities of a large integrated healthcare system with the supportive culture of a community-focused organization.
Depending on eligibility, benefits may include:
- Competitive Pay & Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including local Health New England plans.
- Tuition & Training: Tuition assistance, CEUs, and professional development opportunities.
- Career Growth: Clinical advancement, leadership development, and internal career opportunities.
- Regional Opportunities: Career options across Baystate Health hospitals, practices, and services throughout western Massachusetts.
- Sign-On Bonuses: If applicable, Sign-On bonuses are paid to external hires only and are not applicable to internal or company transfers, unless otherwise specified. Former employees are eligible after one-year post-separation from Baystate Health.
- Retirement: Retirement savings and employer match.
- Paid Time Off: Generous PTO for eligible employees.
About Baystate Health
Baystate Health is an integrated healthcare system serving patients and communities throughout western Massachusetts. Our network includes Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Children's Hospital, Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Wing Hospital, Baystate Mercy Hospital, Baystate Medical Practices, and Baystate Home Health & Hospice.
Whether you provide direct patient care, clinical services, or operational support, your work at Baystate Health helps improve the health of the communities we serve.
Required Skills
Child Mental Health Counselor I
- Bachelor’s Degree
- 0-2 years of related experience
Child Mental Health Counselor II
- Master’s Degree
- 2 years of relevant experience
Preferred Qualifications & Skills
- Independently Licensed or License Eligible “Independent License Eligible” Clinician (as defined above) for: 1) LICSW (Lic. Independent Clin. Social Worker; MSWs must have current LCSW; 2) LMHC (Lic. Mental Health Counselor); or 3) LMFT (Lic. Marriage & Fam Therapist)
- CPR-BLS through the American Heart Association, required before start.
Education
Masters Degree (Required)
Certifications
Basic Life Support – American Heart Association, Licensed Clinical Social Worker – Other, Licensed Mental Health Counselor – Other, Licensed Professional Counselor – Other, Licensed Psychologist – State of Massachusetts, Licensed Social Worker – State of Massachusetts
Compensation
Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.
Minimum – Midpoint – Maximum
$27.13 – $32.44 – $39.83
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
See All 254+ Entry Level Staff Counselor Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEntry Level Staff Counselor Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Riverside Community Care11
- Youth Villages10
- Eliot Community Human Services8
- Keiser University7
- Intellect6
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services108
- Education93
- Government & Public Sector8
- Technology & Software7
- Non-Profit & Social Services6
Entry Level Staff Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level staff counselor job?
Start by highlighting any supervised counseling hours, internships, or volunteer work with the populations you want to serve. Employers hiring at this level look for candidates with a relevant degree in counseling, psychology, or social work, strong communication skills, and a willingness to work under clinical supervision. A practicum placement or field experience from your program gives you a concrete edge over candidates with only coursework.
Which companies hire entry level staff counselors?
Companies hiring entry level staff counselors right now include Riverside Community Care, Youth Villages, and Eliot Community Human Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, the strongest hiring tends to come from community mental health centers, residential treatment facilities, school systems, and nonprofit behavioral health organizations that build their teams from the ground up.
Are there remote entry level staff counselor jobs?
Yes, though the majority of entry level staff counselor roles are still on-site given the hands-on nature of the work. About 20% of entry level staff counselor openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and these are more common in roles that involve case management, crisis line support, or telehealth platforms serving clients across multiple locations.
Are these new grad staff counselor jobs?
Yes, this page includes new grad, recent graduate, and junior staff counselor roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts supervised internship or practicum hours toward requirements, or explicitly accepts a portfolio of field placements in place of full-time work history. If you completed a counseling-related degree program, most of these roles are designed for candidates at exactly your stage.
Which industries hire the most entry level staff counselors?
Entry Level staff counselor roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Government & Public Sector, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they carry high caseload volume, rely on supervised staff to deliver services, and regularly onboard new graduates to meet ongoing community and institutional demand.