Mental Health Professional Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Mental health professionals, including licensed counselors, clinical social workers, and psychologists, are in high demand from U.S. employers willing to sponsor H-1B and O-1 visas. Your graduate degree and state licensure are the credentialing foundation sponsors need to file. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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NaphCare is hiring Clinicians to join our highly regarded and specialized Jail Based Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) that operates as an adult male intensive mental health unit to promote wellness and recovery at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement and Detention Facility in Winston Salem, NC.
The position is full-time, day-shift hours Monday through Friday.
The Clinician will conduct mental health assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, evaluate treatment goals, and provide individual and group therapy using psychoeducation, evidenced-based therapies, coping and social skills building, and support to improve patients’ symptoms of mental illness and/or disability, functioning, and overall well-being. The ideal candidate has experience working with serious mental illness and/or in a correctional setting, and in working within a multidisciplinary team.
The BHU unit is a therapeutic environment, providing intensive partial day treatment. By providing patient-centered, evidenced-based, and holistic care, the BHU helps patients living with mental illness and/or disability understand their need for treatment and provides the opportunities needed for these individuals to learn how to maximize their wellness and functioning within the facility’s general population. Following an approximate 12-week mental health psychoeducational and clinical curriculum, BHU graduates learn the skills and insight needed to move forward with their lives in a healthier place.
NaphCare is partnered with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office to provide this program, and the Clinician is an employee or contractor of NaphCare, Inc.
The Clinician will work with a team of other clinicians, discharge planner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and mental health director to provide comprehensive mental health services on the BHU.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a contributing member of the multidisciplinary treatment team
- Conduct and document initial (or updates to existing) mental health assessments
- Perform and document treatment plans and treatment team review notes
- Maintain an individual caseload of BHU patients for individual treatment and documentation
- Conduct brief daily check-ins with individual caseload
- Provide group therapeutic and psychoeducational services
- Conduct crisis intervention and suicide/safety risk assessments as warranted
- Assist in outcomes assessments of the BHU patients (e.g., screening measures; data entry)
- Coordinate with health and correctional staff regarding patients’ mental health care
- Participate in educational and training activities related to mental health care for patients, security personnel, and healthcare staff
- Demonstrate knowledge of DSM-V-TR criteria and mental health practice standards
QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters prepared candidate with active, unrestricted licensure as a clinician (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LPC, etc.) in the state of North Carolina
- Knowledge of the DSM-V-TR criteria and conditions
- Knowledge of evidenced-based and/or empirically informed treatments for serious mental illness and major mental disorders (e.g., neurodevelopmental disorders)
- At least 1 year of experience, including working with adults living with serious mental illness and/or in a correctional or adult inpatient mental health environment, preferred but not required
WHY JOIN NAPCARE?
NaphCare is one of the largest providers of healthcare services to correctional facilities throughout the US, and we are growing. If you have never considered a career in correctional healthcare, now may be the time. In addition to competitive salaries and generous employee benefits, we strongly support career advancement within the company.
NAPCARE BENEFITS FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES INCLUDE:
- Health, dental & vision insurance that starts day one!
- Prescriptions free of charge through our health plan, beginning day one
- Lowest Cost Benefits!
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
- 401K and Roth with company contribution that starts day one!
- Tuition Assistance
- Referral bonuses
- Term life insurance at no cost to the employee
- Generous paid time off & paid holidays
- Free continuing education and CMEs
WANT A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK IN A JAIL? SEE WHAT OUR MHPS DO:
NaphCare - Life as a Mental Health Professional - YouTube
Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran
Follow Us: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Advancing Correctional Healthcare | NaphCare
Overview:
NaphCare is hiring Clinicians to join our highly regarded and specialized Jail Based Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) that operates as an adult male intensive mental health unit to promote wellness and recovery at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement and Detention Facility in Winston Salem, NC.
The position is full-time, day-shift hours Monday through Friday.
The Clinician will conduct mental health assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, evaluate treatment goals, and provide individual and group therapy using psychoeducation, evidenced-based therapies, coping and social skills building, and support to improve patients’ symptoms of mental illness and/or disability, functioning, and overall well-being. The ideal candidate has experience working with serious mental illness and/or in a correctional setting, and in working within a multidisciplinary team.
The BHU unit is a therapeutic environment, providing intensive partial day treatment. By providing patient-centered, evidenced-based, and holistic care, the BHU helps patients living with mental illness and/or disability understand their need for treatment and provides the opportunities needed for these individuals to learn how to maximize their wellness and functioning within the facility’s general population. Following an approximate 12-week mental health psychoeducational and clinical curriculum, BHU graduates learn the skills and insight needed to move forward with their lives in a healthier place.
NaphCare is partnered with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office to provide this program, and the Clinician is an employee or contractor of NaphCare, Inc.
The Clinician will work with a team of other clinicians, discharge planner, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and mental health director to provide comprehensive mental health services on the BHU.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a contributing member of the multidisciplinary treatment team
- Conduct and document initial (or updates to existing) mental health assessments
- Perform and document treatment plans and treatment team review notes
- Maintain an individual caseload of BHU patients for individual treatment and documentation
- Conduct brief daily check-ins with individual caseload
- Provide group therapeutic and psychoeducational services
- Conduct crisis intervention and suicide/safety risk assessments as warranted
- Assist in outcomes assessments of the BHU patients (e.g., screening measures; data entry)
- Coordinate with health and correctional staff regarding patients’ mental health care
- Participate in educational and training activities related to mental health care for patients, security personnel, and healthcare staff
- Demonstrate knowledge of DSM-V-TR criteria and mental health practice standards
QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters prepared candidate with active, unrestricted licensure as a clinician (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LPC, etc.) in the state of North Carolina
- Knowledge of the DSM-V-TR criteria and conditions
- Knowledge of evidenced-based and/or empirically informed treatments for serious mental illness and major mental disorders (e.g., neurodevelopmental disorders)
- At least 1 year of experience, including working with adults living with serious mental illness and/or in a correctional or adult inpatient mental health environment, preferred but not required
WHY JOIN NAPCARE?
NaphCare is one of the largest providers of healthcare services to correctional facilities throughout the US, and we are growing. If you have never considered a career in correctional healthcare, now may be the time. In addition to competitive salaries and generous employee benefits, we strongly support career advancement within the company.
NAPCARE BENEFITS FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES INCLUDE:
- Health, dental & vision insurance that starts day one!
- Prescriptions free of charge through our health plan, beginning day one
- Lowest Cost Benefits!
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
- 401K and Roth with company contribution that starts day one!
- Tuition Assistance
- Referral bonuses
- Term life insurance at no cost to the employee
- Generous paid time off & paid holidays
- Free continuing education and CMEs
WANT A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK IN A JAIL? SEE WHAT OUR MHPS DO:
NaphCare - Life as a Mental Health Professional - YouTube
Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran
Follow Us: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Advancing Correctional Healthcare | NaphCare
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Mental Health Professional
Target employers with established sponsorship infrastructure
Large hospital systems, university counseling centers, and federally qualified health centers sponsor mental health roles far more consistently than private practices. These organizations have HR and legal teams experienced with H-1B petitions and LCA filings.
Understand how licensure affects your visa timeline
State licensure requirements vary significantly. Some states issue temporary or provisional licenses to internationally trained applicants, which can satisfy H-1B specialty occupation requirements while you complete supervised hours toward full licensure.
Pursue National Health Service Corps loan repayment programs
NHSC sites, which include federally designated shortage areas, frequently sponsor mental health professionals. These employers are motivated to hire and retain qualified clinicians, making them more open to visa sponsorship than typical outpatient settings.
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation standards
H-1B approval for mental health roles requires a specific degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a closely related field. A general liberal arts or unrelated graduate degree, even at master's level, will not satisfy the specialty occupation requirement.
Factor in credential evaluation for foreign degrees
If your graduate degree was earned outside the U.S., your employer's immigration attorney will need a credential evaluation confirming equivalency to a U.S. master's degree. Arrange this early, as it is required before the LCA can be filed with the Department of Labor.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do mental health professionals qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship?
Yes. Roles such as licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, and clinical psychologist qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B standards because they require at least a master's degree in a specific field. Employers must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor before petitioning USCIS. The role must require, not merely prefer, a relevant graduate degree.
Does my state license need to be active before my employer can file an H-1B petition?
Not necessarily, but it depends on your state and the specific role. USCIS generally requires that you hold or be eligible for the required state license at the time of filing. Many states issue provisional or temporary licenses to candidates who have completed graduate training but are still accruing supervised hours, which can satisfy this requirement. Your employer's immigration attorney should confirm what your state accepts.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor mental health professionals for a work visa?
Hospital systems, Veterans Affairs facilities, university counseling centers, community mental health centers, and federally qualified health centers are the most consistent sponsors. These organizations have legal infrastructure for immigration filings and a strong incentive to fill clinical shortages. You can browse open sponsored mental health roles directly on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for visa-sponsoring employers.
Can I get sponsored on a visa if I completed my psychology or counseling degree outside the United States?
Yes, provided your foreign degree is evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. master's degree or higher in the relevant field. Your employer's immigration attorney will commission a credential evaluation from an accredited service. If your degree is in a closely related field but not an exact match, the attorney may use a combination of education and professional experience to establish specialty occupation eligibility.
Is the H-1B lottery the only option for mental health professionals seeking visa sponsorship?
No. Mental health professionals employed by nonprofits, universities, or government research institutions may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B positions, which bypass the lottery entirely. Separately, those with demonstrated research output, clinical leadership, or peer recognition in their field may qualify for the O-1A visa. Both pathways are worth exploring with your employer before assuming lottery-dependent sponsorship is the only route.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Mental Health Professional jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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