licensed practical nurse

registered nurse

mental health technician

case manager

counselor

Helio Health, Inc.

I came to work at Helio Health nearly 4 years ago after leaving a previous employer of 15 years and have never once regretted my decision. Is it perfect? No. Is it worth it? 100%

I enjoy working for a company that is constantly looking at how they can support the community’s needs & is focused on growth to meet these needs.  Their thinking is innovative and modern. While we have only been in the Binghamton area since 2018, I have seen SUCH progress in our operation in the 4 years I’ve been here. We worked out the kinks & went through the growing pains, and we are now adding much needed services to the community. This is a very busy facility that currently can have up to 50 patients. Teamwork is important and crucial. 

If you are looking for a change, here you go. A small enough company that you get to know your co-workers, leadership & administration; large enough that for most positions, you will find advancement opportunities. Our female CEO was a counselor in the Syracuse programs at one time! Administration has social workers and nurses who have been in patient-facing positions before and understand the challenges and are always open to listen. 

Benefits are better and cheaper than the larger hospital system I was previously at and there are regularly perks, including an annual summer picnic and Christmas parties, gift cards for Christmas, company swag, etc. Pay is either really generous or not enough, it really depends on the position. Helio offers a training institute where you can take classes to obtain your CASAC to work as a counselor and continue to advance your career. You will also get weekly supervision, which is practically unheard of in larger organizations. I have seen many employees start in entry level positions and advance themselves in a far quicker timeframe than you will ever see at a bigger company.

Working in Healthcare is hard. If you’ve done time in the hospital system, you understand that. At times you’re short staffed or over stressed- this is healthcare in a nutshell and not unique to Helio Health. We see people when they need help, and it very well may be one of the worst days of their life. Every job you have at Helio will touch a life, plain & simple. So while days may be stressful, you never know who is going to come back & tell you that you helped change their life or keep them alive. 

If you are looking for potential career growth and to make a difference, try Helio out. The experience alone is life changing with the people you meet and things you will learn about mental health and substance use will continue to help you on your career journey. 




Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare is an excellent company to be associated with. These were the most caring and enjoyable people to be working with. They are all very knowledgeable and all strive to do what is best to help clients through their recovery process. Being the Accountant, I was heavily involved in the day-to-day accounts payable and accounts receivable functions as I reviewed the work that my group did prior to it being posted to the accounting system. I reported directly to the CFO & to the Finance Director. My day included the review mentioned above, but also assisting other members of management if they had questions relating to their financial statements, bank reconciliations, general ledger account reconciliations, budgeting, and other various reports and reconciliations. The hardest part of my job was dealing with personnel issues, which then led to staffing issues. One of the best parts of my job was being there daily and knowing that even though my job didn't directly interact or impact the clients, it was necessary. I enjoy learning and growing with a job. This was the first time that I worked for a non-profit company. Becoming familiar with the budget process of this non-profit and the agencies that it is funded by was I learned a lot about the grants and how to vouch and balance the grants at the end of their term. I also enjoyed watching those around me as they were able to grasp onto concepts and improve their own level of knowledge.

I'll start with the good. First of all, while you might work with some people that don't care about their work strongly, most of the direct-care staff (counselors, case managers, etc) are passionate and the mission is overall excellent. Furthermore, with it being a large company, if you are a go-getter, it is not difficult to continue to move up the ladder, and it seems the company is only growing, so that would only continue. Also, in that vein, at least in the past, will pay for you to take the CASAC courses, and even pay for the exam fee, so there is definitely encouragement to move on. 

The negatives: it really depends on management. One of my best bosses ever I had at Helio. I had him as a boss at two different programs, and at one, he helped right a sinking ship, and turn around a program that was struggling, and replaced a stressful, overworked environment into one that was incredibly positive and you wanted to come to work. On the other hand, some management (both Program directors and also higher brass) can be difficult to work with, as they answer to the numbers, not the clients well-being sometimes which can create frustration, and also sometimes make choices that lead to understaffing and overworking. Overall, I do believe that they have the best interest at heart but can create stress.

higher ups are not there to support staff adequately - burn out is not considered and staff are left to work extensive shifts alone without enough support. There is no consistency to clear direction where each supervisor gives a different answer. Helio's biggest barrier is itself with division within company programs and facilities leaving patient care falling short of what it should be. No one takes time to address the needs from the front-line perspective and implements change that looks good on paper, however does not work realistically. The amount of work on the counselor's is extreme and would make sense to have a position to handle some of the busy work instead of paying overtime. This would allow counselor's to focus on client care and reduce burnout rate. There are literally 5 chats to follow and at least 5 to 6 spreadsheets to enter information on after completing assessments. No one follows up on IP referrals despite putting information on the spreadsheets and client's feel the effects of that. The process is not working. 

As a Counselor II, I had a case load of approx. 35 patients and facilitated groups of 15 (dual focus and relapse prevention) four days a week . Case loads were manageable. I live in California now, where counselors having double the case load. You need to have strong documentation and time management skills to keep up with case notes, treatment plans, etc. or you can quickly become overwhelmed. That said, I worked with an amazing group of people, had tons of support, free supervision, great colleagues, and always felt appreciated.  I loved my time at SBH. Pay could be always be better, but perks included  annual bonus equal to two pay after one year of service; annual holiday party where everyone received a $100 gift card to Wegmans; free  on site training facility for the employees; free annual flu shots; summer open houses catered by Dinosaur Barbecue; annual company picnic; annual Run for Recovery; wellness days with massages and pet therapy; ice cream socials.They did a lot for the employees during my time there. My experience was a positive one and helped prepare me for my current position as a case manager. I enjoyed my work with the patients and our team and always recommend SBH, now Helio Health, to friends or anyone looking for a counseling position.

Helio is my first experience working in the SUD field. I think working with humans in any capacity you can have really tough days. Make sure you have VERY strong outside supports and self care regiment  because there is not a whole lot of support or understanding from management. The only reason I stuck it out here as long as I have is because I truly love the clients I work with. I was working for Helio for over three years and was not supported in going back to school for my masters in applying for a more flexible schedule so I had to move programs which hurt a lot, because I really show up everyday with a positive attitude and empathy for everyone. And I had to transfer my clients to other caseloads. I think Helio would go really far with their employees trust and lift moral by putting more trust and support in their staff. They have some great people working here, but many have left and many who have stayed are tired and burnt out from not feeling including in big decisions. 

Being an inpatient substance abuse counselor does not come without its fair share of stress and anxiety on a regular basis.  I will say that the staff makes the services, and not the other way around.  People really cared for the clients that they worked with, and would totally meet them 1/2 way.  A lot of "work" gets started in an inpatient program, if you are willing to do the work and you really want to be there.  I learned not to mix work business with personal business; that's where problems can arise.  The hardest part about working there was the lack of communication with management and the fact that there was never money in the budget to hire more staff to help out.  That puts a lot of burden on the individual and on the counseling team.  Also, paperwork and deadlines were a killer!  The most enjoyable part?  Seeing the potential in each client and watching them make the next best decision.  That was the most amazing - getting to know people on a very personal level and seeing the start of change occurring.

The Helio Health environment is toxic,  lacking serious leadership and training for all employees. Proper policies/procedures are not in place, and if they do exists the staff are not trained nor purvey to this information.  Anytime a challenge arises middle management staff are not permitted to make a decision for several factors, and they must wait for the Service Director to make the final decision which is normally days/weeks or not at all. In most cases events have to become serious in nature where staff and patients are put at risk of safety concerns. 
There is no work-life balance at Helio Health, the health benefits are poor, the pay is above average, hours are long and exhausting physically and mentally. 
Patients are not receiving a person centered approach. Many patients lose important psych meds when they enter the inpatient program and decompensate. Programming is not geared towards each individuals unique needs and repeat patients go to the same groups as previous inpatient stays. 

The average caseload is 70 - 80.  It is not expected to change as we have an open-door policy.  In one way, it is really nice because it guarantees service to everyone, however, it also equals to burnout among counselors.  

Don't expect to get anything your way unless you meet their expectations with productivity.  Even if you do get a change, if you don't meet productivity, they will take it away from you.  

I get the business side of it, but it is also punishing therapist for something that isn't in their control.  The population we work with isn't reliable and there is absolutely no accountability if they do not show up.  They are just welcome back in.  

They don't work with you very often.  For example, I am part of a particular program and I wanted to cut back to part-time so I could stay part of the program since it is super small as it is and leaving would make things more challenging.  They won't even consider it.  It is just disappointing because I've been here for 3 years and I have always supported Helio and this is how they repay me.  

Can get overwhelming at time. Working for this company will determine if you are cut for the real world.  Working in the addiction field is both challenging and deeply rewarding. Professionals in this area support individuals struggling with substance use disorders, helping them navigate recovery and rebuild their lives. One major benefit is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact—watching clients grow, heal, and regain control can be incredibly fulfilling. The field also offers continuous learning, as addiction treatment evolves with new research and approaches. However, the work can be emotionally taxing. Relapses, trauma, and systemic barriers often create setbacks, which may lead to burnout or compassion fatigue. Limited resources and stigma surrounding addiction can also hinder progress. Despite these challenges, many find purpose in advocating for change and providing hope. Success in this field requires resilience, empathy, and strong boundaries, but the chance to help others transform their lives makes it a powerful and worthwhile career path.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Licensed practical nurse 186 salaries reported	$25.53 per hour
Registered nurse 174 salaries reported	$38.86 per hour
Mental health technician 123 salaries reported	$28.55 per hour
Case manager 121 salaries reported	$23.35 per hour
Counselor 138 salaries reported	$20.17 per hour

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