Position Summary:
The Residential Counselor provides direct support to clients in the Mental Health Residential Treatment setting. This role is designed for emerging professionals with a bachelor’s degree or in the final stages of completing coursework in social work, psychology or a related field who wish to gain hands on clinical experience. The Residential Counselor assists with direct care support, group facilitation, case management, risk assessment and crisis intervention, while contributing to a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Client Care and Case Management
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Assist with ongoing case management tasks, including coordinating appointments, maintaining communication with providers, and supporting discharge/aftercare planning.
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Transport clients safely to and from appointments, community activities and recovery related outings, maintaining professionalism and therapeutic rapport.
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Support clients in developing daily living skills, self-care routines, and household responsibilities consistent with treatment goals.
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Document all client interactions, observations, and incidents accurately and timely in accordance with program and licensing standards.
Therapeutic and Clinical Support
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Co-facilitate psychoeducational, skills-based and process groups under clinical supervision (e.g., DBT, mindfulness, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, ADL skill building).
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Assist clients with setting and achieving recovery goals.
- Support clients with developing and achieving treatment plan goals and documenting progress as needed.
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Conduct ongoing behavioral observations and report relevant information to the clinical team for treatment planning.
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Participate in the completion of risk assessments (e.g., C-SSRS, SAFE-T) under supervision to monitor client safety and risk status.
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Assist with crisis de-escalation and intervention, utilizing trauma-informed communication, grounding techniques and emergency protocols when necessary.
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Provide supportive one-on-one check-ins to reinforce coping skills, emotional regulation and safety planning within the scope of training.
Milieu and House Management
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Maintain structure and consistency within the daily schedule, ensuring adherence to treatment programming and program guidelines.
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Foster a positive, recovery-oriented community by modeling healthy communication, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution skills.
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Support the upkeep of the home environment by assisting clients with chores, meal preparation, and maintaining cleanliness in shared spaces.
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Ensure the facility is maintained in a safe, clean, and orderly condition.
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Monitor self-administration of medication as per program policy and report any deviations or safety concerns to the supervising staff immediately.
Professional Development and Team Collaboration
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Engage in supervision and ongoing training to enhance professional competence and clinical judgment.
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Demonstrate openness to feedback, willingness to learn, and commitment to developing skills in strength-based communication, risk management, and crisis response.
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Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team—including therapists, medical staff, and BHTs—to ensure continuity and quality of care.
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Uphold confidentiality, ethical standards, and all company policies and procedures.
Qualifications
Educational and/or Experience:
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Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a human services field (Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, etc.).
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Experience: Typically requires no prior experience at this level, as the degree serves as the primary qualifier for entry-level MHW status.
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Associate’s Degree/ 60 Credits Track:
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Education: An associate’s degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university in a human services field.
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Experience: Requires at least 3 years of experience in a mental health or human services setting.
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High School Diploma Track (Equivalency):
