Mental Health Counselor (MHC-LP)

Full-time, W-2 position. Fee-for-service compensation ranging from $40,500 to $94,400. Hybrid work location: telehealth across New York State, plus in-person care in Midtown Manhattan and Irvington, NY.

About the role

Next Level is a group practice of 60+ clinicians across 100+ specialty areas in New York State. The practice handles billing and credentialing, connects clinicians with warm client referrals, and provides real supervision toward licensure. Caseloads are built around clinical interests — clients are matched by a care team that reviews needs, history, schedule, and fit, then offers two or three clinician options. With 60+ colleagues, difficult cases have internal expertise and clients outside your scope become warm internal transfers. The practice offers individual, couples/relationship, family, and group therapy for ages 6 to 65+ across more than 100 specialty areas. Supervision is matched by modality and population (EMDR, DBT, REBT, CBT, etc.). This is a W-2 role with benefits, structure, and investment in clinician development. Founded by Dr. Christine Romano, a former counselor educator, the practice emphasizes clinical excellence, multicultural competency as a clinical skill, inclusivity (insurance, self-pay, sliding scale), professional growth through in-house trainings and CE support, and a culture welcoming diverse backgrounds, languages, identities, and clinical perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual, couples/relationship, family, and/or group psychotherapy based on experience and clinical interests.
• Conduct assessments and develop diagnoses, treatment plans, and therapy goals.
• Complete progress notes, treatment plans, discharge planning, and other required documentation accurately and on time.
• Participate consistently in individual and group clinical supervision.
• Collaborate with supervisors and team members regarding client care.
• Build and maintain a consistent caseload of 30 clients/week by actively responding to Next Level referrals, participating in client matching, and independently pursuing opportunities to grow caseload and professional presence.
• Participate in professional development and practice initiatives that strengthen clinical and professional skills.

Caseload building is a shared responsibility: the care team sends referrals aligned with your interests and expertise; clinicians are expected to respond quickly, follow through, and take an active role in how prospective clients understand their work. Full-time clinical caseload targets an average of 30 sessions per week. New clinicians ramp to this over the first six months with referral and matching support; maintaining it is an ongoing expectation thereafter. Additional outside employment may be permitted during the first year with prior approval, provided it does not interfere with scheduling, caseload, or performance expectations.

Requirements

• Master's or doctoral degree in Mental Health Counseling or another NYSED license-qualifying program.
• Active Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit issued by NYSED, or evidence of permit eligibility.
• Minimum of one year of post-graduate clinical experience.
• Strong understanding of the ethical, legal, and confidentiality requirements of clinical practice.
• Ability to build strong therapeutic relationships while holding appropriate clinical boundaries.
• Sound clinical judgment and the organization to manage a caseload, a schedule, and documentation.
• Comfort using telehealth, electronic health records, and email.
• Commitment to culturally responsive care.
• Availability for in-person sessions at the Midtown Manhattan or Irvington office.

Qualifications

You'll do well here if you take initiative and value accountability, stay open to feedback and self-reflection, want colleagues with different perspectives and specialties, and are interested in growing past direct clinical care into mentoring, training, supervision, or leadership.

Pay

Session-based fee-for-service compensation with built-in growth opportunities:

• Starting rate: 30% fee-for-service
• After consistently meeting caseload expectations: 40% fee-for-service
• Upon licensure: additional compensation increases

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (85% of premium covered)
• Paid time off and sick time
• 401(k) with employer match
• $1,000 continuing education stipend, plus in-house trainings, workshops, and access to external advanced trainings and master classes
• Credentialing and licensure support
• Admin and billing handled
• Bonus and incentive opportunities
• Company-issued device after applicable tenure

Career opportunities

Opportunities to expand work through specialized clinical services, mentoring, leading groups, facilitating trainings, and more, based on experience, qualifications, performance, and practice needs. Clinicians also gain exposure to client engagement, scheduling, documentation, and the operational systems behind a growing group practice.