Behavioral & Mental Health Jobs in Illinois

David Akers, M.Ed. , is the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion program coordinator for the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center at SIU School of Medicine. They are a counselor by training and are completing their Master’s in Public Health. David’s passions lie in promoting health equity, improving health outcomes for minoritized communities, and ensuring our health care workforce is trained to provide culturally proficient care and is reflective of the communities it serves. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), my journey in mental health care began during undergrad. I was working on my bachelor’s degree in psychology while also on my own counseling journey. I realized the impact my LGBTQ+ counselor had on my life and the importance of having people from our community as counselors with the lived experience to know how to truly relate to and help others. That’s when I decided to become a counselor. Following graduation in 2017, I worked in community mental health care where I learned how impactful my work could be. In 2022, I graduated from DePaul University with a Master’s in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and began working in outpatient therapy. Throughout my journey, I found myself becoming a support and safe space for many LGBTQ+ youth, and that left me feeling fulfilled in my work. As you wonder whether becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor is the right path for you, consider the following: The role and responsibilities of an LPC. The benefits of becoming an LPC. The places and settings where LPCs work. The counseling methods and techniques used by LPCs. The process and requirements to achieve LPC licensure. What is an LPC? For a Licensed Professional Counselor, working in a helping profession differs from their counterparts in a few significant ways. One main difference is that counselors use a “biopsychosocial model,” caring for their clients with a more wholistic approach. They focus on all aspects of the client’s life – such as, lifestyle, beliefs, culture, etc. – and how it affects their mental and behavioral health. On the other hand, other behavioral health professions may use a more medical model that focuses on the specific pathologies, or conditions, and their treatments. Counselors work with clients to co-create treatment plans, complete mental health assessments and provide counseling services, including talk therapy and other interventions. They work with clients directly and complete documentation in a timely manner, such as session notes, assessments and other required paperwork for clients to receive services. Counselors may also collaborate with medical professionals to co-treat patients, providing complementary care. The following skills are necessary to be an effective and successful counselor: Strong communication skills The ability to convey empathy effectively Punctuality and consistency Attention to detail Openness to feedback and willingness to examine personal beliefs and perceptions A strong foundation of self-care to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue The ability to combat compassion fatigue and burnout is an especially crucial skill for behavioral health professionals. Burnout is extremely prevalent in health care, so understanding the signs of compassion fatigue and burnout and adopting self-care techniques to prevent it will benefit those in helping professions. Where do LPCs work? Counselors are part of multi-disciplinary workplace teams that may include social workers, nurses, physician assistants or doctors, to ensure client care is addressed from multiple angles. These roles are found in a variety of settings including hospitals, community mental health centers, schools and in private practices. Counselors can work with many different populations and groups including children and adolescents, adults, couples and families. Some behavioral health professionals specialize in specific populations, and counselors may seek out further education to enhance their skillsets and specialize in these groups as well. Types of counseling methods Each counselor has their own approach to the counseling relationship and the interventions they use. These different methods, or orientations, inform the counselor’s chosen therapeutic approach. Examples of these orientations include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Narrative Therapy Feminist Theory Humanistic Theory Person-Centered Counseling Counselors will identify with one or multiple theories as they develop their identity. I am drawn to Feminist Theory, Narrative Therapy and DBT as they provide a wide array of tools for me to utilize in a session. Also, as someone whose worldview is centered around equity and justice, I believe a client’s treatment plan should always consider their individual identities. For example, Narrative Therapy is oriented towards making meaning from experiences, being able to tell our stories in an empowering way and rewriting our stories to emphasize agency and growth. Whereas DBT is a much more structured approach and provides interventions in four distinct modules that allow clients to learn skills to navigate personal relationships, build communication skills and develop mindfulness skills. Counselors provide defined interventions and tools to clients in both approaches, but the approaches differ in the structure and personalization of the tools we use. I find a balanced implementation of both methods helps my clients in a more personal and wholistic way. How to become an LPC Once you’ve received your bachelor’s degree, the steps to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor can feel daunting, but the community surrounding counselor education is empowering – those entering the field often find a mentor or helping hand. The process of completing a graduate program can take roughly 2-3 years depending on the institution, and once you have successfully passed the necessary examination, you are able to apply for your LPC license. Step 1: Find a CACREP-accredited graduate program that fits you best If you're looking for counselor education programs, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) website can help you find accredited options that meet the educational requirements for LPC licensure defined by state laws. Step 2: Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) Once you complete/are nearing completion of a CACREP certified program you can register to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) . Step 3: Apply for your LPC Once you pass the NCE, you can apply for your LPC through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations . Include proof of education, supervised experience and exam results as well as additional documentation, such as background checks or verification of supervised hours. Step 4: Maintain your license Meet ongoing continuing education requirements to renew your license and stay informed of any changes to laws or requirements affecting your practice. Step 5: Fulfill your supervised postgraduate experience After finishing your master’s program, you must complete a specific number of supervised clinical hours to gain hands-on experience. You’ll work under the supervision of a clinically licensed professional such as an LCPC, LCSW, LMFT, or PsyD. Optional Step 6: Obtain your LCPC for independent practice When you’ve obtained your LPC, you are on your way to becoming a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) . To reach this level of licensure, you must: Complete 2000 hours of direct service hours under the supervision of a clinical supervisor (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, PsyD). Take courses for continuing education credits. Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) . After obtaining your LCPC you are able to practice independently and provide clinical supervision to those seeking their clinical license. The need for behavioral health professionals is critical . With a bright outlook for growth and the need to close the gap in behavioral health providers in Illinois, becoming an LPC has many benefits including: Diverse and flexible career paths. Opportunities for advancement and continuing education. Financial benefits such as student loan repayment and loan forgiveness opportunities. The chance to do meaningful and fulfilling work. For more information on becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, visit: 15 Career Options for Licensed Professional Counselors Career Guide: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Illinois Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Jobs & Career Guide Where Can Licensed Professional Counselors Work?

Taylor Blakeley, PhD, CRSS , is the training coordinator for the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center at SIU School of Medicine. He is a CRSS in Illinois and former clinical supervisor overseeing CRSSs in behavioral health settings. Dr. Blakeley’s passions are working to train the next generation of behavioral health professionals by providing effective and evidence-based trainings. What is a CRSS? A Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) is a mental health professional who uses their lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to help others. Illinois is one of the several states to address the shortage of behavioral health professionals and increase CRSSs. How is a CRSS trained? To become a CRSS in Illinois, an individual may go through a state program to meet requirements or pursue the traditional path outlined by the Illinois Certification Board (ICB) . Whether an individual goes through a state program or the traditional path from the ICB, a CRSS is trained in four professional domains: Advocacy - Supporting individuals with self-advocacy and help express the needs of others in recovery. Professional Responsibility - Training in professionalism, recovery ethics, confidentiality, de-escalation, etc. Mentoring - Mentoring and provide role modeling behaviors to those in recovery. Recovery Support - As professionals with recovery experience, they provide evidence-based recovery support methods that supports long-term recovery for clients or patients. In addition, everyone pursing certification must pass a proctored state examination through the ICB. After receiving certification from the ICB, a CRSS can be employed in various settings, including behavioral health and mental health agencies, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, courts, policy reform organizations, juvenile justice programs, substance use recovery centers, schools and community outreach programs. A CRSS can facilitate peer support groups, provide crisis intervention services and casework, help develop policies toward providing recovery support to individuals, and several other tasks.   How does a CRSS benefit my organization? CRSSs take a unique approach to behavioral health and substance use recovery treatments. Often, a CRSS is part of a multidisciplinary team that advocates for and provides effective recovery support to individuals. By utilizing their lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, a CRSS can help build connections with individuals experiencing challenges in their recovery. As a Certified Recovery Support Specialist in Illinois and a former clinical supervisor overseeing CRSSs, I have provided crisis interventions, screenings to assess suicidality and substance use recovery support to patients. In addition, I have trained and supervised CRSSs pursing their credential. From my professional perspective, CRSSs bring much-needed expertise to organizations, helping address the behavioral health and substance use recovery challenges clients and patients experience. From my personal perspective, a CRSS is effective in helping people with recovery by sharing their own personal struggle, allowing individuals to understand they’re not alone and recovery is possible. Through the State of Illinois Medicaid program, an organization can bill for services provided by a CRSS as they are a mental health professional recognized under Rule 132 in Illinois . Private insurance plans in Illinois must include behavioral health and substance use treatment; however, some plans may not include peer support. There are numerous grants employers may pursue through IDHS for CRSSs. When working in community behavioral health settings, I noticed several advantages to having CRSSs: Less time to get certified For example, a licensed social worker requires a bachelor’s degree and 3 years of supervised experience or a master’s in social work, which can take an additional 2-3 years after completing a bachelor’s degree. A CRSS can become certified after one year of work experience as long as the other requirements are met. Able to get reimbursed from Medicaid for services provided Apply the latest training techniques in evidence-based recovery support methods to patients Advocate for clients and patients Provide additional support to clients and patients utilizing therapy, psychiatric and/or substance use treatments Provide their recovery insight during multidisciplinary meetings with clients and patients Be a mentor and role model in the recovery community As a CRSS, I’ve witnessed how these professionals can help an organization provide a higher level of quality care for patients. I’ve seen how CRSSs are valuable members of multidisciplinary teams by using their lived experience with recovery and then building on it with training so they can use their own story to help others. And I know that organizations with professionals who have lived recovery experience have a huge advantage in providing compassionate and caring services to clients and patients. Please visit the  Illinois Dept. of Human Services CRSS FAQ’s for more information.

The mission of the Illinois Certification Board, Inc. (ICB) is to protect the public by providing competency-based credentialing of Human Service Professionals.   ICB is a private, non-profit organization that promotes standards for professionals in the addictions field. ICB shall protect the welfare of the public by improving quality health care services provided to the individual, their family and/or significant others. ICB does this by writing and publishing standards, evaluating experience and education, reviewing each application for the respective credential and upgrading those standards. ICB’s professional standards meet or exceed all international standards for practitioners. ICB also encourages the highest ethical standards for all practitioners. Towards that end, the Board has established a Code of Ethics for its professionals in Illinois. ICB also investigates and may take disciplinary action on reports of ethical violations. Since knowledgeable and skilled professionals are the goal of the Board’s efforts, ICB has taken the task of recognizing and promoting educational opportunities for its professionals. For further information on the following areas, please visit the ICB website : Credentialing opportunities – Credential models, applications and accredited training programs information Recertification resources for members – Including the Continuing Education Bulletin Testing and exam study guides CADC Workforce funding opportunities – A workforce incentive program for certified alcohol and other drug counselors (CADCs) in Illinois. Under this program, individuals in an ICB Accredited Training Program (ATP) wishing to enter the substance use services field in Illinois can receive tuition payments, scholarships, internship stipends and certification-related payments to obtain their CADC credential. The program will also help with job placement, credential renewal, continuing education and other incentives to reduce barriers to education and increase workforce participation. The ICB also has a job board focused on connecting CADCs, CRADCs, CSADCs and CAADCs to available positions posted by hiring employers.