Behavioral & Mental Health Jobs in Illinois

Behavioral health careers span a wide range of specialties that support the mental, emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and communities. Professionals in this field focus on how habits, environments and medication impact a person’s overall health. Some roles require advanced degrees and licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Others require a certification through the Illinois Certification Board (ICB). Below is an overview of several behavioral health professions. Professions that require licensure Psychiatrist Psychiatrists are licensed physicians who complete medical school and at least four years of psychiatric residency training. Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental illness, provide therapy, prescribe medication, conduct research and offer short- and long-term care. This career requires 12 to 15 years of post-secondary education. Psychologist Psychologists hold a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and are independently licensed. They provide therapy, conduct psychological testing and assessments and may be involved in research. Types of psychologists include: Clinical psychologists : Diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders ranging from temporary challenges to severe mental illness. Counseling psychologists : Assess and treat patients with social and emotional challenges, such as grief, work stress or relationship issues. School psychologists : Work in schools to assess, diagnose and treat behavioral or learning conditions. They implement treatment plans, evaluate progress and provide therapy to students and families. Some psychologists pursue subspecialties, such as neuropsychology which focuses on advanced assessments related to brain function. Becoming a licensed psychologist typically requires 10 to 14 years of post-high school education. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) PMHNPs are advanced practice nurses with a master’s degree in nursing and a specialization in psychiatric mental health care and have passed the PMHNP board certification exam. They provide clinical services, conduct assessments, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans and prescribe medication. Most PMHNPs complete 6 to8 years of education after high school. Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) LMFTs hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. They are independently licensed to treat individuals within the context of their relationships and family systems. LMFTs help with issues such as low self-esteem, stress, addiction, family conflict and relationship difficulties. Becoming an LMFT typically takes 6 to 8 years of education after high school. Licensed social worker (LSW) LSWs hold a master’s degree in social work. They provide social services to individuals, groups or communities in areas such as casework, group counseling, community organizing, administration or education. An LSW can only provide services under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) LCSWs also hold a master’s degree in social work, along with additional supervised clinical training. They hold independent licensure and are qualified to provide therapy and address behavioral health needs. Licensed professional counselor (LPC) LPCs hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related field and offer assessments, diagnoses, treatment planning and counseling to individuals, couples and groups. An LPC can only provide services under the supervision of a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC). Licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) LCPCs also complete a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, and additional training to qualify for independent licensure. They treat emotional and mental health disorders, offer psychotherapy and help people manage behavioral and relationship concerns.  Professions that require certification Certified recovery support specialist (CRSS) CRSS professionals use their lived experience in mental health recovery, including co-occurring substance use disorders. They must have a high school diploma or GED, complete training and supervision and pass a state exam. Certified alcohol and other drug counselor (CADC) CADCs are peer professionals trained to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. They must have a high school diploma and complete specific training. Behavioral health careers offer a variety of paths, each with different training requirements and opportunities to make a meaningful impact. No matter the role, these professionals help improve lives and support healthier communities. Explore job openings: Behavioral Health Workforce Center Job Board For more information: Behavioral Health or Mental Health? Which Is It? Illinois Certification Board – Credentialing IDFPR Professions List

Integrated care is an evolving field that provides patients with comprehensive, coordinated support for their medical and mental health needs. It can take different forms across various organizational settings, ranging from minimal collaboration between medical and behavioral health (BH) providers to fully co-located, team-based care. For those hoping to work in this field, preparing for an integrated care role requires careful thought and preparation. Below are some key questions to consider when exploring these roles. What is integrated care? Integrated care is a health care approach that unites different aspects of a patient’s health to provide well-rounded, personalized care. It involves professionals from multiple disciplines working together to address all aspects of a patient’s well-being—physical, mental and social. This team-based approach includes the patient, their family and the community as active partners in the process. The goal is to improve health outcomes in an efficient, affordable and rewarding way for both patients and providers. Two prominent models of integrated care are commonly used in primary care settings: Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) The PCBH model is designed to improve access to behavioral health services within primary care settings for all patients, regardless of their health concerns. In this approach, BH professionals collaborate directly with medical providers in real time to ensure seamless care. A key goal of the PCBH model is to enhance access to care while supporting the medical team’s interventions. In this model, behavioral health providers are often called into exam rooms to work with patients through a process known as a “warm handoff,” in which the patient sees the physician first and then the BH provider. For follow-up visits, the patient may see one or both providers depending on their needs. BH providers address mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety and ADHD, as well as physical health issues such as diabetes management, hypertension and sleep disorders. Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) The CoCM model is designed to improve clinical outcomes for patients with mental and behavioral health needs. It typically involves psychiatric providers consulting with primary care providers (PCPs) on complex cases to ensure optimal treatment. CoCM often integrates substance use treatment and recovery, such as Suboxone, into primary care. This model expands the care team by adding a consulting psychiatric provider—such as a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner or psychiatric fellow—and a care manager. The care manager provides proactive follow-ups and tracks patient progress, while the consulting psychiatric provider offers treatment recommendations to the PCP. This team-based approach ensures that patients receive evidence-based treatments and ongoing support. By implementing these models, integrated care breaks down traditional silos in health care, fostering a more cohesive and patient-centered approach to wellness. What courses should I take to prepare for integrated care? To best prepare for a role in integrated care, consider taking courses that focus on evidence-based, brief interventions, such as: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): Learn strategies to help patients quickly identify goals and leverage their strengths to achieve desired outcomes. Motivational Interviewing (MI): Build skills to support positive behavioral change by exploring patients’ feelings, addressing uncertainty and strengthening motivation. Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Develop the ability to deliver short-term, targeted interventions that combine cognitive and behavioral techniques to help patients modify negative thought patterns and behaviors. What commonalities exist between integrated care positions? Assessing a wide range of positions in integrated care can be daunting, as different organizations may classify roles differently. Look for these common themes across positions: Collaboration: Whether formal or informal, working alongside medical providers is central to the role. Brief interventions: BH providers often deliver time-limited, solution-focused care. Diverse responsibilities: Roles may include aspects of education, consultation, therapy and crisis intervention. Patient-centered care: Treatment plans are typically aligned with patients’ goals and integrated into their overall health plans. What questions should I prepare for in an interview setting? Interviews for integrated care positions vary by organization, but you can expect questions such as: How do you approach working with a multidisciplinary team? Can you describe a time when you used a brief intervention to address a patient’s concern? What interventions have you found most effective in substance use treatment and recovery work? What experience do you have with electronic health records and documentation in a fast-paced setting? How do you balance addressing patients’ immediate needs with long-term care planning? How do you manage high caseloads and rapid patient turnover? What questions should I ask during an interview for an integrated care position? Asking questions in an interview can help clarify expectations and determine whether a role is a good fit. Consider asking: How does the organization define integrated care? What is the current level of integration within the team? Are BH and medical providers co-located? What aspects of the program will I be responsible for, and how is this determined? How often do team members from different disciplines collaborate? How many clients will I see in a day, and how is the schedule structured? What is the typical schedule structure, and how much flexibility exists in scheduling? What diagnoses or patient populations are a primary focus of the program? Who else is on the team, and what are their roles? How many medical providers would be referring to each BH provider on a given shift in this position? How long has the team been working together, and what successes or challenges have they faced in implementing integrated care? Are there specific programs targeting particular diagnoses, and what is the provider’s role within those programs? Preparing for a career in integrated care can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating different roles and expectations. This guide offers a starting point to help you through the application, hiring and onboarding process as you pursue a role as a behavioral health provider in integrated care.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), my journey in mental health care began during my undergraduate studies. 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 Where Can Licensed Professional Counselors Work? Written by D avid Akers, M.Ed. David 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.