Clinical Mental Health Therapist

Job Title: Mental Health Therapist

Department: Program

Reports To: Director of Clinical and Supportive Services

Direct Reports: NA

Organization Overview

At Covenant House Illinois (CHIL), we believe every young person deserves unconditional love, absolute respect, and a safe place to call home. Since 2017, we’ve provided critical protection and resources for youth ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness throughout Chicagoland and across Illinois. To date, we’ve served nearly 2,000 young people with wraparound services — including shelter, workforce and education programs, clinical case management, and life-skills training — to help youth permanently escape the cycle of homelessness.

With a newly renovated campus on Chicago’s West Side and a bold strategic plan for growth, this is a chance to be part of a team driving meaningful impact and innovation in youth services.

Compensation & Benefits

We know that supporting our team means more than just a paycheck. Along with a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth, financial security, and overall well-being:

Paid Clinical Supervision – For those pursuing LCPC or LCSW licensure.
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) – 3 weeks vacation in your first year, increasing to 4 weeks after your second year, plus paid holidays, sick time and personal time.
Birthday Holiday – Enjoy your birthday off each year as a paid holiday.
Loan Forgiveness Eligibility – Employment with CHIL qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
Sign-On Bonus – Offered after successful 90-day period.
Retention Bonus – Awarded after your first year of service.
Comprehensive Insurance Coverage – Medical, dental, and vision plans.
Professional Development Funds – Dedicated support for continuing education, training, and conferences.
And More! Additional perks that help you thrive at work and beyond.

Position Summary

As a Clinical Mental Health Therapist at CHIL, you’ll play a critical role in supporting the mental health needs of youth experiencing homelessness.

You will provide therapy that includes treatment planning, family therapy, and social work. You’ll manage your own caseload, lead both individual and group therapy sessions, and collaborate with a dedicated team that shares your commitment to empowering young people.

This role allows you to use your clinical expertise in a supportive, mission-driven environment where your work directly changes lives.

Key Responsibilities:

Therapeutic Services & Case Integration

Provide therapeutic counseling services for youth to resolve issues and conflicts related to their immediate crisis situations, with the opportunity for on-going supportive counseling services.

Services must be rendered to youth and families in a culturally competent manner consistent with CHIL Mission, Principles, and Core Values.

Provide individual and group therapeutic services for program participants following the completion of a mental health assessment and the development of an Individual Treatment Plan that reflects youth voice and choice.

Participate actively in case management processes, ensuring all therapeutic activities are well integrated with case planning, implementation, discharge, and aftercare.

Coordinate with mental health providers to ensure youth receive consistent and effective services that support their overall development and well-being.

Collaborate and make referrals with agencies that offer psychiatric services to better service the youth as needed.

Crisis Response & Trauma-Informed Engagement

Provide crisis counseling, therapeutic interventions, and stabilization support for youth in mental health distress, utilizing trauma-informed de-escalation protocols and strength-based approaches.

Participate in on-call and holiday and weekend rotations to ensure clinical support is available 24/7.

Ensure all services and interactions reflect trauma-informed care principles that promote safety, trust, autonomy, and empowerment.

Community Engagement & Resource Navigation

Develop relationships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and schools to enhance service delivery and build referral pathways for youth needing mental health services.

Provide education and resources to youth (and families, when appropriate) around mental health topics, coping strategies, and the importance of engaging in care.

Identify and refer youth to internal and external services, ensuring accessibility, cultural relevance, and continuity of care.

Outreach & Youth Engagement

Engage youth in meaningful one-on-one dialogue to assess mental health needs and determine appropriate levels of care.

Offer mental health screenings to all youth participating at CHIL and support youth in navigating systems of care.

Integrate clinical strategies into youth case plans in collaboration with case managers and other team members.

Monitoring, Documentation & Follow-Up

Accurately document all clinical interactions in a timely and professional manner, including progress notes, data gathering, assessments, and follow-ups.

Track and monitor youth engagement and progress in mental health services, providing regular check-ins and emotional support.

Monitor youth compliance with therapy plans and psychotropic medications, as applicable.

Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Team:

Work collaboratively with both internal and external service providers, including legal advocates, healthcare professionals, and community-based organizations.

Support Youth Engagement Specialists and floor staff whenever possible and/or needed.

Participate in all required trainings, supervision, and staff meetings.

Advocacy & Community Partnerships:

Advocate for the mental health needs of homeless youth in broader community forums to reduce stigma and increase awareness and accessibility of service.

Represent CHIL at coalitions, community meetings, and mental health initiatives to strengthen collaborative care and policy alignment.

Maintain strong working relationships with external partners and act as a liaison between CHIL and community mental health resources.

Staff Support & Clinical Coverage

Provide support for other clinical and programmatic functions as needed, including special therapeutic groups or coverage for other clinicians.

Offer guidance and training to staff and volunteers in trauma-informed approaches and youth mental health awareness.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

Master's degree in social work or related field.
LCSW or LCPC licensure required. Applicants who have completed clinical hours will also be considered, provided they can obtain the license within three months of hire.

At least one year of experience in therapeutic counseling and one year in case management; supervisory experience is desirable.

Experience working with homeless or at-risk youth is highly preferred.

Skills & Abilities:

Strong understanding of trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, and culturally competent practice.

Effective interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills required.

Proficiency in documentation and basic computer systems preferred.

At Covenant House Illinois, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our mission. We know that a team with varied backgrounds and perspectives is stronger and better equipped to serve our youth. That’s why we foster a culture where every team member feels valued, heard, and supported.

We are committed to continuous learning, honest reflection, and creating opportunities for growth.

Covenant House Illinois is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We base all employment decisions on qualifications and business needs—without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Discrimination and harassment have no place here, and we welcome all qualified applicants to join our team.