Entry Level Mental Health Counselor Jobs in Rochester, NY

Join a team where compassionate care, professional growth, and work-life balance come together. The Counseling Center at JFS Rochester is seeking a dedicated Mental Health Counselor to provide high-quality clinical services in a supportive, collaborative environment that values both clients and staff.

In this role, you will conduct clinical assessments and provide individual, family, and group counseling to children, adolescents, adults, and families facing mental health, behavioral, and family-related challenges. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working alongside experienced professionals committed to excellence in care.

Beyond direct counseling services, you may help develop support groups, psychoeducational workshops, and community-based programs that address emerging needs and strengthen community well-being. You will also connect clients with valuable community resources and supports to promote long-term success and stability.

If you are passionate about helping others, value teamwork and innovation, and are looking for an organization that supports professional development and clinical excellence.

• Provide ongoing clinical counseling to children, adults, and/or families.


• Maintain an active caseload and meet established productivity expectations in alignment with program goals.


• Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant client documentation in accordance with JFS policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.


• Provide counseling services in the setting most appropriate to client needs, including in-office, community-based, home-based, or telehealth settings.


• In collaboration with leadership, develop and facilitate support groups and psychoeducational offerings based on client and community needs.


• Function as part of the JFS team to meet the needs of clients and the agency, including facilitating referrals to JFS programs.


• Attend supervision, team meetings, staff meetings, and staff development activities.


• Assist in community outreach efforts and support marketing of JFS' counseling services (e.g., developing relationships with referral sources).


• May include on-site work with strategic partners such as schools and childcare centers (e.g., school-based mental health counseling and classroom observation).


• May provide consultation, training, and professional development to community partners regarding behavioral health best practices for youth, adults, and older adults.


• Maintain flexibility to work occasional evening or weekend hours based on client and program needs.


• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Minimum of three years of experience providing clinical counseling services to individuals, families, and/or groups preferred.


• Must be eligible for New York State advanced clinical licensure and insurance credentialing/paneling.


• Current New York State licensure as an LCSW, LCSW-R, LMHC, or LCAT preferred.


• Experience or training in cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and reflective practice preferred; willingness to further develop these competencies required.


• Valid New York State driver’s license required.

This full-time role offers a competitive annual salary of $57,506-$62,218. JFS provides a comprehensive and supportive benefits package, including:

• Health & Dental Insurance: Access to coverage options, with JFS contributing a fixed annual amount toward your premiums.


• Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy 3 weeks of vacation in your first year and 4 weeks each year thereafter, plus 7.5 hours of sick time accrued monthly.


• Paid Holidays: We observe nine legal holidays and several Jewish holidays throughout the year.


• Life & Retirement Benefits: JFS provides life insurance valued at 1.5 times your annual salary and offers a 403(b)-retirement savings plan available upon hire-with a competitive employer match after just one year.


• Supplemental Coverage: Additional voluntary benefits are available through Aflac, including cancer, hospitalization, accident, and short-term disability insurance.

The physical demands/work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, stand, walk, use hands to type and/or perform lifting up to 25lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Adheres to all applicable l and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those governing confidentiality, privacy, and documentation standards. All duties must be performed in accordance with JFS corporate compliance & HIPAA program.

JFS programs and services aptly represent our core value: \"For Good. For All.\" This encapsulates our commitment to providing services that are beneficial to all members of the community regardless of their background or beliefs. \"For Good. For All.\" reflects JFS Rochester's commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

JFS Rochester is deeply committed to honoring the individuality and dignity of every person we serve.We proudly welcome staff, volunteers, and those we support from all backgrounds. While rooted in our Jewish values and identity, we remain dedicated to creating an inclusive, open, and welcoming environment for everyone—regardless of personal beliefs, practices, or lived experiences.

Guided by our core values—Responsive, Inclusive, Trusted, Compassionate, and Accessible—JFS works to meet the diverse needs of our community in ways that uplift, empower, and respect each individual and family.

Jewish Family Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.