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Forensic Counseling Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Showing results 41-50

Forensic Counseling information

See Colorado salary details

$43.1K

$92.4K

$144.1K

How much do forensic counseling jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for forensic counseling in Colorado is $92,404.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,500.00 and $116,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is forensic counseling?

Forensic counseling is a specialized field that combines psychological expertise with the legal and criminal justice systems. Forensic counselors assess, diagnose, and treat individuals who are involved in legal proceedings, such as offenders, victims, or witnesses. They may provide expert testimony in court, conduct risk assessments, or offer therapy to those affected by crime. This work often requires a thorough understanding of both mental health practices and legal standards. Forensic counselors play a critical role in helping courts make informed decisions about mental health issues related to legal cases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a forensic counselor?

To thrive as a Forensic Counselor, you need a background in psychology or counseling, knowledge of criminal justice, and a relevant license (such as LPC, LCSW, or LMFT). Familiarity with assessment tools, case management systems, and evidence documentation is typically required. Excellent communication, cultural competency, and strong ethical judgment are vital soft skills for building rapport and maintaining professional integrity. These skills and attributes enable effective evaluation, treatment, and advocacy for clients involved in the legal system.

How does a forensic counselor typically collaborate with legal professionals and other stakeholders in the justice system?

Forensic counselors frequently work alongside attorneys, judges, probation officers, and social workers to provide assessments, recommendations, and therapeutic services for individuals involved in the legal system. They may be called upon to present findings in court, develop treatment plans for offenders, or advise on sentencing and rehabilitation options. Effective communication and detailed documentation are crucial, as their work often directly influences legal outcomes and client well-being. This collaborative environment requires strong interpersonal skills and a thorough understanding of both clinical practice and legal procedures.

What is the difference between Forensic Counseling vs Forensic Psychology?

AspectForensic CounselingForensic Psychology
Required CredentialsMaster's degree in counseling or related field, licensureDoctoral degree in psychology, licensure as psychologist
Work EnvironmentCourts, correctional facilities, mental health clinicsCourts, correctional facilities, research settings
Industry UsageLegal cases, mental health assessments, counselingLegal evaluations, expert testimony, psychological assessments

Forensic Counseling and Forensic Psychology both work within the legal system, but Forensic Counseling typically requires a master's degree and focuses on counseling and mental health support, while Forensic Psychology requires a doctoral degree and emphasizes psychological evaluations and expert testimony. Both roles are vital in legal settings but serve different functions based on their training and focus.

How much does a forensic counseling mental health counselor make?

Forensic counseling mental health counselors typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, location, and work setting. Salaries can vary based on certifications, specialized training, and whether they work in criminal justice, legal settings, or mental health facilities.

How to become a forensic counselor?

To become a forensic counselor, you typically need a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field, along with specialized training in forensic or criminal justice settings. Licensure or certification is often required, and gaining experience through internships or supervised practice is important for working with legal and criminal cases.

What can a forensic counselor do?

A forensic counselor provides mental health assessments, therapy, and support to individuals involved in the legal system, such as offenders, victims, or witnesses. They often work in correctional facilities, courts, or forensic clinics, utilizing counseling skills and psychological evaluations to inform legal decisions and treatment plans.

What do I need to become a forensic counselor?

To become a forensic counselor, you typically need a master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field, along with relevant licensure or certification. Experience in mental health, strong communication skills, and knowledge of the legal system are also important for working in forensic settings.

What are popular job titles related to Forensic Counseling jobs in Colorado?

For Forensic Counseling jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Forensic Counseling jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Forensic Counseling job openings:

Infographic showing various Forensic Counseling job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,404 per year, or $44.4 per hour.

Registered Nurse I - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan - Adolescent Unit

State of Colorado

Denver, CO • On-site

$43.80 - $61.31/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Assess, plan, coordinate, provide, and evaluate nursing care for patients with psychiatric and medical conditions.

  • Communicate the nursing plan of care to the interdisciplinary team and ensure proper documentation.

  • Implement medical and psychiatric crisis interventions, including de-escalation, seclusion/restraint, and emergency procedures.


State Of Colorado rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 97 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

36th of 50 rated states


Job description

Department Information This position is open only to Colorado state residents. New Compact Rule: Starting Jan. 2, 2024, if you have a multistate license and change your primary state of residence to another state within the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), you must apply for a license in that state within 60 days.

If this latter step is not completed within the allotted time frame, your previous license may expire. This puts you at risk of practicing without a license. As an example, if you are a registered nurse with a multistate license from Arizona practicing in Colorado and you move to Colorado, you have 60 days to apply to Colorado's Board of Nursing for a new multistate license.

These changes were part of the final rules passed by the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators at its annual conference in August. The eNLC allows for mobility and creates a more robust workforce by allowing nurses to practice in Colorado with licenses from other compact states. Please note: This posting will be used to fill multiple postings.

Position shifts available for: Days, Nights, Weekend, and Float. We offer shift differentials for Nights and Weekend between 14 - 20% above base pay. Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package.

Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details. About Fort Logan: The Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHHIFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness within the resources available.

Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHIFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 138 adult inpatient beds, over six treatment milieus serving civil and forensic individuals.

Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital. Through our core values listed below, CMHHIFL staff is committed to: Individual dignity and respect. Person-centered, evidence-based care.

Trauma informed recovery. Multidisciplinary collaboration. Diversity and inclusion.

Strong family and community partnerships Opt-in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events. CDHSCareers Description of Job About the position: Location: 3520 W Oxford Avenue, Denver, CO 80236 Full-Time, On-Site Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies and shifts. This position provides nursing leadership and direction for staff and provide therapeutic work in the psychiatric care of mentally ill patients hospitalized at CMHHIFL.

Primary responsibilities are applications of knowledge, expertise and experience in providing safe and effective nursing care to patients. Duties in this position include: Patient Care: Assesses plans, coordinates, provides and evaluates nursing care of patients with psychiatric and medical conditions, documenting all pertinent data Utilizes nursing theory and concepts to develop nursing plans of care and therapeutic interventions to support patients' recovery, such as individual counseling, psychoeducational and teaching groups, and milieu management Communicates the nursing plan of care to the interdisciplinary team Assures that appropriate documentation is completed and that essential information is shared from shift to shift and makes rounds to assess patients' psychiatric and medical statuses Notifies medical staff (physicians and licensed independent practitioners) of changes in patient condition and need for evaluations and orders Reports patient care concerns to supervisor and physicians, as indicated Directs, coordinates and implements medical and psychiatric crisis intervention in clinical emergencies assuring compliance with nursing standards and policies/procedures (e.g., de-escalation, seclusion/restraint, cardiopulmonary resuscitation) May escort patients to activities and appointments on grounds and in the community, including driving patients to appointments Assumes responsibility for paperwork, assuring confidentiality Determines whether the needs of a patient returning from a general hospital can be safely met by the nursing staff in terms of staff competency, appropriate equipment and level of staffing during own shift and proximal shifts Collaboration with Nurse Manager and treatment team, recommends a change in program scheduling to benefit patients Milieu Management: Assures a safe, therapeutic environment for patients using nursing theory and judgment by planning and implementing milieu management techniques such as pro-actively anticipating problems, planning interventions strategies and assigning responsibilities During specific shifts, functions in the role of Charge Nurse and provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty. Assures that the care provided meets or exceeds community and professional standards

Coordinates provision of replacement staff and extra staff for high acuity, as indicated. Medication Administration: Evaluates and administers medication in terms of need, effectiveness, side effects and drug interactions using nursing judgment, standards of care and policy and procedure Follows all policies and procedures for medical order transcription and medication administration documentation Supervision and Delegation to Licensed and Unlicensed Assistive Personnel: Accountable for the work of nursing staff, mental health clinicians, nursing students, orientees and others through delegation of work assignments, assuring timely completion of work, providing clinical leadership and teaching clinical interventions Functions as the Charge Nurse, when assigned, and provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty during specific shift Patient Teaching: Assesses and teaches preventative health care, illness management, coping skills, social skills, living skills, and indications/side effects of medications to patient and family Supports patients in building skills and improving their sense of self-efficacy through patient teaching Interdisciplinary treatment planning and treatment implementation: Provides nursing input, as a member of the inter-disciplinary team, into treatment planning and unit programming Serves as a liaison/communication link between patient, family, doctor, other health professionals, ancillary staff, and supervisors exchanging information and clarifying rationales for plans and interventions Maintains Skills/Competence: Maintains updated skills, knowledge, abilities and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and participating in discipline and team development .Other Duties as Assigned: Other duties as assigned This entry level position offers great opportunity for advancement. Ask us how

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights Minimum Qualifications: Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience: Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). No Substitutions Special Qualifications: Due to the juvenile population served at the MHI facilities, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age. Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the Minimum Qualifications and Required Skills outlined above, our ideal candidate will possess the following Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to understand and apply the nursing process to provide adequate patient care.

Demonstrated ability to understand treatment plans and provide appropriate interventions. Demonstrated ability to direct the shift through training, mentorship and development. A strong work ethic based on a foundation of self-motivation, loyalty, honesty, and integrity.

Dependable, responsible, and adaptable. 1+ years experience in inpatient adolescent psychiatric care. Essential Attributes: Conditions of employment: Full Background check and reference check required Shift Work - may work days, evenings, or nights Essential Services Designation - Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare must possess a valid, unrestricted CO Driver's License must be at least 21 years of age or older may be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position.

Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination, or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS. Conditions of Employment: Disclose that information on the application. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS. CDHS Selection Process Explanation: Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs.

per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

Preferred Qualifications & Competencies: Relevant years of state service experience. Minimum Qualification Screening Process A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application.

Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached." You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process

Part-time work experience will be prorated. Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications. If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing). Appeal Rights You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.

You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website. You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review. You can find the official appeal form here.

You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board: By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action. Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance: At (303) 866-3300, or Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage. Supplemental Information   How to apply to the State of Colorado The Assessment Process About Us & Benefits: If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)

Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer: Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans Medical and dental health plans Employer supplemented Health Savings Account Paid life insurance Short- and long-term disability coverage 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center Employee Wellness program Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more Remote work arrangements for eligible positions *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values: We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement. We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado. Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy. Collaboration helps us rise together: We wo...


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