Corrections Mental Health Counselor 3 - MCC

State of Washington$83K — $112K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Certified Agency Affiliated Counselor (CAAC) required or eligible within 30 days of hire.
  • Higher level Department of Health (DOH) Mental Health licenses preferred.
  • Doctoral degree in psychology or master's degree with two years of supervised experience preferred.
  • One year of independent experience in individual and group therapies preferred.
  • Experience linking clients with institutional or community resources preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Provide mental health counseling to incarcerated individuals under supervision.
  • Conduct individual and group counseling sessions and crisis interventions.
  • Document patient assessments and treatment plans accurately and timely.
  • Collaborate in clinical and administrative supervision meetings to enhance care coordination.
  • Facilitate the transition and release planning for incarcerated individuals.
  • Participate in clinical trainings and contribute to staff education regarding mental health topics.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Up to 25 paid vacation days and 12 paid holidays per year.
  • Generous retirement plan with options for deferred compensation.
  • Flexible work schedules including remote/telework options based on position.
  • Paid sick leave at a rate of 8 hours per month.
Full Job Description
Salary: $6,945.00 - $9,341.00 Monthly
Location : Snohomish County - Monroe, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Corrections
Opening Date: 07/28/2026
Closing Date: 8/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Department of Corrections is seeking a highly motivated and qualified Corrections Mental Health Counselor 3 for the Monroe Correctional Complex located in Monroe, WA just outside of Seattle.

Schedule: Monday-Friday 12:30pm -9:00pm (12:30-21:00). Work is to be performed onsite.
Under the administrative supervision of a Psychology Associate, and the clinical supervision of the lead unit Psychologist, this position provides evidence based mental health programming that helps treat and stabilize mental health and subsequent behaviors of incarcerated individuals, thereby reducing risk factors while promoting wellness and prosocial behaviors.
A COMPLETED APPLICATION PACKET WILL INCLUDE:
  • A detailed resume
  • A cover letter
  • Three professional references


Application assessment will be ongoing, the hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time during the recruitment process. It's the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible. This recruitment could be used to fill multiple permanent or non-permanent positions.

Duties

  • Provide mental health counseling services to assigned incarcerated individuals with clinical supervision and approval.
    • Provide mental health counseling services including but not limited to: individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, mental health unit rounds, clinical case management, and mental health assessment with clinical supervision and approval as needed or based on the frequency determined by the severity of the patient's current symptomology. These services are based on the need of the individual per the WADOC Health Plan and relevant mental health policies, protocols, processes, and guidelines.
    • Provides emergent mental health coverage as directed. Works in conjunction with the clinical supervisor when patients are placed in the Close Observation Area (COA) to coordinate care and treatment.
  • Documentation and Treatment Planning with clinical supervision and approval.
    • Observes, interviews, collects data, and directs treatment of patients on assigned caseload assessing and documenting the patients' needs and status in their medical charts. Ensures timely and accurate reporting and documentation of services rendered. Reporting and documentation may include computer-based OMNI data, typed reports, and/or legible handwritten reports that are filed in the patients' medical charts.
    • Completes Mental Health Encounter Reports (MHERs), Mental Health Appraisals (MHAs), and Mental Health Updates (MHUs) as required by policy, with clinical supervision and approval. May be assigned other assessments as needed. Completes Suicide Risk Assessments/Detections, Safety Plans, and crisis documentation when required by policy or directed by supervisor.
    • Facilitates and monitors development and implementation of individualized Mental Health Treatment Plans with clinical supervision and approval in accordance with the Washington DOC Health Plan and relevant Mental Health policies, protocols, processes, and guidelines.
  • Case consultation.
    • Attends and actively participates in clinical and administrative supervision meetings to review the implementation of treatment plans for clinical clarification and to receive feedback and instructions on services provided.
    • Attends and actively participates in meetings and case consultation with other DOC staff to ensure coordination of patient care.
  • Transition and release.
    • Coordinates and facilitates transition and release needs of incarcerated individuals as assigned with outside agencies and community services in conjunction with reentry/release staff.
  • Trainings, involuntary antipsychotic medication hearings, and other duties as assigned.
    • Actively participate in all clinical in-service meetings and trainings as assigned. Participate in involuntary antipsychotic medication hearings as designated and appropriate, and may provide annual in-service suicide prevention instruction as designated and appropriate. Provide informal education to staff and incarcerated individuals on topics related to the promotion of mental health within the prison and in the community.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Certified Agency Affiliated Counselor (CAAC).
  • Must have the ability to apply for a Certified Agency Affiliated Counselor (CAAC) within 30 days of hire date.
    • To see criteria to meet eligibility to obtain an Agency Affiliated Counselor Certification, please see this link to the Dept. of Health (DOH) web page regarding Mental Health Licensure:
  • Additional consideration may be given for higher level Dept. of Health (DOH) Mental Health licenses.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited school or department of Psychology or master's degree in psychology and two years of supervised, post master's degree experience.
  • At least one year of experience working independently and effectively to develop and provide individual and group therapies.
  • Experience linking clients with resources within institutions and/or the community.
  • Experience working in a collaborative fashion as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
  • Independently held license to practice mental health throughout Washington Department of Health, active with no conditions.

What We Offer:
As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:
  • Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
  • 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
  • 12 paid holidays a year
  • Generous retirement plan
  • Flex Spending Accounts
  • Dependent Care Assistance
  • Deferred Compensation and so much more!

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

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