Counselor - Supportive Apartment Program

Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Day Shift

Description:

A valid NYS drivers license is required

Behavioral Health Residential Counselor

Supportive Apartment Program | St. Joseph's Health

Location: Syracuse, New York

Schedule: Monday–Friday | Daytime Hours

Pay Range: $23.77–$31.95 per hour

Make a Meaningful Difference in Community Behavioral Health

Are you passionate about mental health, helping others achieve their goals, and making a meaningful difference in your community?

St. Joseph's Health is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and motivated Behavioral Health Residential Counselor to join our Supportive Apartment Program (SAP).

Our program provides community-based residential rehabilitation services to adults living with serious mental illness. We help individuals build the skills, confidence, and independence necessary to live successfully in their communities.

Unlike traditional inpatient behavioral health settings, our program emphasizes recovery, rehabilitation, community integration, and independent living.

As a Residential Counselor, you will work directly with residents in a supportive, person-centered environment, helping them identify personal goals, overcome barriers, and develop practical skills that promote long-term stability and independence.

What You'll Do:

As part of our Supportive Apartment Program team, you will:

• Promote independent living: Help residents develop and strengthen essential daily living skills, including budgeting, grocery shopping, meal planning, household management, and community navigation.
• Support psychiatric rehabilitation: Work collaboratively with residents to identify recovery goals, recognize barriers, develop coping strategies, and strengthen symptom-management skills.
• Provide medication education: Assist residents in developing knowledge, routines, and organizational skills to support safe and independent medication self-management within program policies.
• Encourage community integration: Support residents in accessing community resources, educational opportunities, employment services, healthcare, and meaningful social activities.
• Provide individualized rehabilitative counseling: Build therapeutic working relationships that encourage self-determination, personal responsibility, problem-solving, and progress toward independent living.
• Collaborate with treatment providers: Communicate and coordinate with outpatient mental health providers, care managers, healthcare professionals, and other community supports.
• Document resident progress: Maintain timely, accurate documentation of rehabilitative services, resident progress, and individualized service-plan objectives.
• Support person-centered recovery: Recognize each resident's strengths, respect individual choices, and encourage active participation in personal recovery and rehabilitation.

What Makes This Position Different?

• Community-Based Care
• Work directly with individuals in a residential rehabilitation setting rather than a traditional inpatient psychiatric unit.
• Meaningful, Individualized Relationships
• Develop ongoing professional relationships with residents and see the progress they make as they build confidence, skills, and independence.
• A Focus on Recovery and Rehabilitation
• Help individuals achieve practical, real-world goals that improve their quality of life and ability to live independently.
• Consistent Weekday Schedule
• Enjoy a structured Monday–Friday daytime schedule without routinely scheduled overnight or weekend shifts.
• Professional Growth
• Gain valuable experience in psychiatric rehabilitation, supportive housing, behavioral health, crisis intervention, service coordination, and community-based mental health services.

Qualifications

We welcome candidates from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds.

Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED with at least four years of experience in human services.
• Associate degree with one to three years of experience in human services.
• Bachelor's degree with no prior human services experience required.

A degree in psychology, social work, human services, or a related field is preferred but not required when other qualifications are met.

Additional Requirements:

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification and First Aid training, or ability to meet organizational certification requirements.
• Valid New York State driver's license and reliable access to a personal vehicle for work-related travel. This is a community-based position requiring travel between residential apartments and other program-related locations.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing training and professional development.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in behavioral health, psychiatric rehabilitation, residential services, case management, community support, crisis services, or related human services settings.
• CASAC certification is a plus but not required.

Who We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Believes individuals living with mental illness can achieve meaningful recovery and greater independence.
• Demonstrates patience, empathy, professionalism, and respect for personal boundaries.
• Can balance compassion with accountability and encouragement of self-sufficiency.
• Is comfortable working independently in a community-based environment.
• Has strong problem-solving skills and can adapt to the changing needs of residents.
• Values teamwork, effective communication, and person-centered care.

Pay Range: $23.77–$31.95

Pay is based on experience, skills, and education. Exempt positions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be paid within the base salary equivalent of the stated hourly rates. The pay range may also vary within the stated range based on location.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.