Mental Health Therapist (K-12 School-Based)

Mental Health Therapist — School-Based ECHO Program

Are you a counselor or social worker who wants to do meaningful clinical work without the pressure of productivity quotas, insurance billing, or year-round burnout? ECHO may be the right fit.

ECHO, a program through the University of Dayton’s Center for Catholic Education, is hiring school-based mental health therapists to serve students in Catholic schools throughout the Dayton, Ohio area and surrounding communities. While ECHO is connected to the University of Dayton, these positions are located in partner schools, not on UD’s campus. Therapists become an important part of the school community and provide direct support to students, families, and educators.

This is a 10-month position following the school year, with no required work in June or July. Therapists are able to focus on what matters most: building relationships, supporting students, teaching social-emotional learning, responding to needs as they arise, and helping schools care well for children and families.

What makes this position unique

This role does not include productivity requirements or insurance billing. That means therapists can focus on the actual work: providing counseling, supporting student wellness, teaching social-emotional skills, collaborating with school staff, and responding to crisis or behavioral concerns without the pressure of meeting billable hour expectations.

ECHO therapists provide individual, group, family, and crisis counseling to students in the schools they serve. They also teach social-emotional learning lessons, consult with principals and teachers, and help school teams respond to challenging student needs with compassion, clinical insight, and practical support.

Key responsibilities

The Mental Health Therapist will:

Provide school-based individual, group, family, and crisis counseling.

Teach social-emotional learning lessons to students in assigned classrooms.

Support principals, teachers, and school staff in responding to student mental health, behavior, and social-emotional concerns.

Collaborate with families, school personnel, and the ECHO team to support student success.

Participate as part of a supportive clinical team committed to serving children and families.

Maintain appropriate clinical documentation and follow professional ethical standards.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, or a related mental health field.

Current Ohio licensure, such as LPC, LPCC, LSW, LISW, or equivalent eligible license.

Experience working with children, adolescents, families, or school-based populations preferred.

Ability to work collaboratively with school staff, families, and community partners.

A valid driver’s license and ability to travel to assigned school locations in the Dayton area and surrounding communities.

Why join ECHO?

ECHO therapists have the opportunity to make a direct impact in the lives of students while working in a mission-driven, supportive, school-based environment. This role is ideal for clinicians who enjoy working with children and families, value prevention and early intervention, and want to be part of a team that supports the whole child.

With summers off, no insurance billing, no productivity requirements, and a focus on meaningful student and family support, this position offers a unique opportunity to practice clinical work in a way that is relational, purposeful, and sustainable.

Join ECHO and help bring hope, healing, and support directly to students where they are every day: in their schools.