Provide direct care, supervision, and support to adult psychiatric patients in an acute care inpatient setting. Responsibilities include documenting behaviors, performing crisis intervention, and assisting patients with daily living needs to promote recovery.
Requirements summary
Requires a degree in Psychology or a related behavioral science field, or equivalent direct care experience (up to 3 years for HS diploma holders). Candidates must be at least 21 years old and possess a valid driver's license.
high schoolassociate degreebachelor degreePatient AdvocacyCommunication SkillsPatient AssessmentCrisis InterventionDe-escalationActive ListeningPatient SupervisionClinical ScreeningBehavioral Health SupportBehavioral Documentation
Job description
Responsibilities
Mental Health Counselor (MHC) Opportunity Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center is a 100-bed acute care, inpatient behavioral health facility dedicated to serving adults with diverse and complex mental health needs.
Our programs provide specialized care for older adults, individuals living with chronic mental illness, and those in need of substance abuse treatment and medical detoxification.
Through a combination of evidence-based practices and compassionate, patient-centered care, we support individuals on their path to stabilization, recovery, and long-term wellness.
Housed in a modern, state-of-the-art facility, Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center offers an exceptional work environment in the heart of the vibrant Virginia Beach community—just minutes from the ocean.
Our location not only enhances the healing experience for patients but also provides staff with the unique opportunity to build a meaningful career in a setting that balances professional growth with coastal living.
Visit the site virtually and much more online at: vbpcweb.com As a Mental Health Counselor, you’ll play a hands-on role in supporting patients through some of the most critical moments.
You’ll provide attentive care and supervision, build meaningful, trust-based relationships, and actively contribute to each patient’s treatment journey.
From observing and documenting behaviors to stepping in with compassionate crisis intervention when needed, you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative team dedicated to safety, healing, and positive outcomes.
Job Duties/Responsibilities Be a steady, supportive presence in patients’ daily lives—guiding them through meals, activities, and programming while helping create a structured, engaging environment where they can thrive Stay one step ahead to keep everyone safe—using awareness, quick thinking, and sound judgement to anticipate challenges and calmy de-escalate situations Build genuine, trust-based relationships through positive communication, active listening, and consistent encouragement of healthy behaviors and boundaries Partner with Clinical and Admissions teams to support screenings and assessments, playing an important role in each patient’s care journey from the very start Champion patient dignity and independence by supporting daily living needs, empowering individuals to build confidence and take meaningful steps forward Benefit & Rewards Highlights Challenging and rewarding work environment Competitive compensation & generous Paid Time Off Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program Tuition saving to continue your nursing education with Chamberlain University Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!
Benefits
Dental Insurance
Paid Time Off
Vision Insurance
Medical Insurance
Pet Insurance
401(K) with company match
Competitive compensation
SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
Prescription Drug Plans
Career development opportunities
Discounted stock plan
Tuition saving for nursing education
Pet Insurance More information is available on our Benefits Guest Website: uhsguest.com About Universal Health Services One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance.
Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500® corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion.
In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies™ and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies.
Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 101,500 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries.
Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 40 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
Undergraduate degree in Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, Counseling or in a related behavioral science field OR Associate’s degree in Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, Counseling or in a related behavioral science field; one year of direct care experience working with adult psychiatric or chemical dependency clients OR High School/GED Diploma; three years of direct care experience working with adult psychiatric or chemical dependency clients Must be 21+ years of age Valid driver’s license required Excellent written and verbal communication skills Proven ability to successfully perform in a fast-paced work environment EEO Statement All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information. At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.
