Intake Specialist

Serenity Counseling and Wellness is seeking a clinically skilled, highly organized, and thoughtful Intake Specialist to complete intake assessments for new clients entering the practice. This position is not a general front desk or initial inquiry role. Rather, the Intake Specialist serves as the clinical bridge between a prospective client’s first contact with the practice and their assignment to an ongoing therapist or service provider.

The Intake Specialist is responsible for conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial intake appointments, gathering relevant clinical history, assessing presenting concerns, identifying treatment needs, evaluating clinical fit, and helping determine the most appropriate provider match within the practice. This role requires strong clinical judgment, excellent written documentation skills, and the ability to communicate with warmth, clarity, and professionalism.

The ideal candidate is currently enrolled in a graduate-level mental health program, such as social work, counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related clinical field, and has a strong clinical background. This role is especially well-suited for someone who is developing as a clinician and wants meaningful experience conducting structured clinical intakes, documenting client history, assessing risk, and supporting thoughtful continuity of care.

About Us:

Serenity Counseling and Wellness is a trauma-informed outpatient behavioral health practice offering therapy, psychological testing, and medication management. We serve children, teens, and adults, with a strong reputation for working with trauma, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and ASD.

Our approach is affirming, inclusive, and rooted in compassion. We are an affirming practice with a particular commitment to serving underserved and marginalized communities, ensuring that every client feels seen, respected, and supported.

We’ve created a supportive, grounded environment where clinicians are empowered to do their best work without having to manage marketing, billing, credentialing, or administrative burdens. Our intake process is a central part of that support, ensuring that clients are thoughtfully assessed, clinically understood, and matched with the most appropriate provider from the start.

Position Details:

• Full-time W-2 employee role (flexibility provided to support those who are still students)
• Primary responsibility is conducting biopsychosocial intake assessments for new clients entering the practice
• This is not a front desk or first-contact administrative position
• Intake appointments are typically 45 to 60 minutes and are designed to gather clinical history, assess needs, and support appropriate provider matching
• In-person work may be required at our Skokie, Palatine, or Inverness locations depending on practice needs
• Limited telehealth may be available for clinically appropriate intake appointments
• Strong preference for candidates currently enrolled in a graduate-level mental health program
• Candidates should have a strong clinical background and excellent written communication skills
• This role is especially well suited for a graduate student, pre-licensed clinician, or provisionally licensed clinician seeking meaningful experience in assessment, risk screening, documentation, and care coordination
• In-house consultation and supervision support are available as appropriate based on role, licensure status, and scope of practice

Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial intake assessments with new clients, parents, guardians, or families after the initial inquiry and administrative screening process has been completed.
• Gather clinically relevant information regarding presenting concerns, mental health history, family history, trauma history, medical history, medication history, substance use history, social supports, school or work functioning, developmental history when relevant, prior treatment, current stressors, strengths, goals, and treatment needs.
• Assess for clinical acuity and risk factors, including current or historical suicidal ideation, self-harm, homicidal ideation, abuse or neglect concerns, substance use concerns, safety concerns, psychiatric hospitalization, and need for a higher level of care.
• Determine whether the client’s needs appear appropriate for outpatient treatment at Serenity Counseling and Wellness or whether a referral to a higher level of care or outside specialty provider may be clinically indicated.
• Use clinical information gathered during the intake to support thoughtful provider matching based on presenting concerns, client preferences, provider specialty, location, insurance participation, availability, age range served, and therapeutic fit.
• Prepare clear, thorough, and clinically useful written intake summaries so the assigned therapist has the background information needed to begin rapport building and treatment planning as soon as services begin.
• Communicate relevant clinical information to assigned therapists, medication management providers, psychological testing providers, or clinical leadership as appropriate.
• Consult with clinical leadership when intake findings raise concerns about acuity, clinical fit, safety, mandated reporting, diagnostic complexity, or appropriateness for outpatient care.
• Provide clients and families with a clear explanation of next steps after the intake appointment, including provider assignment, scheduling expectations, and any additional recommendations.
• Document all intake appointments accurately, professionally, and in a timely manner in the electronic health record.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, ethical standards, mandated reporting obligations, and all practice policies.
• Collaborate with administrative staff regarding scheduling, insurance-related status, completed paperwork, and client readiness for assignment to a clinician.
• Support continuity of care by ensuring clients move smoothly from initial inquiry through intake completion and assignment to an ongoing provider.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Currently enrolled in a graduate-level mental health program or holding a bachelor’s degree with strong behavioral health, social services, case management, crisis, or intake experience
• Strong clinical background or experience in mental health, advocacy, behavioral health, social services, direct client support, or care coordination
• Excellent written communication and clinical documentation skills
• Strong verbal communication skills and ability to discuss sensitive topics with clients, parents, and families
• Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize complex clinical information
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care and outpatient behavioral health services
• Ability to assess risk, identify acuity concerns, and consult with clinical leadership when needed
• Comfort working with children, teens, adults, parents, and families
• Comfort using electronic health records and telehealth platforms when needed
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and professionalism

Preferred:

• Currently enrolled in a graduate program in social work, counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related clinical field
• Prior experience completing intakes, assessments, crisis screenings, case management assessments, or psychosocial histories
• Experience working with trauma, ADHD, ASD, anxiety, OCD, depression, or related concerns
• Experience working with children, teens, families, or neurodivergent clients
• Prior experience in outpatient therapy, community mental health, hospitals, residential treatment, child welfare, victim advocacy, school-based mental health, or crisis response
• Strong interest in developing clinical assessment, documentation, and treatment planning skills
• Excellent professional writing skills, including the ability to create clear, organized, clinically useful intake summaries

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to strengthen clinical interviewing, risk assessment, documentation, and care coordination skills
• Established administrative systems and referral flow
• Collaboration with therapists, psychological testing providers, medication management providers, and clinical leadership
• Supportive consultation around complex cases, higher-acuity presentations, and provider matching
• A trauma-informed, affirming, and inclusive practice culture
• Opportunity for growth within the practice for candidates pursuing clinical licensure or future therapist roles

To Apply:

Send your resume and a short cover letter to [email protected]

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Professional development assistance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Inverness, IL 60067 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Inverness, IL 60067