Crisis Support Specialist, Living Room - Part-Time

Thresholds; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 35,817 - 42,705; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

403(b) retirement plan

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job summary

Thresholds in Chicago is seeking a Crisis Support Specialist for the Living Room, part-time. You will use your lived experience with mental health recovery to support guests, hear their stories, and encourage steps in their recovery.

You will greet guests, help plan coping strategies, and connect them with services. The Living Room offers a calm, welcoming space; training is provided, and opportunities toward CRSS certification are available.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with mental health recovery is required.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong time management and organizational abilities.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Evening weekend shift: Saturday 11:00pm - 7:30am.

Responsibilities

• Provide advocacy, information, and peer support to Living Room guests.
• Engage guests in conversation to understand needs and recovery goals.
• Help guests develop crisis recovery plans and connect with services.
• Greet guests and learn their names to personalize recovery paths.
• Prepare food and maintain a tidy space.

Skills

Lived experience

Effective communication

Relationship-building

Time management

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Psychology/ Social Work/ Counseling education

Job description

Crisis Support Specialist, Living Room - Part-Time

Job Category: Staff

Requisition Number: CRISI008401

• Posted : July 31, 2026
• Part-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

When people experience a mental health crisis, they are faced with the decision to go to the emergency department or to try to manage the crisis themselves. The Living Room offers an alternative: a community crisis center-a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment where Crisis Support Specialists provide advocacy, information, and peer support.

As a Crisis Support Specialist, you will use your personal experience with mental health recovery to support and educate Living Room guests on managing crisis. You will engage guests in conversation to hear their stories, learn about their interests and strengths, and respectfully encourage them to take steps in their recovery process. Over the course of the day, you may model coping strategies, help guests develop their own crisis recovery plans, and/or link guests with supportive services for after their crisis.

A welcoming environment is key to the success of the Living Room, so you will greet guests and learn their names as part of inviting them to take the lead in determining their recovery path. Crisis Support Specialists will also prepare food for guests and ensure that the space is neat and tidy.

Keep up to date on current trends in the mental health field and deepen your knowledge of evidence-based practices through ample training opportunities to enhance Living Room services. You can also gain supervision for CRSS certification and reimbursement for testing and application fees.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Lived experience of mental health recovery
• Effective communication and relationship-building
• Strong time management and organization
• To be at least 21 years old
• Ability to work assigned schedule: Saturday 11:00pm - 7:30am

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma or GED certificate required
• Higher education in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field preferred
• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) preferred

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive pay -Salary Range: $25.50 - $30.58 hourly
  • Based on education, experience, and licensure
• Paid time off available
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to fostering an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency’s mission.Click here to learn more.

One of the oldest and largest community mental health organizations in Illinois, we pride ourselves in being a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For several years in a row.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.