Mental Health Therapist

Position Summary

The Mental Health Therapist provides individual, group, and family therapy to clients receiving residential treatment for substance use disorders, often in conjunction with co-occurring mental health conditions. The Therapist is a core member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, responsible for clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and discharge/aftercare planning within a 24-hour residential care setting. This role requires close collaboration with medical staff, case managers, and program leadership to deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments for clients upon admission, including substance use history, mental health history, risk assessment, and treatment needs.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients, the multidisciplinary team, and (where applicable) family members.
• Provide individual therapy sessions using evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and trauma-informed care.
• Facilitate process and psychoeducational group therapy sessions on topics including relapse prevention, coping skills, emotional regulation, and co-occurring disorders.
• Conduct family therapy sessions and family education as clinically appropriate and consistent with client treatment goals.
• Perform ongoing risk assessments for suicidality, self-harm, and danger to others, and respond promptly to clinical emergencies and crises in accordance with facility protocol.
• Participate in daily clinical team meetings, treatment team staffing, and case consultations to coordinate care across medical, clinical, and case management staff.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and clinically sound documentation in the electronic health record, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries, in compliance with facility policy, licensing regulations, and payer requirements.
• Develop comprehensive discharge and aftercare plans, including referrals to outpatient treatment, sober living, psychiatric care, and community resources.
• Coordinate with utilization review and insurance/payer representatives to support continued stay authorizations and level-of-care determinations, as needed.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including 42 CFR Part 2 (confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records), HIPAA, and California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) licensing and certification standards.
• Respond to clinical needs of clients across the milieu, supporting a therapeutic and safe environment in collaboration with behavioral health technicians and nursing staff.
• Participate in on-call rotation, as applicable, to support clinical coverage outside of standard business hours.
• Engage in regular clinical supervision (required for Associate-level clinicians) and ongoing professional development.

Perform other clinical duties as assigned by the Clinical Director.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, or a closely related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
• Active California license OR active registration as an Associate with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) or Board of Psychology (BOP), in one of the following categories:
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Associate Social Worker (ASW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC)
• Licensed Psychologist or Registered Psychological Associate
• If Associate-level: must be registered with the BBS/BOP in good standing and obtain qualified clinical supervision in accordance with California Board requirements.
• Minimum one (1) year of clinical experience working with individuals with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring mental health conditions; experience in a residential or inpatient setting strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of the DSM-5-TR, ASAM Criteria for level-of-care determinations, and evidence-based SUD and mental health treatment modalities.
• Familiarity with California DHCS licensing and certification standards for residential SUD treatment facilities.
• Knowledge of 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPAA confidentiality requirements specific to substance use disorder treatment records.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain upon hire.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check (Live Scan/fingerprinting) and pre-employment health screening, including TB clearance, as required for residential treatment facility staff.
• Valid California driver's license and reliable transportation, if applicable to role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or specialized training in Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Seeking Safety, or other trauma-informed/SUD-specific modalities.
• Bilingual (Spanish or other languages relevant to client population) a plus.
• Prior experience in a 24-hour residential or hospital-based behavioral health setting.
• Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems used in behavioral health settings.