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Mental health

Primary Therapist

Evolve Treatment Centers logoEvolve Treatment Centers$70,000–$97,000/yr4 locations in United StatesFull timePosted 2d ago

Open in 4 locations

Evolve Treatment Centers posts this job separately for each location. Apply to the one where you can work: the unit, shifts, schedule and pay can differ between locations.

California

4 open

How this pay compares

This posting does not state an hourly rate. Open mental health therapist jobs in California post a median of $52.63 an hour, the middle half $34.27–$61.15, across 109 jobs that state their pay. Mental health therapists employed in California earn a median of $28.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, opens in a new tab).

Mental health therapists in California: pay by town and employer

The Mental Health & Social Work job market: pay, applicant demand and hiring, researched nightly

About the job

Evolve Treatment Centers offers cutting-edge intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential programs for teens ages 12 to 17 struggling with substance use and mental health disorders. We use evidence-based treatment modalities, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as several experiential therapies.

Requirements

  • Act as the point-person for each assigned client and their family during treatment
  • Provide individual and family therapy to each client at a weekly frequency commensurate with the current level of care
  • Facilitate 1-2 groups per week and complete group notes in the medical record
  • Orient new clients and their caregivers to treatment and the program structure
  • Facilitate Biopsychosocial Assessments and Risk Assessments for clients upon admission
  • Create comprehensive treatment plans for clients, monitor progress and adjust, as needed
  • Complete all clinical documentation (Initial and Master Treatment Plans, Treatment Plan Reviews, Progress Notes, Discharge Summaries, etc.) within required timelines and in line with Evolve, licensing, and accreditation standards
  • Participate in the clinical on-call rotation and provide phone-based support to on-site staff; assist with managing after-hours crises and emergencies via phone
  • Communicate medical necessity for clients to the Utilization Review team to ensure adequate insurance coverage is obtained
  • Support clients and their families with discharge preparation, including after-care and living arrangement planning and Home Contract creation
  • Coordinate with Program Director and select clinically appropriate discharge dates for clients
  • Assess client belongings for clinical and safety-related appropriateness in a timely manner
  • Identify clinically appropriate interventions for clients and communicate them to the Treatment Team, as needed
  • Assess client risk throughout treatment and update behavioral interventions and safety plans, as needed per the Risk Assessment Policy and Procedure
  • Provide clinical updates on clients during Treatment Team and weekly psychiatry meetings to ensure team coordination regarding client care
  • Attend all trainings as assigned by Program Director
  • Fulfill mandated reporting requirements as needed and with guidance from the Program Director
  • Ensure that Outcomes Program assessments are completed at the required timepoints
  • Interpret Outcomes Program data and integrate it into differential diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Other duties, as assigned by the Program Director

Requirements

  • Associate ( AMFT/ACSW/APCC ) or licensed (LMFT/LCSW/LPCC) in California
  • Must be able to pass a LiveScan background check and clear federal and state criminal background checks, and child abuse indexes.

Salary: Unlicensed $80k - $85k Licensed $90k - $95k

For information on Evolve's privacy practices, see the Evolve California Personnel Privacy Notice located at https://evolvetreatment.com/personnel-privacy-notice/.

From Evolve Treatment Centers's job posting for Ojai, CA, checked Oct 29, 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

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About Evolve Treatment Centers

Evolve Treatment Centers hires mental health staff and nurses in Walnut Creek, Encinitas and other towns in California.

Hires in CaliforniaPay on its listings: 73.1% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

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