Primary Therapist

JOB SUMMARY

The Primary Therapist provides a full range of psychotherapy, counseling, and case management services within the treatment program, helping ensure clients receive consistent, client centered care throughout their recovery. This role conducts psychosocial screenings and assessments, develops and implements individualized treatment plans, and delivers evidence based clinical services to support clients with substance use disorder (SUD) and co occurring mental health disorders. 

Working closely with the clinical team, the Primary Therapist monitors client progress, maintains timely and accurate documentation, and supports continuity of care from admission through discharge. This position also provides education, guidance, and therapeutic support to family members when appropriate, including facilitating family sessions and addressing family dynamics. The Primary Therapist contributes to a structured, supportive environment and delivers services in a manner that is ethical, trauma informed, and aligned with program standards.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Care

• Conduct initial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans; complete treatment plan updates with clinical team collaboration, as required by specific level of care requirements according to CARF, DHCS, and other appropriate regulatory requirements.  
• Provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy, including psycho educational groups.
• Assist clients in developing measurable treatment and discharge goals that supports stepdown to a lower level of care and safe community reintegration. 
• Perform crisis interventions and apply evidence based treatment modalities.
• Provide liaison support between clients and families.
• Maintain consistent communication with the Clinical Director or Designee about client progress and concerns.
• Ensure timely and thorough responses to Utilization Reviews and Concurrent Review documentation requests.
• Complete all CARF and state required clinical documentation.
• Lead a multi disciplinary treatment team to address client treatment progress and barriers.  

Operations

• Document all services and progress notes in the electronic health record (EHR) system according to documentation requirements. 
• Track clinical progress and coordinate client care across the continuum of services.
• Participate and or lead in weekly clinical and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Facilitate treatment team collaboration to ensure effective planning and coordination of client movement across levels of care.

Ethical & Legal Responsibilities

• Follow all mandated reporting requirements, including suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or threats of harm to self/others.
• Monitor and report any safety concerns, including behavioral escalations, self harm risk, or environmental hazards. 
• Participate in incident reporting and assist in follow up actions when required. 
• Follow all facility safety procedures, including emergency response protocols.
• Uphold professional ethical standards, including confidentiality, informed consent, and boundaries. 
• Ensure clients understand their rights, responsibilities, treatment options, and confidentiality limits. 
• Comply with all state licensing board standards (e.g., BBS for LMFT/LCSW/LPCC).
• Participate in internal audits, chart reviews, and quality assurance activities.

Client Support

• Provide supportive counseling and therapeutic interventions as aligned with treatment goals.
• Respond to client requests for individual sessions as appropriate.
• Support clients in developing support systems for long term recovery and wellbeing.

People & Culture/Teamwork

• Collaborate closely with clinical, medical, administrative, and support staff.
• Contribute to an environment of respect, professionalism, and trauma informed care.

Additional Duties and Scope of Responsibility

• The duties listed represent the essential functions of the position and are not exhaustive.
• Employees may be assigned additional job related duties, consistent with their role, training, licensure (if applicable), and applicable laws, to support operations, regulatory compliance, safety, and client care.
• This position is classified as exempt under applicable California wage and hour laws and is not eligible for overtime compensation. 

COMPETENCIES  

Adaptability

• Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, accepts criticism and feedback, and changes approach or method to best fit the situation.

Business Ethics

• Treats people with respect, inspires trust in others, keeps commitments, upholds organizational values, and works with integrity and ethically.

Communication

• Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally and in written form. Exhibits good listening and comprehension, keeps others adequately informed, and selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

Customer Service

• Displays courtesy and sensitivity, manages difficult or emotional customer situations, meets commitments, responds promptly to customer needs, and solicits customer feedback to improve services.

Problem Solving

• Identifies problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions, resolves problems in early stages, and works well in group problem solving situations.

Teamwork

• Balances team and individual responsibilities, exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, and puts the success of the team above own interests.

Use of Technology

• Demonstrates required skills, adapts to new technologies, troubleshoots technological problems, uses technology to increase productivity, and keeps technical skills up to date.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Licensure

• Must maintain a valid and current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an AMFT, ACSW, or APCC. (required) 
• Must maintain a current California license as an LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or PsyD. (preferred)
• Ongoing credential maintenance is required as a condition of employment. (required)

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of professional experience providing psychotherapy or clinical services in a behavioral health setting. (SUD preferred)
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (read, write, and speak proficiently). (preferred)

Education

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or Professional Counseling. (required)
• Completion of all licensing requirements as required by the applicable licensing board. (preferred)

Certification

• Must hold current CPR and First Aid certification or obtain certification within 30 days of hire (training provided by employer).

Other Requirements

• Valid California Driver’s License (required) and insurability under company policy.
• Successful completion of FBI/DOJ fingerprint clearance, negative TB test, and pre employment drug screening, consistent with regulatory requirements.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekend shifts as operationally required.

Regulatory & Program Compliance Requirements

As an employee of a licensed SUD treatment facility, staff must meet and maintain all regulatory requirements, including:

• Adhering to the Company’s drug free workplace standards and all DHCS licensing requirements.
• Employees in recovery from substance use must maintain a minimum of two (2) years of continuous sobriety, consistent with SUD program standards for client facing, safety sensitive, and supportive care roles.
• This position is classified as safety sensitive and requires ongoing compliance with the Company’s drug free workplace, safety, and emergency response policies, including random drug testing, consistent with applicable law and regulatory requirements to ensure client and workplace safety.

Knowledge & Skills

• Working knowledge of structured SUD treatment programming, facility operations, and internal policies and procedures.
• Proficiency in clinical documentation practices, including accurate and timely entry in the EHR system.
• Demonstrated ability to support crisis de escalation, safety planning, and basic behavioral intervention strategies under clinical supervision.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with clients, clinical staff, and external partners.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast paced, client centered behavioral healthcare environment.
• Working knowledge of HIPAA, confidentiality standards, and regulatory requirements applicable to licensed SUD treatment facilities.

PHYSICAL, SENSORY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATIONS

The physical and environmental conditions described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions, in accordance with applicable law.

Physical Requirements

This position primarily operates in an office or clinical environment. The role requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to:

• Sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods, including movement between buildings and use of stairs as required for job related and emergency response duties. 
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling up to 50 pounds as required for client care, safety, or operational needs 
• Assisting with client mobility and repositioning as necessary. 
• Performing repetitive hand movements, including keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate standard office and medical equipment (e.g., computer, telephone, blood pressure cuffs). 
• Occasionally stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting. 
• Performing CPR and other emergency response procedures as required by the position, following training and organizational protocols.

Vision Requirements

• Ability to effectively perform job duties requiring close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to visually monitor work areas, read documents, and use computer systems and medical equipment.

Communication Requirements

• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, clients, and medical professionals, verbally and in writing, with or without reasonable accommodation. 
• Ability to receive and respond to auditory information necessary for job performance and emergency situations, with or without assistive devices.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in an office and/or clinical setting with frequent client interaction and occasional interruptions. 
• May involve exposure to bodily fluids, odors, cleaning agents, and other environmental conditions consistent with a healthcare setting. 
• Must be able to respond to emergencies throughout the facility, including areas that may require stair access, subject to reasonable accommodation where feasible.