Arlington County Government logo
Arlington County Government
Arlington, Virginia

Behavioral Health Therapist (Mobile Outreach)

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$83k-$149k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note: This position includes a $2500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2500 gross sign-on bonus after probation has been met.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) for the Arlington County Mobile Outreach Support Team

(MOST) within the Client Services Entry Bureau.

As part of a team that provides mobile outreach to the community, this position responds to urgent/crisis behavioral health needs in the community to include conducting mental health assessment, providing crisis intervention and stabilization, short-term counseling, assisting individuals and their families with identifying resources, and linking individuals to services as needed.

The position will be responsible for conducting welfare checks and partnering with the police and first responders to divert people from arrest and/or hospitalization when appropriate.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner.

Although positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure.

Key Responsibilities

This position provides mobile outreach to the community to address urgent behavioral health needs through crisis intervention, stabilization, and short-term counseling. The therapist also conducts welfare checks and collaborates with first responders to divert individuals from arrest or hospitalization.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology. Applicants must possess or be eligible for a Virginia clinical license (LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) and hold a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Trauma-informed careCase managementTreatment planningDiagnostic assessmentCommunity outreachClinical documentation

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 46% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$116k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $115k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution33 jobs · 25 employers

14
<$85k
5
$85k-100k
6
$100k-115k
7
$115k-130k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks31 jobs · 25 employers

401k / retirement match
90%
CME allowance
29%
Sign-on bonus
26% this job
Loan repayment
19%
PSLF eligible
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Dental Therapist

InterDent Service · Salem, Oregon

From $155k
#2

Behavioral Health Therapist 2 Community Behavioral Health

Inova · Leesburg, Virginia

$80k-$130k
#3

Behavioral Health Therapist 2 Mental Health Programs

$80k-$130k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$126k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 1.5
Below most Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,961 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Arlington

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.00M≈ 12.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,702/mo≈ 39% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Arlington County Government logo

About Arlington County Government

Government Administration
Arlington, Virginia
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-on bonus ($5,000 total)
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Supervision for licensure