Associate Therapist

Associate Therapist Job Description

Position Summary

The Associate Therapist provides clinical services to patients in residential and outpatient treatment settings under the supervision of a licensed clinician.

As part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the Associate Therapist supports patient assessment, treatment planning, individual therapy, group therapy, family sessions, crisis intervention, discharge planning, case management, and clinical documentation.

This role is responsible for delivering compassionate, evidence-based care while operating within the scope of California registration, supervision, regulatory, and organizational requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide individual, group, and family therapy under appropriate clinical supervision.
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and assist in developing individualized treatment plans.
• Maintain an assigned caseload consistent with program needs, level of care, and supervisory guidance.
• Facilitate psychoeducational, process-oriented, and recovery-focused groups.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and communicate patient progress, barriers, and treatment recommendations.
• Assess and respond to suicide risk, self-harm, relapse risk, and other behavioral health concerns within scope and under supervision.
• Coordinate care with physicians, nursing staff, behavioral health technicians, families, referral sources, and community providers.
• Support admissions, level-of-care transitions, discharge planning, and aftercare coordination.
• Collaborate with Utilization Review staff by providing clinical information needed for authorizations and continued stay reviews.
• Complete timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with DHCS, HIPAA, accreditation, payer, supervisory, and organizational requirements.
• Communicate with families, referral sources, and outpatient providers as clinically appropriate and authorized.
• Provide clinical support to milieu and direct care staff as appropriate.
• Participate in family programming, clinical outreach activities, and program development initiatives as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field required.
• Completion of state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions

Experience

• Experience providing behavioral health, mental health, or substance use disorder treatment services preferred.
• Experience working with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders preferred.
• Experience in residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient, or other behavioral healthcare settings preferred.
• Experience with clinical documentation, treatment planning, discharge planning, and utilization review preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of substance use disorders, mental health disorders, co-occurring conditions, and recovery-oriented treatment.
• Working knowledge of ASAM Criteria, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based treatment practices.
• Ability to provide services within the scope of associate registration and clinical supervision requirements.
• Strong clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, documentation, and case management skills.
• Ability to build therapeutic rapport with patients, families, and referral sources.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced treatment environment.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical documentation systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Additional Requirements

• Must operate under the supervision of a qualified licensed clinician in accordance with California law and Board requirements.
• Current CPR, AED, and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• CPI certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Valid California Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to respond appropriately in emergency situations.
• Ability to safely perform approved crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to work in an environment with potential exposure to infectious diseases and other workplace hazards while following established safety protocols.