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Atlantic Recovery Center
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Licensed Primary Therapist - FL

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$60k-$75k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

At Sanctuary Mental Health and Wellness, a Centric Behavioral Health facility, we believe exceptional mental health care begins with exceptional clinicians. We provide a full continuum of behavioral healthcare services, including Residential Treatment, Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and Outpatient services. Our mission is to deliver compassionate, evidence-based treatment while treating every client with dignity, respect, and individualized care.

We understand that healing extends beyond the individual, which is why family involvement and education are fundamental components of our treatment philosophy. We are committed to helping clients and their loved ones build lasting recovery and emotional wellness.

Position Summary

We are seeking a passionate, compassionate, and clinically skilled Primary Therapist to join our growing Mental Health PHP/IOP team. This position offers the opportunity to guide clients throughout their entire treatment journey—from comprehensive intake assessment through discharge planning—while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

The Primary Therapist serves as the client's primary clinical provider, delivering evidence-based individual and group therapy, coordinating care, involving family members in treatment when appropriate, and ensuring high-quality, person-centered care throughout the treatment episode.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial and diagnostic intake assessments.
  • Complete clinical documentation in accordance with Joint Commission and state regulatory standards.
  • Develop individualized treatment plans utilizing measurable, client-centered goals.
  • Provide weekly individual psychotherapy utilizing evidence-based interventions (CBT, DBT, ACT, MI, trauma-informed approaches, etc.).
  • Facilitate psychoeducational and process groups within the PHP and IOP programs.
  • Conduct ongoing clinical assessments, risk assessments, safety planning, and crisis intervention as clinically indicated.
  • Coordinate psychiatric care with the treatment team, including psychiatric providers, nursing staff, case management, and leadership.
  • Provide family therapy, family education, and family support services to strengthen recovery outcomes.
  • Maintain regular communication with referral sources and outside providers when appropriate.
  • Complete utilization reviews and participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings.
  • Coordinate discharge planning, aftercare recommendations, referrals, and continuity of care.
  • Ensure all documentation is completed accurately and within established timelines.
  • Maintain professional and ethical standards consistent with state licensing boards and organizational policies.

Qualifications

Required

  • Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, Psychology, or related behavioral health field.
  • Licensed or license-eligible (Registered Intern, RMHCI, LMSW, Associate LMFT, etc.).
  • Experience working with mental health populations and adults.
  • Experience working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and those with substance use disorders or PTSD is highly desirable.
  • Excellent clinical assessment, documentation, and communication skills.
  • Strong understanding of DSM-5-TR diagnoses and evidence-based treatment modalities.
  • Strong skills in crisis management, crisis intervention techniques, and client assessment in diverse settings including hospitals, community clinics, or home-based care.
  • Excellent communication skills for effective client engagement, case management, and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred

  • Independent clinical licensure (LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, or equivalent).
  • Experience in PHP, IOP, Residential, Crisis Stabilization, or Inpatient Behavioral Health.
  • Experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
  • Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMR/Kipu experience preferred).

The Ideal Candidate

You Are Someone Who

  • Leads with empathy while maintaining strong clinical boundaries.
  • Values teamwork and collaborative treatment planning.
  • Is passionate about helping clients create meaningful, lasting change.
  • Enjoys working in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.
  • Believes families play an important role in the healing process.
  • Takes pride in providing ethical, high-quality clinical care.
  • Is committed to continual professional growth and evidence-based practice.

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary based on experience and licensure.
  • Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, and supplemental benefits).
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.
  • Clinical supervision for license-eligible clinicians (where applicable).
  • Supportive leadership committed to clinician success.
  • Collaborative multidisciplinary treatment team.
  • Opportunity to work across a full continuum of behavioral healthcare services.
  • Meaningful work where you can make a lasting impact on the lives of clients and their families.

Join our dynamic mental health and behavioral care team as a Primary Therapist, where your expertise will directly impact individuals seeking recovery and resilience.

Your passion for mental health advocacy and commitment to client-centered care will foster a supportive environment that promotes healing, growth, and lasting change. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team dedicated to excellence in behavioral health services.

Join us to make a meaningful difference—empowering clients through compassionate care while advancing your career in behavioral health!

Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits

  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

License/Certification

  • LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, or a registered intern in Florida (Required)

Work Location: In person

Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm. Alternating Saturday's.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Biopsychosocial assessmentUtilization review

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Licensed Primary Therapist - FL at ATLANTIC RECOVERY CENTER a 6.8 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,961 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 32% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Florida is 103.4 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$68k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $65k in an average-cost state. 58.1% of Florida clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Florida has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$68k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$5k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 30 employers

16
<$75k
10
$75k-95k
5
$95k-115k
6
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks26 jobs

401k / retirement match
88% this job
Sign-on bonus
46%
CME allowance
31% this job
Loan repayment
23%
PSLF eligible
15%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

Clinical Director - LMFT, LCSW, LPCC

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$112k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

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$115k-$120k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.8
Better work-life than 70% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

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

  • No weekends
  • On-site

Living in Fort Lauderdale

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$650k≈ 10.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,736/mo≈ 55% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

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

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About Atlantic Recovery Center

Benefits & Perks

401(k)
Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Flexible schedule
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance