Clinical Therapist - Outpatient

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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Job Description

Clinical Therapist – Outpatient

  • Thrive Now Recovery Centers
  • Des Moines, Iowa
  • Full-Time | Outpatient
  • Anticipated Opening: Late 2026

Join Thrive Now

Thrive Now Recovery Centers is preparing to open a new outpatient substance use disorder and behavioral health program in Des Moines in late 2026.

We are seeking a compassionate, skilled Clinical Therapist to join our opening team and provide individual, group, and family therapy to patients receiving outpatient treatment.

This role is ideal for a therapist who enjoys building strong relationships with patients, collaborating with an interdisciplinary team, and helping shape a new outpatient program from the ground up.

Because outpatient programming often includes evening groups and expanded scheduling as the program grows, this position requires flexibility and a willingness to work some evenings and occasional weekends based on patient and program needs.

About Thrive Now

Thrive Now Recovery Centers provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals affected by substance use disorders and co-occurring behavioral health needs.

Our approach is patient-centered, recovery-focused, and built around individualized treatment, strong clinical relationships, accountability, and collaboration across disciplines.

What You’ll Do

  • Provide individual, group, and family therapy to patients receiving outpatient substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment.
  • Complete comprehensive clinical assessments and contribute to appropriate level-of-care recommendations.
  • Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with patients and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
  • Facilitate evidence-based and recovery-focused therapy groups.
  • Provide treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions within scope of practice.
  • Monitor patient progress and adjust treatment goals and interventions as clinically appropriate.
  • Complete timely, accurate, and thorough clinical documentation in the electronic health record.
  • Document services in a manner that supports clinical quality, continuity of care, medical necessity, and payer requirements.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, case consultations, and care coordination.
  • Collaborate with Nurse Practitioners, care coordinators, case managers, peer recovery professionals, and other members of the treatment team.
  • Assist patients with relapse-prevention planning, coping skills, recovery support, and transition planning.
  • Identify changes in patient condition, safety concerns, relapse risk, or higher-level-of-care needs and communicate concerns promptly.
  • Complete appropriate risk assessments and safety planning when clinically indicated.
  • Coordinate with community providers, families, referral sources, and other supports when appropriate and authorized by the patient.
  • Maintain professional boundaries and uphold ethical clinical practice.
  • Participate in clinical supervision, training, quality improvement, and professional development activities.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and company policy.
  • Help build and strengthen Thrive Now’s outpatient clinical programming as the Des Moines program grows.

Maintain scheduling flexibility to support evening groups, expanded outpatient programming, and occasional weekend services as program needs develop.

Who You Are

You are a therapist who believes strong clinical relationships can change lives.

You are comfortable working with patients experiencing substance use disorders, mental health concerns, relapse, trauma, and complex life circumstances. You are compassionate while also maintaining structure, accountability, and healthy professional boundaries.

You are collaborative, dependable, and comfortable working in a growing environment where schedules and programming may evolve as the patient population grows.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field required.

Current Iowa behavioral health license or ability to obtain Iowa licensure prior to start required.

LISW, LMSW, LMHC, LMFT, or other applicable Iowa clinical credential considered based on qualifications and scope of practice.

Experience providing therapy in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, or a related clinical setting preferred.

  • Experience facilitating therapy groups strongly preferred.
  • Experience treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions preferred.
  • Knowledge of evidence-based treatment approaches and trauma-informed care.
  • Familiarity with ASAM criteria and substance use disorder levels of care preferred.
  • Strong clinical assessment, treatment-planning, and documentation skills.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills.
  • Ability to maintain required licensure, continuing education, and professional credentials.

Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and occasional weekends, as outpatient programming and group schedules grow.

Why Join Thrive Now?

This is an opportunity to join a new outpatient program from the beginning and help build a strong clinical culture in Des Moines.

You will have the opportunity to help shape programming, develop groups, collaborate closely with the clinical leadership team, and create an environment where patients feel supported, challenged, and empowered in their recovery.

What We Offer

  • Thrive Now offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Paid holidays
  • Life insurance options
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Opportunities for continued growth within an expanding behavioral health organization

Equal Employment Opportunity

Thrive Now Recovery Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Key Responsibilities

Provide individual, group, and family therapy, conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and document care for patients receiving outpatient substance use and behavioral health treatment. Coordinate with the interdisciplinary team and community supports, monitor patient safety and progress, and help develop the new outpatient program.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual TherapyGroup TherapyCo-Occurring Mental Health TreatmentEvidence-Based TherapyRisk AssessmentInterdisciplinary Collaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 52% are remote, 36% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution36 jobs · 32 employers

16
<$70k
8
$70k-90k
5
$90k-110k
7
$110k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs · 32 employers

401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
36% this job
Loan repayment
30%
Sign-on bonus
27%
PSLF eligible
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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#4

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+ 39 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

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

  • Includes weekends

Living in Des Moines

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$227k
Typical market rent
$1,126/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.7
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Ascension Recovery Services logo

About Ascension Recovery Services

Mental Health Care
Morgantown, West Virginia
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Life Insurance
Professional Development