Penny Lane Centers logo
Penny Lane Centers
Lancaster, California

Outpatient Therapist

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$75k-$93k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 44m ago · Verified live

Job Description

We recognize and reward top talent. If you are looking for a team environment where you can also make an individual contribution and are seeking opportunities for continual learning and development, we encourage you to apply today!

Penny Lane Centers is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging within our organization by connecting our heart, our knowledge, and our understanding of the lived experience of others, to have a revolutionary impact on the marginalized communities we serve.

Job Summary

Outpatient Therapists provide mental health services including individual, group and family therapy in the clinic, school and client’s home. Therapists will be working with clients referred from DMH, DCFS, other provider agencies and all Penny Lane programs.

Therapists work collaboratively with the Case Manager and treatment team to assess and link the families to needed community services and coordinate all the services that the client receives. Therapists document all service according to DMH and Penny Lane documentation guidelines.

The Outpatient Therapist possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills when working with clients, outside agencies, members of the community, and co-workers. When in a client’s home or school the Outpatient Therapist will employ a calm demeanor and good ethical and professional boundaries.

Excellent clinical skills are used to assess the appropriate level of care for clients and stabilize clients in crisis. Teaming, collaborating and coordination of care with all Penny Lane staff, DCFS, DMH, and other outside agencies is crucial.

This position requires flexibility, excellent time management skills and the ability to manage responsibilities efficiently with little supervision.

Requirements

  • Active APCC Intern, MFT Intern or ASW Intern registered with the BBS.
  • Or active Licensed LPCC, LMFT, LCSW or Psychologist.
  • Post Master’s clinical work treating children and/or adolescents preferred.
  • Knowledge of DMH paperwork.
  • Valid California driver’s license; current automobile insurance; have and maintain a clean driving record acceptable to the organization’s insurance company; have immediate access to his or her vehicle during work hours.

Position Location: Lancaster, CA

Salary Range: $74,513 - $93,003 per year

$5,000 Sign-on Bonus: issued in two installments: $2,500 upon date of hire and $2,500 upon successfully completing the six month introductory period.

Flexible schedules are available upon successful completion of introductory period.

Eligible employees may request up to 5 days of Paid Time Off to study for their licensure.

Penny Lane Centers offers competitive salaries and benefits. Please visit pennylane.org to see a complete list of perks and benefits. Medical benefits are effective the first of the month upon hire, not to exceed 31 days.

Equal Employment Opportunity.

Penny Lane is committed to equal employment opportunity.

We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (Protected class) including, but not limited to race; religious creed; color; national; origin; ancestry; physical disability; mental disability; medical condition, including genetic characteristics; genetic information; marital status; sex; pregnancy’ child birth or related medical conditions; actual or perceived gender; gender identity or expression or sexual orientation.

Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, recruitment advertising, pay and other forms of compensation, training and general treatment during employment.

Key Responsibilities

Outpatient therapists provide mental health services including individual, group, and family therapy across clinic, school, and home settings. They collaborate with treatment teams to assess client needs, link families to community services, and maintain accurate clinical documentation.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyClinical assessmentCrisis stabilizationCase managementCollaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 24% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$75k–$93kMental Health Therapy median $88k (middle half $81k–$102k)31 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$76k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in California586 active7,937 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 24% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$5k sign-onCalifornia Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,473 in the last 30 days1,673 the 30 days before (+48%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−1.8% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

50 jobs · 40 employers
20
<$90k
11
$90k-105k
9
$105k-120k
9
$120k-135k
1
$138k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

37 jobs
401k / retirement match
95%
CME allowance
38%
Sign-on bonus
35% this job
Loan repayment
8%
Relocation assistance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Behavioral Health Provider (ASW/LCSW or AMFT/LMFT) - Napa

OLE Health · Napa, California

$88k-$138k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · San Diego, California

$117k-$134k
#3

Psychotherapist, Behavioral Health

$94k-$132k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$95k-$131k
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,878 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Penny Lane Centers logo

About Penny Lane Centers

Mental Health Care
North Hollywood, Ca
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

$5,000 Sign-on Bonus
Flexible schedules available after introductory period
Up to 5 days PTO to study for licensure
Medical benefits effective first of month after hire

Living in Lancaster

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$432k≈ 5.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,460/mo≈ 40% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
31 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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