Center for Positive Changes logo
Center for Positive Changes
San Diego, California

Pre-Licensed Therapist (AMFT, APCC, ASW) - Youth Behavioral Health

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$74k-$79k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 29m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Details:

Job Location: Center For Positive Changes - SAN DIEGO, CA 92120, Salary Range: $74,000.00 - $79,000.00 Salary, Build Your Clinical Career While Making a Difference Center for Positive Changes (CFPC) is seeking a Pre-Licensed Therapist (AMFT, APCC, or ASW) to join our clinical team serving children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth in our Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs).

This is an opportunity to gain meaningful hands-on clinical experience while working under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals.

You'll provide Specialty Mental Health Services, participate in assessments and treatment planning, facilitate individual, family, and group services, support crisis intervention, and coordinate care with youth, families, residential staff, social workers, probation officers, and community providers.

If you're building your clinical career and want to develop your skills while making a meaningful difference in the lives of youth and families, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

Clinical

Responsibilities

Under the direction and supervision of licensed clinical leadership, you'll: Provide Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) within your scope of practice Participate in initial and ongoing mental health assessments Assist with treatment planning, safety planning, and transition planning Facilitate individual, family, and group therapeutic services Provide psychoeducation and emotional/behavioral skill-building Help youth develop healthy coping, communication, and emotional regulation skills Provide care coordination with youth, families, schools, community providers, and other support systems Monitor symptoms, behaviors, strengths, needs, and progress toward treatment goals Make referrals and connect youth and families with appropriate community resources Participate in crisis intervention, risk assessment, de-escalation, and safety planning Participate in Child and Family Team (CFT) and Treatment Team meetings Support permanency, transition, and discharge planning Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation Participate in clinical group supervision and ongoing professional development Qualifications: REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE: A qualified candidate must be registered with the state of California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and meet requirements for one (1) or more of the following: 1.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) AND at least one (1) year of experience working in a residential treatment facility or outpatient mental health program, preferably with children and adolescents. OR 2.

Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) AND at least one (1) year of experience working in a residential treatment facility or outpatient mental health program, preferably with children and adolescents. OR 3.

Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) AND at least one (1) years of experience working in a residential treatment facility or outpatient mental health program, preferably with children and adolescents.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist will provide specialty mental health services, including individual, family, and group therapy within a residential setting. They are also responsible for conducting assessments, treatment planning, and coordinating care with families and community providers.

Requirements

Candidates must be registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an AMFT, APCC, or ASW. Additionally, at least one year of experience in a residential treatment facility or outpatient mental health program is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Child and Family Team Meetings

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 38% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$77k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $69k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$74k–$79kMental Health Therapy median $87k (middle half $79k–$116k)35 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$69k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in California598 active7,810 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 40% remote · 38% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

39 jobs · 30 employers
9
<$90k
13
$90k-105k
7
$105k-120k
9
$120k-135k
1
$141k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

28 jobs
401k / retirement match
96%
Sign-on bonus
46%
CME allowance
39%
Loan repayment
14%
PSLF eligible
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinician DV/SA Program LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Indian Health Council · Valley Center, California

$114k-$141k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · San Diego, California

$117k-$134k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Psychotherapist, Behavioral Health

$94k-$132k
+ 37 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 1.5
Below most Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,851 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Center for Positive Changes logo

About Center for Positive Changes

Benefits & Perks

Clinical supervision
Professional development

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.01M≈ 13.6× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,036/mo≈ 49% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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