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Discovery Behavioral Health
Tacoma, Washington

Mental Health Associate Therapist - Outpatient

Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$85k-$90k

Listing transparency5 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on-site
Call expectations
No call
Weekends
No weekends
Posted 46m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Discovery Mood & Anxiety

Discovery Mood and Anxiety Program is a national leader in behavioral healthcare and one of the fastest growing companies in the field. DBH offers world-class treatment for those struggling with mental health and places a high priority on seeking employees who share our passion for improving the lives we serve.

Since 1997, Discovery Mood and Anxiety Programs, DBH’s Mental Health Disorder Division, has helped thousands of patients discover their path to the full and rewarding lives they deserve with evidence-based and inclusive treatment options.

This position is offering a $10,000 Relocation Bonus and a $5,000 Sign-on Bonus!!!

Position Summary

The Associate Therapist works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Clinical Model. Therapist responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, providing milieu interventions, leading psychoeducational and process-oriented therapy groups, facilitate clinical assessments, conduct therapy sessions, and other case management tasks, as assigned.

Essential Job Functions

Ensures clinical documentation is completed timely throughout the course of treatment. All documentation is required to be done at the time of service.

  • Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families/loved ones.
  • Facilitates admission assessments and the admission process for new patients with professionalism, courtesy, and a welcoming attitude.
  • Understands role in providing expeditious access to care for individuals seeking services.
  • Participates in weekly treatment team and communicates weekly treatment goals with all team members.
  • Maintain a case load of 5-6 patients in RTC and 10-15 in OP level of care..

Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patients’ level of care.

Facilitates process orientated and psychoeducation groups one to two times, daily in RTC and 2-4 times daily in OP.

  • Required to sit at a meal and/or snack a minimum of once per week.
  • Facilitates multi-family groups, family program, and/or family weekend.

Provides utilization reviews to insurance companies, providing appropriate clinical information to obtain initial authorization and continuing stay authorization, as necessary.

Is appropriately accessible to family members or loved ones. Returning all calls and emails within 2 hours during business hours of operations and 24-48 hours all other times.

  • Assesses patients for suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.
  • May provide additional clinical support for other members of the clinical team in their absence.
  • Communicates with the Utilization Review Department and Business Department regarding authorization and payment.
  • Begins discharge planning on day of admission for all patients.
  • Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.
  • Ensures discharge appointments are confirmed with patient and loved ones prior to discharge.
  • Communicates with referral sources and outpatient providers for continuity of care upon admission, midpoint, and discharge.
  • Facilitates patient transfers to higher level of care, as needed.
  • Actively participates in clinical outreach and program tours, as needed.
  • Effectively manages crises in sessions and the milieu.
  • Provides support to milieu staff in their interactions with patients and their loved ones.
  • Works collaboratively with the entire treatment team and milieu staff to always ensure the highest level of clinical quality.
  • Completes other tasks, as requested, or assigned.

RTC Only: Provides on-call support to facility at least 1x per month and returns all program phone calls within 20 minutes, while on call. Communicates appropriately with On Call Administrator or Regional Director regarding pertinent facility issues, while on call.

Knowledge, Education, & Experience

  • Master’s or Doctorate degree in relevant field, required
  • Completion of state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions, required
  • Operates under supervision and is not fully licensed
  • Must possess a current driver’s license and be in good standing
  • Employment Status: Full Time
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm
  • Work Location: On Site - Tacoma, WA

Compensation: Pay Range

  • Associate Therapist: $85,000-90,000
  • Therapist: $90,000-97,000
  • Senior Therapist: $90,000-100,000

Discovery Behavioral Health seeks to build a diverse staff that is reflective of the patients we serve and the communities where we work. DBH encourages multiple perspectives, experiences, and strives to hire and retain a diverse workforce.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Key Responsibilities

Provide clinical treatment in a multidisciplinary team, including assessments, individual and group therapy, family sessions, case management, and timely documentation. Support patient safety and crisis response, coordinate care and authorizations, and manage admission, discharge, and continuity-of-care planning.

Requirements

A master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field and completion of state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions are required. The role operates under supervision and requires a current driver’s license in good standing.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Therapeutic AssessmentIndividual TherapyFamily TherapySuicide Risk AssessmentCrisis ManagementMultidisciplinary Collaboration

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Mental Health Associate Therapist - Outpatient at Discovery Behavioral Health a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 10% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,952 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Counselor Career Context

Discovery Behavioral Health ranks #12 of 13 employers hiring Counselor on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 52% are remote, 30% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$88k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $82k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$88k midpoint, that is roughly $4k–$6k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution27 jobs · 21 employers

6
<$90k
11
$90k-110k
6
$110k-130k
4
$130k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks23 jobs · 21 employers

401k / retirement match
91%
Sign-on bonus
39% this job
CME allowance
39%
Loan repayment
30%
Relocation assistance
13% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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#2

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#3

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#4

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+ 25 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

8.0/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 10% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling)

  • No call
  • No weekends
  • On-site

Living in Tacoma

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$488k
Typical market rent
$1,740/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Discovery Behavioral Health logo

About Discovery Behavioral Health

Mental Health Care
Irvine, CA
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
$5,000 Sign-on Bonus
$10,000 Relocation Bonus
Collaborative Practice Agreement Required