Temporary Mental Health Therapist
Listed compensation
$68k-$70k
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Partner with us in making a positive change!
Join a team where your work truly matters. We're proud to have been certified as a Great Place to Work for 8 years by our own employees. We invite you to partner with us in our mission to improve mental healthcare.
Job Title
Mental Health Specialist II
Division/Program
MLK Crisis Residential Treatment (VS)
Starting Compensation
$68,197.88 - $70,304 Per Year
Working Location
Los Angeles CA 90059
Working Hours/Shift
Mon-Fri 9 am to 5:30 pm
Why Join Our Team?
- Competitive Compensation: Offering a salary that matches your skills and experience.
- Generous Time Off: Enjoy ample vacation and holiday pay.
Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Additional voluntary benefits to support your lifestyle.
Professional Growth Opportunities
- On-the-job training with access to paid CEU opportunities.
- Career development programs designed to help you grow.
- Supervision for BBS hours for AMFT, ACSW, and APCC professionals (where applicable).
Employee Recognition & Rewards: A culture that celebrates and rewards your hard work and dedication
Education & Compliance | Required for All Levels
Education: Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related mental health field.
Driver's License: Valid California Driver's License with a driving record that meets company eligibility policies.
First Aid: Current First Aid certification from an approved agency (such as the American Red Cross) or the ability to obtain certification within 90 days of employment.
Licensure Requirements
Mental Health Specialist II (MHS II): Active registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate (AMFT, ACSW, or APCC).
Mental Health Specialist III (MHS III): Active licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as a Licensed clinician (LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC).
How You Will Make a Difference (Job Overview)
This position assesses clients at the start of treatment (reviews as needed), develops and maintains treatment plans, and conducts family collateral and discharge planning.
The MHS II is a clinical treatment team member who is also responsible for providing direct care to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of the clients through direct and indirect physical and verbal interaction.
MHS II will also be engaged in admission and diagnostic formulation, screening incoming referrals, and work with referring parties (i. e. Social Workers, Nurses, hospital liaisons and etc.) to ensure appropriate client care and treatment planning.
Duties are performed under the direct supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, but some tasks are accomplished independently.
Division & Program Overview
Facility & Setting
- 16-bed residential facility offering a short-term, home-like environment.
- 24/7 intensive treatment is designed as an alternative to hospitalization or urgent care.
Clinical Services: Comprehensive physical/psychological evaluations, mental health counseling, and case management.
Skills & Transition: Life-skills and interpersonal training, paired with dedicated assistance for locating permanent housing.
Learn more about SBHG at: starsinc.com
For Additional Information
Stgarcia@starsinc.com
Key Responsibilities
This position involves assessing clients, developing treatment plans, and providing direct care to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of residents. The therapist also screens incoming referrals and collaborates with external parties to ensure appropriate clinical care.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field and possess a valid California Driver's License. Active registration or licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences is required for the role.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Temporary Mental Health Therapist at Stars Behavioral Health Group a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Mental Health Therapy counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 32% are remote, 22% have no call, 76% require no weekends.
Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$69k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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$115k-$120kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,964 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
- No weekends
Living in Los Angeles
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $923k≈ 13.5× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $2,778/mo≈ 49% 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 (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 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.