Associate Therapist-Hybrid (Los Angeles/Santa Monica, California)
Listed compensation
$33-$35/hr
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Associate Therapist - Hybrid (Los Angeles, California)
Full-Time Associate Therapist (AMFT / ACSW / APCC) – Psychotherapist
Hybrid Role — Twos day per week are in person at our Downtown Los Angeles Office or our Encinitas (North County San Diego) office; Three days per week is Virtual
The Role
We are looking for a pre-licensed therapist who is passionate about individual therapy and drawn to working with adults facing complex mental health challenges within a collaborative interdisciplinary treatment team.
The role is particularly well suited for Associates in the earlier stages of accumulating supervised clinical hours who want to deepen their clinical skills and grow with the team over time
Job Responsibilities
Focus of Work
- Predominantly providing individual psychotherapy with adults
- Some group, couples, or family therapy as part of our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program
Supporting patients in integrating experiences from interventional psychiatry treatments into their lives and ongoing treatment.
Working with patients have complex trauma histories, treatment-resistant depression, and/or multiple co-occurring conditions.
- The typical 40-hour work week includes (numbers are approximate and may shift depending on patient needs):
- 25 hours: Client-facing work, primarily individual therapy, with occasional group, couples, or family sessions
- 8 hours: Clinical documentation and treatment planning
- 7 hours: Team consultation, individual supervision, and group supervision
- The required hours for this role are 11am - 7pm Pacific time (Monday - Friday)
Who We Are Looking For
Successful candidates typically demonstrate six main qualities:
Passion for Individual Therapy
They enjoy doing individual therapy and want a role centered around individual clinical work.
Clinical Maturity
They work thoughtfully in a trauma-informed, culturally attuned way with adults who have complex histories and co-morbidities.
Warmth and Collegiality
They bring deep empathy to patient care and contribute positively to the clinical team.
Ability to Work Independently While Knowing When to Seek Support
They autonomously manage their schedules, communicate directly with patients, and take ownership of their client care, while also proactively seeking consultation or guidance from the team when needed
Confidence in Clinical Discussions
They contribute their clinical perspectives during team consultations and are open to feedback from the team.
Willingness to Explore Countertransference
They reflect on their reactions to patients and explore how those responses may inform their clinical work. They value ongoing self-reflection and personal growth as part of developing as a therapist.
- Professional Qualifications
- Registered AMFT, ACSW, or APCC in California
- Experience providing psychotherapy to adults in outpatient or similar clinical settings
- Expertise in evidence-based practices such as CBT, ACT, or DBT
- Clinical experience or training in trauma informed modalities such as IFS, EMDR, or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
What We Offer
- Full-time employment (40 hours per week) — compensation is not limited to clinical hours
- Competitive compensation for pre-licensed therapists
- Benefits package, including health insurance
- Steady flow of patients provided by Stella — therapists do not need to market or find their own clients
- Substantial supervised hours toward licensure
- Clinical supervision from experienced therapists and collaboration with psychiatrists
Interdisciplinary Case Discussions with the Treatment Team
Supportive Stella team: We recognize that working with patients who have significant mental health challenges can be demanding. Our team values consultation and collaboration so therapists are not carrying difficult cases alone.
We take care in selecting clinicians who are thoughtful about their work and committed to providing high-quality psychotherapy.
At Stella, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential values that enrich our work environment and enhance our ability to serve diverse communities. We strive to integrate these values into every aspect of our organization, from hiring and training to policies and practices. Our vision is to be a leader in delivering patient-centered care that respects and celebrates diversity, promotes equity and inclusion, and improves health outcomes for all.
Key Responsibilities
Provide individual psychotherapy to adults with complex mental health challenges and participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings. Manage clinical documentation, treatment planning, and engage in group, couples, or family therapy sessions as part of the virtual intensive outpatient program.
Requirements
Must be a registered AMFT, ACSW, or APCC in California with experience in outpatient clinical settings. Proficiency in evidence-based practices such as CBT, ACT, or DBT and trauma-informed modalities is required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Associate Therapist-Hybrid (Los Angeles/Santa Monica, California) at Stella Mental Health a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,891 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, remote work flexibility.
Counselor Career Context
Stella Mental Health holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 74/100, 6 active listings.
Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 22% have no call, 64% require no weekends — this position is remote.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.4 / 10 · above average in mental health therapy (counseling) | ranked against 7,891 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $69k–$73k | Mental Health Therapy median $73k (middle half $61k–$107k)42 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$64k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Therapy listings in California | 598 active | 7,960 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | remote | peers: 62% remote · 22% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Stella Mental Health | silver tier, 74/100 | Top Employers work-life index6 active listings |
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