Primary Therapist

Counselor / TherapistNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$70k-$87k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Title: Primary Mental Health Therapist

Location: Reston, VA

Work Environment

  • Teen & Young Adult Outpatient Treatment Center
  • Schedule: Monday to Friday | Some evenings required
  • Job Type: Full Time
  • Compensation: $70,000-$87,000 (dependent on licensure / experience)

About The Role

As a Primary Therapist, you will lead individual, group, and family therapy sessions, helping clients navigate their mental health and dual-diagnosis challenges. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, you will implement evidence-based treatment plans and empower clients to achieve their recovery goals.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based modalities tailored to each client’s needs.

Develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive treatment plans in collaboration with clients, families, and the clinical team.

Ensure all clinical documentation is accurate, timely, and compliant with organizational and insurance standards.

  • Participate in utilization reviews and discussions on medical necessity with insurance providers as needed.
  • Coordinate with families to ensure alignment on treatment goals and progress.
  • Actively contribute to program development, performance improvement initiatives, and family programming.
  • Foster collaboration within the treatment team to ensure a cohesive and supportive care environment.
  • Assist in recruiting and mentoring clinical staff to uphold high standards of care.
  • Represent the organization positively in interactions with families, referral sources, and community partners.

Qualifications

Candidates applying for this position should be aware that an offer for employment in this position is contingent upon passing a comprehensive background check, encompassing criminal records and motor vehicle reports.

A master’s degree in behavioral health science (Clinical Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related field) is Required

An active license in the state of VA in good standing is required

LPC / Resident in Counseling / LCSW / Supervisee in Social Work / LMFT / Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy

An ideal candidate has a minimum of 3 years of experience, including experience with clients from the age of 13 – 30 in a detox, residential, partial hospitalization (“PHP”), and/or intensive outpatient (“IOP) setting

Candidates must demonstrate a proven ability to manage diverse caseloads while maintaining a high standard of care.

The Perks

At Sandstone Care, we believe that great care starts with our employees. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you in your personal and professional journey. Some of the benefits include:

A competitive compensation and total rewards package including a meaningful salary, merit-based pay increases, and professional growth opportunities.

A flexible PTO package that includes accrued PTO, paid holidays, and wellbeing days

High quality medical, dental, and vision insurance with a variety of package options that meet your needs and majority company paid.

A robust Employee Assistance Program: Including counseling, legal consultations, financial planning, and wellness coaching.

A collaborative and supportive community of therapists and team members: Fostering a positive work environment.

What to Expect: Our Interview Process

Here's an Overview of What Comes Next

  • Application Review: We'll promptly review your application within a couple of business days.
  • Discovery Call: Expect a 30-minute discovery call with one of our Talent Acquisition Specialists.
  • Interview with Hiring Manager: You'll have 1 hour interview with the Site Director
  • Offer: If all goes well, you'll receive an offer.
  • Expected Interview Timeline: The entire process typically takes 1-2 weeks.
  • Sandstone Care’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At Sandstone Care, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion that not only enriches the lives of our employees but also ensures the wellbeing and care of our clients, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, ability, or background. We believe that embracing diversity and promoting equity and inclusion are integral to our mission of providing high-quality behavioral health services.

Sandstone Care is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered.

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyMental health counselingDual-diagnosis treatmentEvidence-based treatment planningUtilization reviewCrisis interventionCase management

Counselor Career Context

In Virginia, the Mental Health Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$81k (159 salary observations; 559 listings), vs ~$74k nationally (5,791 salary observations; 23,259 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2025-12-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% are remote, 42% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Virginia vs national$81k median in Virginia$74k nationally (+9%)159 state / 5,791 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$78k in purchasing powerVirginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Virginia265 active7,579 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 38% remote · 42% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedVirginia counselor listings (all specialties): 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $2k) · 12% offer loan repayment417 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,476 in the last 30 days1,365 the 30 days before (+81%)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

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

31 jobs · 22 employers
8
<$75k
6
$75k-95k
8
$95k-115k
9
$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

27 jobs · 22 employers
401k / retirement match
89%
Sign-on bonus
19%
Loan repayment
19%
CME allowance
15%
PSLF eligible
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

$115k-$120k
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.9
Better work-life than 30% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,558 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
Sandstone Care - Reston, Virginia logo

About Sandstone Care - Reston, Virginia

Hospitals and Health Care
Denver, Colorado
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Flexible PTO
Paid Holidays
Wellbeing Days
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Merit-based pay increases

Living in Reston

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$632k≈ 9.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,589/mo≈ 44% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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