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San Ysidro Health
Vista, California

PACE Psychotherapist (LMFT or LCSW)

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$105k-$138k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 57m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Position Summary

Under the direction of the PACE Director of Behavioral Health, the Licensed Clinical Counselor (LCC) is responsible for providing direct counseling services to older adults and their families. The LCC follows care plans for participants served. LCC represents SYH in the community by interacting with individuals and their families. Maintains confidentiality at all levels.

Essential Functions of the Job

Provides individual, couples, and family counseling to SDP participants. Service must be delivered in a culturally appropriate fashion. Psychotherapy will be provided consistent with State of California laws and regulations, professional standards of care, agency guidelines, and professional ethical guidelines.

Works with participants to develop and follow Behavioral Health treatment plans; performs crisis intervention as needed.

  • Participates in warm handoffs from PCP and/or interdisciplinary teams as needed.
  • Develops and facilitates and co-facilitates group sessions and leads specialized educational classes; collaborates with other service team members and other appropriate individuals within scope of responsibility and expertise.
  • Assesses and identifies participants’ needs for supportive services on an ongoing basis.

Act as a resource, assists in obtaining, and/or makes appropriate referrals for necessary or requested services (e. g., housing, food, etc.).

Provides support to Social Work Associates who are providing direct services to PACE participants.

Requests assistance and guidance from the Clinic Manager and inter-disciplinary staff when necessary to address participants’ issues and problems.

Establishes and maintains contact with community resources to ensure continuity of care (e. g., case managers, social workers, psychiatric units).

  • Conducts home visits to participants and families as needed/requested.
  • Maintains a caseload as assigned by Director.

Timely professional maintenance of records and documentation, including progress notes, ongoing evaluation of participant’s progress, consistent with agency expectations and ethical standards. Utilization of EPIC and other databases as instructed.

Participates in interdisciplinary and Department team meetings as directed.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, and environment.

Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops.

  • Attends meetings as required and participates in committees as requested.
  • Adheres to SYHC’s core values and behaviors of Excellence, Empowerment, Integrity, and Respect.
  • Adheres to SYHC and PACE attendance and punctuality policies and practices.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.
  • Job Requirements

Education Required

Successful completion of terminal graduate training program in a psychotherapy-related field: Master’s degree in Social Work or its equivalent from an accredited school.

Experience Required

  • Minimum of 1 year of experience working with the frail or elderly population is preferred.
  • Experience with group facilitation and educational instruction.
  • Experience in Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses and personality disorders required.
  • Ability to differentiate between biological and psychological contributors to behavior in a diverse clinical population.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the DSM-5TR/ICD-10 required.

Certifications Required

  • LCSW or LMFT license issued by the state of California.
  • Valid California driver’s license.
  • Verbal and Written Skills Required to Perform the Job:
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Technical Knowledge and Skills Required to Perform the Job:
  • Demonstrate respect for diversity.
  • Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgement in dealing with a variety of people with a variety of co-occurring disorders.
  • Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgement within areas of responsibility.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, family members, other professional staff, and the public.

Equipment Used

  • Computer literacy required.
  • Proficiency in MS office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
  • Personal Computer

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

  • Prolonged periods of sitting and standing; frequent walking.
  • Driving within the city
  • Lifting of no more than 15 lbs.
  • Ability to remain calm and objectively evaluate problems.
  • May be required to work outside normal business hours.

Universal Requirements

Pre-employment requirements include I-9, physical, positive background and reference check results, complete application, new hire orientation, pre-employment PPDs. Compliance with all mandated vaccinations and all boosters is a term and condition of employment.

About Us San Ysidro Health is a Federally Qualified Health Care organization committed to providing high quality, compassionate, accessible and affordable healthcare services for the entire family. The organization was founded by seven women in search of medical services for their families and community.

Almost 50 years later, San Ysidro Health now provides innovative care to over 108,000 patients through a vast and integrated network of 47 program sites across the county. San Ysidro Health could not serve our patients without the dedication of our passionate and hardworking employees.

Apply today and become a part of our mission-driven team! San Ysidro Health has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity for all applicants for employment.

Employment decisions including, but not limited to, those such as employee selection, performance evaluation, administration of benefits, working conditions, employee programs, transfers, position changes, training, disciplinary action, compensation, and separations are made without regard to race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming), creed, national origin, nationality, citizenship status, domestic partnership status, ancestry, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, civil union status, family status, age, mental or physical disability (including AIDS or HIV-related status), atypical heredity cellular or blood trait of an individual, genetic information or refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available the results of a genetic test, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Key Responsibilities

The psychotherapist provides direct counseling services, crisis intervention, and behavioral health treatment planning for older adults and their families. They also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, conduct home visits, and maintain accurate clinical documentation.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work or a related field and possess a valid LCSW or LMFT license in California. Experience with the elderly population and knowledge of DSM-5TR/ICD-10 standards are required.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Case managementElderly careInterdisciplinary collaboration

Social Worker Career Context

In California, the Social Work weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$96k (958 salary observations; 1,791 listings), vs ~$81k nationally (6,745 salary observations; 20,973 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2025-12-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 30% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$121k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $110k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Social Worker Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 29 employers

8
<$85k
11
$85k-105k
11
$105k-125k
7
$125k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks35 jobs · 29 employers

401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
46%
CME allowance
37%
Loan repayment
20%
PSLF eligible
14%

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,558 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Vista

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$858k≈ 8.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,724/mo≈ 31% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
27 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.