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Progress Foundation
San Francisco, California

Temp Counselor Ashbury

CounselorTemporary

Listed compensation

Salary Range: $28.55 /hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Ashbury House - San Francisco, CA 94117Salary Range: $28.55 - $28.55 HourlyTITLE: TEMP COUNSELOR ACCOUNTABILITY: To Assistant Director or Program Director MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's Degree in a mental health related field.

Experience may be substituted for the degree requirement, depending on nature and length of experience. Specific experience in residential treatment and/or knowledge of social rehabilitation is preferred. At least one year's experience in a community mental health program is preferred.

Must be able to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and other providers both orally and in writing. Must, in the sole judgment of Progress Foundation, demonstrate good judgment and emotional stability.

At all times must be able to negotiate several flights of stairs multiple times during each work shift, and must be able to lift and carry 20 lb. packages multiple times during the work shift.

Must demonstrate ongoing clearance with the California State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, allowing direct contact with program clients. Must maintain training certification and demonstrated capacity to perform basic First Aid and CPR.

Basic word processing skills; maintain computer requirements of the City and County of San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of an Assistant Director or the Program Director, the Counselor provides support and assistance to clients at one of the Progress programs, all of which are housed in multi-level facilities.

Generally, the Counselor has primary responsibility for advocating for and responding to the treatment and rehabilitation needs of the program clients. Specifically, Counselors perform the following functions: Essential Functions Conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.

Orient new clients to the program and facility or, whenever possible, enable another client to orient a new client. Respond to psychiatric and/or medical emergency situations throughout the facility in a professional, thorough, and timely manner, and do crisis intervention work with clients.

Assist clients in the evacuation of all floors of the facility in case of fire, earthquake, or other emergency. Develop treatment plans with maximum client participation, and support clients' efforts to implement them.

Communicate appropriately with referral sources and other treatment personnel both within and outside the agency, exchanging information relevant to client treatment. Complete all intake and discharge paperwork on assigned clients and maintain progress records on all clients.

Initiate and participate in discharge planning, so that clients can transition smoothly to the next level of care or the community. Lead or co-lead day or evening group sessions, including house meetings or other activities, adhering to the schedule of fixed events, unless circumstances dictate otherwise..

Assume primary case coordinating responsibilities for clients, as assigned. Relay clinical and house-status information to other staff at shift changes, staff meetings, and at other appropriate times. Monitor and record client medications, complying with program procedures.

Participate in meal planning and preparation at designated intervals, and encourage clients to become involved in these activities. Counselors are to join program clients for all meals. Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision sessions, and case consultation meetings, as scheduled.

Consult with the Assistant Director, Program Director and the Program Consultant, as necessary, on such issues as case review, medications, group dynamics, etc. Be responsible for the physical plant.

This includes investigating problems throughout the facility and performing minor cleaning, repair work, and other household tasks, and reporting more serious maintenance problems in a timely manner to the Assistant Director or Program Director.

Report any suspected abuse of clients directly to the appropriate agencies as outlined in policy and law and per the adult abuse reporting document signed upon hiring. Promote the social rehabilitation philosophy among program staff and clients. Must be able to work overnight, awake and alert shifts.

Comply with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations, as well as all agency policies and procedures, including the code of ethics. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Director.

Inform the Assistant Director or Program Director of any personal events and/or circumstances which may affect the ability to perform the proscribed job responsibilities and functions or to meet minimum qualifications. II.

Functions Which May Be Accommodated For Persons with Disabilities Covered Under The "Americans With Disabilities Act" Lead and/or participate in outings and other recreational activities planned for clients. Shop for groceries and other household items with program clients.

Drive clients to treatment-related destinations. Attend meetings, both programmatic and administrative, as a representative of the program, when assigned by the Assistant Director or Program Director.

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

The counselor provides direct support and rehabilitation services to clients in a residential mental health setting, including crisis intervention and case management. They are also responsible for maintaining the facility, documenting client progress, and facilitating group sessions.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a mental health-related field is required, though relevant experience may be substituted. Candidates must demonstrate emotional stability, possess First Aid/CPR certification, and be able to perform physical tasks like lifting and climbing stairs.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Mental health supportIntake interviewingMedication monitoringTreatment planningDocumentationCommunication

Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $49k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 28% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

Counseling pay on WeekdayDoc is up 18.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Counselor Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution34 jobs · 28 employers

8
<$90k
9
$90k-105k
6
$105k-120k
8
$120k-135k
3
$135k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks26 jobs

401k / retirement match
100%
CME allowance
42%
Sign-on bonus
38%
Loan repayment
15%
PSLF eligible
15%

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 10% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 519 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in San Francisco

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.74M
Typical market rent
$4,682/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
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.

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