Mending Matters logo
Mending Matters
San Diego, California

School-Based Mental Health Therapist

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 4mo ago

Job Description

We are looking for a school-based mental health therapist to join our growing team!

Mending Matters is on a mission to engage, connect, and empower youth to pursue their fullest potential. We’re committed to creating environments where mental health support is approachable, accessible, and tailored to the unique needs of students and schools.

mendingmatters.org

The ideal candidate would demonstrate a passion for working with youth and an interest in innovative and equitable mental health approaches. We strive to hire team members who contribute to our dynamic culture where diverse perspectives are expected and challenges are met with curiosity. By empowering our therapists to think creatively and act purposefully, we can find solutions that dramatically improve our student's wellbeing.

Position Details

  • Full or part-time, non-exempt position
  • Located in San Diego County
  • School site placements assigned at hiring
  • School-based, in-person services
  • Operates consistent with district calendar
  • Anticipated start date: August 3rd, 2026

Responsibilities

  • Provide individual and group therapy to youth ages 11-18+
  • Collaborate with school-based staff for student support
  • Lead school-based mental health workshops
  • Facilitate restorative programs and coordinate follow-up support as needed
  • Facilitate student leadership group and related program tasks
  • Engage with parents and guardians regarding client safety, treatment goals, and clinical interventions
  • Provide leadership, intervention and support when crisis counseling is appropriate
  • Provide care coordination for individual clients and their families

Complete appropriate documentation, including regular progress notes, bio-psycho-social assessments, and treatment plans

Collaborate with colleagues and school partners to identify and address existing community needs and barriers to service

Cultivate and sustain relationships with school partners

Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Clinical Counseling
  • Active or pending registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an ASW, AMFT, or APCC, as appropriate by discipline
  • Experience providing individual and group therapy, preferably with youth and families
  • A commitment to prioritizing increased access to mental health services tailored to the needs of youth and families
  • Effective communicator, particularly with students, families and colleagues
  • Strong interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate within school environments
  • An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • The capacity to remain calm, focused and professional when faced with unexpected challenges
  • Strong organizational and documentation skills
  • Willing to commit to the full school year to ensure continuity of services for students
  • Demonstrated ability to be culturally responsive and respect diversity

Preferred Qualifications

  • Spanish-English bilingual
  • Experience in school-based mental health services
  • Experience in implementation of school-based programs

Benefits

  • Weekly clinical supervision within the work day
  • Holidays paid time off, per the company calendar
  • Full benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 403(b) plan, vacation, and sick pay

Employee Assistance Program

  • Additional employee supports, including opportunities for team connection, collaboration, and professional development
  • EEO/AA/Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Individual TherapyClinical DocumentationCase ManagementInterpersonal CommunicationCultural ResponsivenessWorkshop FacilitationTreatment Planning

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates School-Based Mental Health Therapist at Mending Matters a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,961 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 34% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution50 jobs · 40 employers

12
<$85k
16
$85k-100k
10
$100k-115k
12
$115k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks40 jobs

401k / retirement match
90% this job
Sign-on bonus
40%
CME allowance
40%
Loan repayment
23%
PSLF eligible
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinical Supervisor & Therapist

Mindfully Behavioral Health · Longmont, Colorado

#2

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT/LCSW/MHP) - Juvenile Facility

CHP Health · Auburn, California

$54.95-$61.81/hr
#3

Clinical Director - LMFT, LCSW, LPCC

$112k-$126k
#4

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

$92k-$125k
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 7.2
Better work-life than 80% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,961 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.01M
Typical market rent
$3,036/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 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.

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

Mending Matters logo

About Mending Matters

Mental Health Care
El Cajon, California
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
403(b) Plan
Paid Holidays
Vacation Pay
Sick Pay
Employee Assistance Program