Group Therapist Per Diem

CounselorIncludes callIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$62,899 - $116,626/yr

Listing transparency4 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Per Diem
Call expectations
Includes call
Weekends
Includes weekends
Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Wellfound is hiring a Per Diem Recreation Therapist to join our inpatient team.

Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital is a 120-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital located in Tacoma, Washington.  We are Department of Health and Joint Commission accredited. We are an acute care psychiatric hospital providing care to both voluntary and involuntary patients.

At Wellfound, our approach to treatment emphasizes whole-person centered care that supports wellness and recovery. We respect and are inclusive of everyone’s unique values, strengths, and beliefs. We believe in a team approach to care which includes our amazing providers, nurses, mental health technicians and therapy team members.

Position Information

This position is responsible for providing routine, daily treatment activities in a fast-paced acute inpatient psychiatric unit.

Incumbents in this position are responsible for working with a variety of adult patients with behavioral health disorders to assist in achieving psychiatric stabilization and return to the community.

Incumbents should have knowledge of basic principles of psychiatric recovery, knowledge of effective group therapy modalities, ability to document patient care in accordance with facility policies and regulatory guidance. Incumbent primary duties will include facilitating group treatment.

We Offer Competitive Pay and Benefits

  • Hourly Union: $30.24-$56.07 depending on experience and the union scale
  • Weekend Shift Differential: $1.85
  • Great benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and Supplemental Life Insurance eligible the first of the month following 30 days of hire.
  • Employee Assistance Program up on hire
  • 403B with discretionary match for those that participate in the plan and meet work requirements
  • Paid Time Off - You will accrue Paid Sick and Safe Leave at 1 hour per 40 hours worked.  Paid Sick leave cannot be used until 90 days after your hire date.
  • Paid Time Off will be accrued based on hours worked and tenure.  You will accrue 0.12 hours of PTO per hours worked until you reach the next level of accrual.  PTO cannot be used until 90 days after your hire date with the exception of designated Wellfound holidays.

What We Require

Education:

  • Master’s degree in social work, psychology, social sciences, recreation, music therapy, dance therapy, art therapy, occupational therapy, or a counseling- related field.

License

  • Washington State Counselor Agency Affiliated Registration within 90 days of hire or a current associate or independent mental health license in Washington State, or music therapy license
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association or American Red Cross

Experience

  • One year’s experience in a psychiatric setting

Union Membership

As a condition of employment, you must join the SEIU Union within thirty (30) calendar days of employment and remain a member in good standing of the Union, unless you submit and are approved for a religious exemption.

Key Responsibilities

The incumbent is responsible for facilitating daily group treatment activities within an acute inpatient psychiatric unit. They will work with adult patients to assist in achieving psychiatric stabilization and successful return to the community.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in a counseling-related field and possess at least one year of experience in a psychiatric setting. Additionally, a Washington State mental health license or registration and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification are required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient documentationTreatment planningClinical documentation

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 20% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Counselor Jobs

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Salary Distribution33 jobs · 29 employers

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$80k-105k
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks39 jobs · 29 employers

401k / retirement match
69% this job
CME allowance
54%
Sign-on bonus
21%
Loan repayment
21%
PSLF eligible
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

3.0/ 10
Listing-based score
  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Tacoma

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$488k
Typical market rent
$1,740/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital logo

About Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital

Hospitals and Health Care
Tacoma, Washington
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
403B with discretionary match
Paid Sick and Safe Leave
Paid Time Off
Weekend Shift Differential