Clinical Counselor- El Dorado Center
Listed compensation
$27/hour
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.
Job Description
- Job Location: El Dorado Center - Santa Cruz, CA
- Salary Range: $27.00 - $27.00Hourly, About The Program: EDC is a 16-bed co-ed community-based, short-term residential treatment program for individuals who may be stepping down from locked psychiatric care. An intensive, structured residential program, EDC is an unlocked, home-like environment facilitating the healing process in preparation for transitioning back to community living. Our staff provide individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, structured activities, community outings, and assistance with independent living skills and connecting to the community. A nurse is on staff and a county psychiatrist is available for medication monitoring and management.
About The
- Position: We currently have a full-time 40-hour week opening for a Clinical Counselor
Pay is $27.00 per hour. Job Responsibilities: Provides supportive individual and group counseling in accordance with funder requirements, agency policies and evidence-based practices. Counseling services are based on best practices for mental health or substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.
Provides crisis counseling, group counseling, relapse prevention planning, case management, and discharge planning services as indicated. Responsible for providing residential treatment curriculum in conjunction with other counseling staff, program and clinical mangers.
Provides support to Residential Counselors as needed in maintaining client participation in curriculum. Responsible for utilizing EBP’s: Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, etc. for clients with co-occurring disorders.
Participates in the appropriate documentation of group, case management and/or individual client services as required by program licensure.
Regularly engages in the “Team” approach for Clinicians, Counselors, and other treatment staff (e. g., LVN, NP), which includes a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment, communication, and coordination of client care.
Reports to work on-time, arranges for appropriate coverage of clinical caseload during planned and unplanned absences. Assures schedule is clearly communicated with Program Operations, Clinical Manager, and Lead Clinician.
Understands that excessive absences and an inconsistent presence at the assigned program site has an undue impact on successful program operations and client care.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field One (1) year experience of providing clinical support in a residential setting. Familiarity with Avatar Wages & Benefits: We prioritize the well-being of our team as much as the community we serve. Our comprehensive health benefits reflect this commitment.
We offer full-time employees medical and dental insurance plan that ensures peace of mind for themselves and their families. We go beyond traditional care by also offering our employees acupuncture and chiropractic, embracing a holistic approach to health that aligns with our values of care and compassion.
Our team’s future matters just as much as the present. That’s why we offer a 403(b) retirement plan, providing a foundation for a secure retirement. We also recognize the need for work-life balance, so Encompass offers a competitive package of 11 vacation days, 15 additional paid holidays, and 12 sick days.
These benefits are thoughtfully pro-rated for part-time positions, affirming our commitment to fairness and flexibility.
Key Responsibilities
The Clinical Counselor provides supportive individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and case management services within a residential treatment setting. They also collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to develop treatment plans and ensure consistent client care.
Requirements
Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of experience in mental health residential programs. Proficiency in computer skills, effective communication, and the ability to pass a criminal record clearance are required.
Key Skills
Mental Health — Counselor Career Context
In California, the Counselor weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$81k (1,314 salary observations; 3,451 listings), vs ~$73k nationally (10,111 salary observations; 46,259 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 Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 60% are remote, 32% have no call, 62% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $45k–$56k | Counselor median $69k (middle half $59k–$94k)49 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| California vs national | $81k median in California | $73k nationally (+12%)1,314 state / 10,111 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$46k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| All counselor listings in California | 1,039 active | 13,307 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 60% remote · 32% no call · 62% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California counselor listings (all specialties): 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| Counselor pay trend (all specialties) | −1.3% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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