LifeStance Health logo
LifeStance Health
Encinitas, California

Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$118k-$135k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly healthy society where mental and physical healthcare are unified to make lives better. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable, and personalized mental healthcare. Everywhere. Every day. It’s a lofty goal; we know. But we make it happen with the best team in behavioral health.

Thank you for taking the time to explore a career with us. As the fastest growing behavioral health practice group in the country, now is the perfect time to join our clinical team!

We are actively looking to hire talented therapists in the Encinitas area, who are passionate about patient care and committed to clinical excellence.

At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly healthy society where mental and physical healthcare are unified to make lives better. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable, and personalized mental healthcare. Everywhere. Every day. It’s a lofty goal; we know. But we make it happen with the best team in behavioral health.

Thank you for taking the time to explore a career with us. As the fastest growing behavioral health practice group in the country, now is the perfect time to join our clinical team!

We are actively looking to hire talented therapists in the Encinitas area, who are passionate about patient care and committed to clinical excellence.

Is This You?

  • Wanting to deliver high quality behavioral healthcare.
  • Seeking work life balance.
  • Interested in growing professionally.

What We Offer Therapists:

  • Sign on bonus
  • Competitive Compensation: $118,000 - $135,000, compensation model based on productivity.
  • Flexible work schedules.
  • Generous ‘above market’ compensation with unlimited/uncapped earnings.
  • Full benefits package: health, dental, vision, life, 401k (with match), paid parental leave, EAP and more.
  • Collegial work environment.
  • Newly designed and modern offices.
  • Full administrative support.
  • Latest in digital technology.
  • Strong work/life balance.
  • Licensed Therapists are a critical part of our clinical team. We’re seeking Licensed Therapists that are::
  • Fully licensed LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW.
  • CA state license.
  • Experienced in working with adult, and/or child and adolescent populations.

Please reach out directly to arrange a time to speak by phone and include your CV, thank you.

  • Michael Pitts
  • Director, Practice Development
  • Michael.Pitts@lifestance.com
  • (W) 619-810-9495
  • (C) 623-308-4226

About LifeStance Health

LifeStance is a national provider of mental healthcare services focused on evidenced-based, medically driven treatment services for children, adolescents and adults suffering from a variety of mental health issues in an outpatient care setting, both in-person at its clinics nationwide and through its digital health telemedicine offering. The company employs psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and licensed therapists throughout the US.

LifeStance Health is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our employees.

Our Values

  • Belonging: We cultivate a space where everyone can show up as their authentic self.
  • Empathy: We seek out diverse perspectives and listen to learn without judgment.
  • Courage: We are all accountable for doing the right thing - even when it's hard - because we know it's worth it.
  • One Team: We realize our full potential when we work together towards our shared purpose.

If you elect to interact with us via our website, please only use lifestance.com or careers.lifestance.com. Additionally, our recruiters utilize email addresses with the @lifestance.com domain. Other websites and domains are not affiliated with LifeStance Health and may represent threats to your data security.

LifeStance Health complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our Human Resources Team at ADA@lifestance.com or by calling +1-800-308-0994.

Please note: This contact is intended solely for accommodation requests. Inquiries regarding applications, resumes and applicant status should not be sent to this email address as they will not be reviewed or responded to. To apply for a position, please use our official careers page.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist will provide high-quality, evidence-based behavioral healthcare to children, adolescents, and adults in an outpatient setting. They are expected to maintain clinical excellence while contributing to a collaborative and supportive team environment.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a valid California state license as an LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW. Experience working with adult, child, and adolescent populations is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

TherapyAdult therapyChild therapyAdolescent therapyEvidence-based treatment

Marriage & Family Therapy — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 26% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$127k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $114k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

LifeStance Health holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 83/100, 1,261 active listings.

Top Counselor Jobs

46 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution46 jobs · 38 employers

12
<$85k
12
$85k-105k
12
$105k-125k
7
$125k-145k
3
$145k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks36 jobs

401k / retirement match
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
36% this job
CME allowance
36%
Loan repayment
17%
PSLF eligible
17%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Therapist

Tuolumne Me Wuk Indian Health Center · Tuolumne, California

$113k-$170k
#2

Genetic Counselor

Sutter Health · Sunnyvale, California

$112k-$167k
#3

Dental Therapist

From $155k
#4

Outpatient Therapist (Licensed Psychologist or LICSW)

$125k-$140k
+ 44 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.9this job 2.8
Below most Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 883 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Encinitas

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.76M≈ 14.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$4,324/mo≈ 44% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
25 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.

LifeStance Health logo

About LifeStance Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Scottsdale, Arizona
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign on bonus
Full benefits package: health, dental, vision, life, 401k (with match), paid parental leave, EAP
Flexible work schedules
Unlimited/uncapped earnings
Collegial work environment
Newly designed and modern offices
Full administrative support
Latest in digital technology