Pathways To Housing Dc Dsc logo
Pathways To Housing Dc Dsc
Washington, District of Columbia

Community Mental Health Therapist ($1,000 Bonus)

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$60k-$65k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Community Mental Health Therapist LGSW or LGPC

Salary: $60,000 - $65,000

Pathways to Housing DC (Pathways DC) is an innovative nonprofit agency committed to ending homelessness for individuals with serious mental illnesses, co-occurring substance use disorders and/or other medical challenges in our Nation's Capital. Pathways is one of the originators of "Housing First", in which services are provided to those in need without conditions and pre-housing requirements.

Benefits

  • Free clinical supervision towards LICSW/LPC licensure
  • CEUs for clinical licensure via online learning platform
  • 15 days of vacation to start plus 10 paid holidays
  • Paid Sick/Wellness leave
  • Health Insurance (singles, partner, and family coverage offered), including an employer sponsored HSA account to offset the cost of copays and healthcare services
  • Dental & Vision insurance
  • Employer paid LTD Pathways' paid life insurance 403b Match
  • Employer paid Employee Assistance Program
  • Many additional employee paid services such as legal coverage, Short Term Disability, and pre-tax commuter benefits

$1,000 Recruitment Bonus Available

  • About the Role:

The Community Mental Health Therapist (LGSW or LGPC) at Pathways to Housing DC plays a critical role in delivering comprehensive mental health services to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

This position focuses on providing therapeutic interventions, case management, and support to promote mental wellness and stability within the community.

The therapist will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized treatment plans that address both mental health and social determinants of health.

By fostering a supportive and empathetic environment, the therapist helps clients build resilience, improve coping skills, and achieve sustainable housing outcomes. Ultimately, this role contributes to enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable populations through compassionate, evidence-based mental health care.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) or Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in the District of Columbia.
  • Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field.
  • Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of mental health disorders, treatment modalities, and community resources.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards in clinical practice.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with trauma-informed care and harm reduction approaches.
  • Familiarity with the Housing First model and supportive housing programs.
  • Bilingual skills, particularly in Spanish, to better serve diverse client populations.
  • Training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, or other evidence-based practices.
  • Experience working within multidisciplinary teams in community-based settings.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct thorough psychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans tailored to client needs.
  • Provide individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based therapeutic modalities.
  • Collaborate with case managers, healthcare providers, and community resources to coordinate comprehensive care.
  • Monitor client progress and adjust treatment approaches as necessary to ensure effective outcomes.
  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation in compliance with organizational policies and regulatory standards.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss client care and contribute to program development.
  • Engage in outreach activities to connect with clients in community settings and facilitate access to services.
  • Provide crisis intervention and support during acute mental health episodes.

Skills

The therapist will utilize strong clinical assessment and diagnostic skills daily to identify client needs and develop effective treatment plans. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential for building trust with clients and collaborating with team members and external partners.

The ability to apply evidence-based therapeutic techniques ensures that interventions are both appropriate and impactful. Organizational skills are critical for managing caseloads, maintaining documentation, and coordinating care across multiple service providers.

Additionally, cultural competence and empathy enable the therapist to engage clients from diverse backgrounds and support them in overcoming barriers to mental health and housing stability.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Psychology and possess an LGSW or LGPC license in the District of Columbia. Experience working with homeless populations and knowledge of mental health treatment modalities are highly preferred.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Psychosocial assessmentTreatment planningMultidisciplinary collaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 58% are remote, 26% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$58k in purchasing powerWashington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Washington187 active7,579 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 58% remote · 26% no call · 74% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$1k sign-onWashington counselor listings (all specialties): 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 14% offer loan repayment280 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,476 in the last 30 days1,365 the 30 days before (+81%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−1.8% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$63k midpoint, that is roughly $3k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Counselor Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

38 jobs · 16 employers
7
<$80k
4
$80k-100k
9
$100k-120k
16
$120k-140k
2
$141k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

32 jobs · 16 employers
401k / retirement match
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
38% this job
CME allowance
22% this job
Loan repayment
16%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist

LifeStance Health · Lake Oswego, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Mental Health Therapist

$131k
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.9
Better work-life than 30% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,558 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Pathways To Housing Dc Dsc logo

About Pathways To Housing Dc Dsc

Mental Health Care
Washington, District of Columbia
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Free clinical supervision towards LICSW/LPC licensure
CEUs for clinical licensure via online learning platform
15 days vacation to start
10 paid holidays
Paid sick/wellness leave
Health insurance with employer-sponsored HSA
Dental & vision insurance
Employer paid LTD