Discovery Behavioral Health logo
Discovery Behavioral Health
Del Mar, California

Therapist - SUD, Outpatient

Counselor 8.0 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

Compensation Range: $70K–80,000

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about call expectations and time off.

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

Casa Palmera

Casa Palmera is a nationally recognized subacute residential treatment center offering drug rehabilitation, treatment for alcohol addiction as well as treatment for mood disorders and anxiety and trauma disorders. Casa Palmera is staffed with a diverse team of psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists who work together to help each patient move forward within a caring community.

If you are looking for an organization that thrives on growth, celebrates diversity of thought, and rewards passionate execution, you’ve come to the right place. Because we put clients first, it is our honor to support and reward those who serve them.

Position Summary

The Associate Therapist works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Clinical Model. Therapist responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, providing milieu interventions, leading psychoeducational and process-oriented therapy groups, facilitate clinical assessments, conducting therapy sessions, and other case management tasks, as assigned.

Essential Job Functions

Ensure clinical documentation is completed timely throughout the course of treatment. All documentation is required to be done at the time of service.

  • Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families/loved ones.
  • Understands role in providing expeditious access to care for individuals seeking services.
  • Participates in weekly treatment team and communicates weekly treatment goals with all team members.
  • Maintain a case load of 5-7 patients.
  • Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patients’ level of care.
  • Facilitates the process orientated and psychoeducation groups daily/weekly.

Provides utilization reviews to insurance companies, providing appropriate clinical information to obtain initial authorization and continuing stay authorization, as necessary.

Is appropriately accessible to family members or loved ones. Returning all calls and emails within 4 hours during business hours of operations and 24 hours at all other times.

  • Assesses patients for suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.
  • May provide additional clinical support for other members of the clinical team in their absence.
  • Communicates with the Utilization Review Department regarding authorizations.
  • Discharge planning begins on day of admission for all patients.
  • Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.
  • Effectively manages crises in sessions and the milieu.
  • Provides support to milieu staff in their interactions with patients and their loved ones.
  • Works collaboratively with the entire treatment team and milieu staff to always ensure the highest level of clinical quality.
  • Completes other tasks, as requested, or assigned.
  • Knowledge, Education, and Experience
  • Master’s or Doctorate degree in relevant field, required
  • Completion of state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions, required
  • Operates under supervision and is not licensed
  • Obtain CPR, AED, and First Aid certification within 90 days of hire
  • Must possess a current driver’s license and be in good standing
  • Employee Status: Full time
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30a,-5pm
  • Work Location: Del Mar, CA
  • Compensation Range: $70,304-80,000 annually

Discovery Behavioral Health seeks to build a diverse staff that is reflective of the patients we serve and the communities where we work. DBH encourages multiple perspectives, experiences, and strives to hire and retain a diverse workforce.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Therapist provides clinical treatment services, including facilitating therapy groups, conducting assessments, and managing a caseload of 5-7 patients. They are responsible for maintaining timely clinical documentation and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to ensure patient safety and quality care.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a relevant field and have completed state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions. Additionally, applicants must obtain CPR, AED, and First Aid certification within 90 days of hire and possess a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Psychoeducational groupsCrisis managementSuicidality assessmentFamily therapyTreatment planningSubstance abuse treatmentTrauma-informed care

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Therapist - SUD, Outpatient at Discovery Behavioral Health a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 10% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 8,026 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 34% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$75k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $68k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution38 jobs · 29 employers

7
<$90k
11
$90k-105k
10
$105k-120k
9
$120k-135k
1
$135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs

401k / retirement match
97% this job
Sign-on bonus
48%
CME allowance
41% this job
PSLF eligible
14%
Loan repayment
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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Integrated Pain Management Medical Group · Walnut Creek, California

$115k-$135k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Modesto, California

$117k-$134k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Psychotherapist, Behavioral Health

$94k-$132k
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,026 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
  • On-site

Living in Del Mar

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$3.99M≈ 56.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$7,097/mo≈ 121% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 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.

Discovery Behavioral Health logo

About Discovery Behavioral Health

Mental Health Care
Irvine, CA
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
Paid Time Off
CME Allowance