Clinical - MH Associate Therapist

CounselorIncludes callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$65k-$75k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Discovery Mood & Anxiety

Discovery Mood and Anxiety Program is a national leader in behavioral healthcare and one of the fastest growing companies in the field. DBH offers world-class treatment for those struggling with mental health and places a high priority on seeking employees who share our passion for improving the lives we serve.

Since 1997, Discovery Mood and Anxiety Programs, DBH’s Mental Health Disorder Division, has helped thousands of patients discover their path to the full and rewarding lives they deserve with evidence-based and inclusive treatment options.

Position Summary

**This role must be licensed/associate licensed in CA

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, conduct therapy sessions, and other case management tasks, as assigned.

Essential Job Functions

Ensures 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.
  • Facilitates admission assessments and the admission process for new patients with professionalism, courtesy, and a welcoming attitude.
  • 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 5-6 patients in RTC and 10-15 in OP level of care..

Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patients’ level of care.

Facilitates process orientated and psychoeducation groups one to two times, daily in RTC and 2-4 times daily in OP.

  • Required to sit at a meal and/or snack a minimum of once per week.
  • Facilitates multi-family groups, family program, and/or family weekend.

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 2 hours during business hours of operations and 24-48 hours 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 and Business Department regarding authorization and payment.
  • Begins discharge planning on day of admission for all patients.
  • Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.
  • Ensures discharge appointments are confirmed with patient and loved ones prior to discharge.
  • Communicates with referral sources and outpatient providers for continuity of care upon admission, midpoint, and discharge.
  • Facilitates patient transfers to higher level of care, as needed.
  • Actively participates in clinical outreach and program tours, as needed.
  • 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.

RTC Only: Provides on-call support to facility at least 1x per month and returns all program phone calls within 20 minutes, while on call. Communicates appropriately with On Call Administrator or Regional Director regarding pertinent facility issues, while on call.

Knowledge, Education, & 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 fully licensed
  • Must possess a current driver’s license and be in good standing
  • Employment Status: Full Time
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday 11AM-7PM PST
  • Work Location: Virtual- Must be licensed/associate licensed in CA
  • Compensation: Pay Range: Associate Therapist: $65,000-75,000 yearly
  • Program Therapist: $75,000-84,000 yearly
  • Senior Therapist: $85,000-95,000 yearly

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 evidence-based treatment services, including facilitating therapy groups, conducting clinical assessments, and managing a patient caseload. They also ensure timely clinical documentation, coordinate discharge planning, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to maintain high-quality patient care.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a relevant field and possess a current associate license in California. The role requires the ability to conduct therapeutic interventions under supervision and maintain a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Crisis managementPsychoeducational groupsSuicide assessmentFamily therapyMultidisciplinary team collaborationMental health assessment

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Clinical - MH Associate Therapist at Discovery Behavioral Health a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Mental Health Therapy counselor listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 52% are remote, 18% 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 ~$70k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $63k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks34 jobs · 30 employers

401k / retirement match
91%
CME allowance
47%
Sign-on bonus
32%
Loan repayment
12%
PSLF eligible
9%

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.2this job 6.0
Better work-life than 50% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,058 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • On-site
  • Includes call
Discovery Behavioral Health logo

About Discovery Behavioral Health

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

Benefits & Perks

Full Time employment
Virtual work location
Monday-Friday 11AM-7PM PST schedule