Pathways To Housing DC logo
Pathways To Housing DC
Washington, District of Columbia

Community Mental Health Therapist LGSW or LGPC

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$60K - $65K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

About Company

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

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 a mental health field and be a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) or Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in DC. Experience with trauma-informed care and the Housing First model is preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Interpersonal CommunicationEvidence-Based PracticePsychosocial AssessmentTreatment Planning

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Community Mental Health Therapist LGSW or LGPC at Pathways To Housing DC a 7.5 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,851 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 76% are remote, 28% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for District of Columbia is 109.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$63k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $57k in an average-cost state. 64.3% of District of Columbia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.5 / 10 · top 25% in mental health therapy (counseling)ranked against 7,851 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$60k–$65kMental Health Therapy median $73k (middle half $63k–$85k)294 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$57k in purchasing powerDistrict of Columbia index 109.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in District of Columbia26 active7,906 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 76% remote · 28% no call · 74% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (7,851 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

36 jobs · 14 employers
9
<$85k
2
$85k-100k
7
$100k-115k
17
$115k-130k
1
$155k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

31 jobs · 14 employers
401k / retirement match
97% this job
Sign-on bonus
39%
CME allowance
16% this job
Loan repayment
3% this job
PSLF eligible
3% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Dental Therapist

InterDent Service · Salem, Oregon

From $155k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.5
Better work-life than 80% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,851 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Pathways To Housing DC logo

About Pathways To Housing DC

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

Benefits & Perks

Free Clinical Supervision
CEUs
15 Days Vacation
10 Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Leave
Health Insurance
HSA
Dental Insurance

Living in Washington

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$642k≈ 10.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,517/mo≈ 50% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
30 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.