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Sandstone Care
Richmond, Virginia

Primary Therapist

Counselor / TherapistNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$64k-$83k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Title: Primary Therapist

Location: Richmond, VA

Work Environment

  • Teen & Young Adult Outpatient Treatment Center
  • Schedule: Full-Time Monday to Friday - Some evening hours are required
  • Compensation Range: $64,000 - $83,000 Annual Salary Range (dependent on license and experience)

About The Role

As a Primary Therapist, you will lead individual, group, and family therapy sessions, helping clients navigate their mental health and dual-diagnosis challenges. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, you will implement evidence-based treatment plans and empower clients to achieve their recovery goals.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based modalities tailored to each client’s needs.

Develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive treatment plans in collaboration with clients, families, and the clinical team.

Ensure all clinical documentation is accurate, timely, and compliant with organizational and insurance standards.

  • Participate in utilization reviews and discussions on medical necessity with insurance providers as needed.
  • Coordinate with families to ensure alignment on treatment goals and progress.
  • Actively contribute to program development, performance improvement initiatives, and family programming.
  • Foster collaboration within the treatment team to ensure a cohesive and supportive care environment.
  • Assist in recruiting and mentoring clinical staff to uphold high standards of care.
  • Represent the organization positively in interactions with families, referral sources, and community partners.

Qualifications

Candidates applying for this position should be aware that an offer for employment in this position is contingent upon passing a comprehensive background check, encompassing criminal records and motor vehicle reports.

A master’s degree in behavioral health science (Clinical Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related field) is Required

An active license in the state of VA in good standing is required

LPC / LCSW / LMFT - Provisional Licenses will also be considered (Resident in Counseling / Supervisee in Social Work / Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy)

An ideal candidate has a minimum of 3 years of experience, including experience with clients from the age of 13 – 30 in a detox, residential, partial hospitalization (“PHP”), and/or intensive outpatient (“IOP) setting

Candidates must demonstrate a proven ability to manage diverse caseloads while maintaining a high standard of care.

The Perks

At Sandstone Care, we believe that great care starts with our employees. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you in your personal and professional journey. Some of the benefits include:

A competitive compensation and total rewards package including a meaningful salary, merit-based pay increases, and professional growth opportunities.

A flexible PTO package that includes accrued PTO, paid holidays, and wellbeing days

High quality medical, dental, and vision insurance with a variety of package options that meet your needs and majority company paid.

A robust Employee Assistance Program: Including counseling, legal consultations, financial planning, and wellness coaching.

A collaborative and supportive community of therapists and team members: Fostering a positive work environment.

What to Expect: Our Interview Process

Here's an Overview of What Comes Next

  • Application Review: We'll promptly review your application within a couple of business day.
  • Discovery Call: Expect a 30-minute discovery call with one of our Talent Acquisition Specialists.
  • Interview with Hiring Manager: You'll have 1 hour in person interview with the Site Director
  • Offer: If all goes well, you'll receive an offer.
  • Expected Interview Timeline: The entire process typically takes 1-2 weeks.
  • Sandstone Care’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At Sandstone Care, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion that not only enriches the lives of our employees but also ensures the wellbeing and care of our clients, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, ability, or background. We believe that embracing diversity and promoting equity and inclusion are integral to our mission of providing high-quality behavioral health services.

Sandstone Care is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered.

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyUtilization reviewTreatment planningDual-diagnosis treatmentCase managementMental health counselingCrisis interventionClinical supervision

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Primary Therapist at Sandstone Care 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, 36% are remote, 32% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$74k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $73k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$64k–$83kMental Health Therapy median $74k (middle half $63k–$80k)15 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$73k in purchasing powerVirginia index 101.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Virginia267 active7,933 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 36% remote · 32% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedVirginia Counselor listings: 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $2k) · 12% offer loan repayment427 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

37 jobs · 28 employers
14
<$80k
7
$80k-95k
7
$95k-110k
7
$110k-125k
2
$125k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

32 jobs · 28 employers
401k / retirement match
91%
Sign-on bonus
28%
CME allowance
22%
Loan repayment
16%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#2

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

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

$115k-$120k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,926 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
Sandstone Care logo

About Sandstone Care

Hospitals and Health Care
Denver, Colorado
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Flexible PTO
Paid holidays
Wellbeing days
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employee Assistance Program

Living in Richmond

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$339k≈ 5.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,628/mo≈ 31% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Richmond, VA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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