Primary Therapist, Licensed - LAOP
Listed compensation
$100k-$110k
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Primary Therapist, Licensed
Job Summary
With the supervision of the Clinical Director, works with the clinical staff in the assessment of client’s needs, treatment planning, facilitation, advocacy for options and services to meet an individual’s mental and physical health needs through communication and available resources to promote the individual’s well-being and improve or restore their capacity for social functioning including counseling and the use of psychosocial interventions and social psychotherapy.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
- Works as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide quality care to clientele, ensuring safety and best practices.
- Ensures excellent clinical care is provided in individual and group therapy and documented for all clients.
- Assesses client’s strengths, needs, abilities and preferences; formulates a diagnostic impression based on current DSM criteria; and in conjunction with the client/family develops a workable plan for treatment.
- Facilitates and completes treatment plans upon admission, discharge summaries and other chart related documents and correspondence for assigned clients in a timely manner, as assigned by Clinical Director.
- Consistently communicates and reports to the Clinical Director the needs of the clients,
- Communicates and effectively interacts with all clinical and non-clinical departments coordinating care for clients.
- Adheres to after-hours ATA and emergency phone tree protocol for all clinical and client related behavioral concerns including wanting to ATA.
- Responsible for timely same day completion of clinical documentation which include assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, group notes, discharge plans.
- Initiates discharge planning upon admission for assigned clients and updates weekly
- Complete additional treatment plans based on problem areas identified in BPS
- Ensures client records for assigned case load are comprehensive and complete to meet licensing standards
- Conducts weekly individual therapy sessions at a minimum of three times a week per individual: 2 designated as individual and 1 as family therapy. Once client drops to IOP level of care then 2 visits per week: one individual and one family. Provides timely same day documentation for all assigned clients based on level care.
- Facilitates skill building psycho-educational and/or support groups as assigned or fill in as directed by Clinical Director, providing timely same day documentation in accordance with insurance standards.
- Maintains awareness of and tracks level of care authorizations for assigned clients, reviewing cycle dates and accurately documents functional impairment.
- Establishes and maintains ongoing relationships with client’s family and outside resources necessary to provide for healthy transition and discharge. Provide family/conjoint therapy as specified in individual client’s treatment plan or as directed by supervisor.
- Conducts crises management/intervention of assigned clients or as directed by immediate supervisor (Clinical Director).
- Reviews client requests for outings, passes and visitors with Clinical Director for approval to ensure client care and safety is paramount.
- Maintains appropriate state license/registration/certification for scope of practice.
- Carry out other duties/responsibilities as delegated by Clinical Director.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Basic computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, email, calendar, slide presentations, Internet etc.
- Must be able to lift and carry light objects and parcels as an incidental part of their job
- First aid and CPR certification
- Must have current CA Driver’s Lice
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in career counseling, education, or similar field.
- Ability and willingness to provide in-person therapy services Monday through Friday.
- Minimum of 1-3 years or more of Therapy experience.
- Minimum of 1-2 years of experience working with Adult PHP and IOP clients preferred.
- Must be licensed in CA (LMFT/LCSW)
Physical Requirements
- Frequent sitting must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time
- Must be able to lift and carry light objects and parcels as an incidental part of their job
- The position needs to occasional move about inside and outside the facility frequently
- Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery
- Frequently communicates with other employees
Note: Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.
At the Los Angeles Outpatient Center (LAOP), our mission is to provide a healing resource for adults, battling mental health, substance abuse, and disordered eating. Our diverse team of clinicians ensures that clients receive individualized comprehensive care in the most appropriate setting.
We look for people who can grow, think, dream, create, and push the model of healthcare forward. We value achievers, leaders, and visionaries. Our goal is to value each person's skills and provide an environment that embraces diversity and rewards imagination and service delivery.
LAOP is part of Centered Health, which operates a diverse network of behavioral health treatment centers ensuring that clients receive individualized comprehensive care in the most appropriate setting.
Onsite, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Key Responsibilities
The Primary Therapist provides individual, group, and family therapy while managing client treatment plans and clinical documentation. They work within a multidisciplinary team to assess client needs and coordinate care to ensure safety and effective treatment outcomes.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a relevant field and possess a current California license (LMFT or LCSW). A minimum of 1-3 years of therapy experience is required, along with the ability to work on-site Monday through Friday.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 64% are remote, 22% have no call, 64% require no weekends.
Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $100k–$110k | Mental Health Therapy median $88k (middle half $83k–$102k)30 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$95k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Therapy listings in California | 579 active | 7,901 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 64% remote · 22% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 10% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Therapy listings | 2,526 in the last 30 days | 1,434 the 30 days before (+76%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Mental Health Therapy pay trend | −2.6% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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