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Center for Positive Changes
San Diego, California

Licensed Therapist (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW) - Youth STRTP

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$79k-$84k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Details:

Job Location: Center For Positive Changes - SAN DIEGO, CA 92120, Salary Range: $79,000.00 - $84,000.00 Salary, Licensed Therapist (LMFT, LPCC, LCSW) – Youth STRTP Center for Positive Changes (CFPC) is a nonprofit behavioral health organization operating six Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs) across San Diego County.

We provide behavioral health services to children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth, including youth involved with Child Welfare Services and the Justice System. We are seeking a Licensed Therapist to join our clinical team.

This position is ideal for a licensed LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW who wants to provide meaningful clinical services to youth while working as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. The Licensed Therapist provides Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) using trauma-informed and strength-based approaches.

The role includes assessment, treatment planning, individual/family/group services, care coordination, crisis and safety planning, and clinical leadership for the Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS).

What You'll Do Provide clinical services to youth in an STRTP setting using trauma-informed, strength-based, and evidence-informed approaches. Complete initial and ongoing clinical assessments and utilize the DSM to support diagnostic and treatment decisions.

Develop, implement, and update individualized treatment plans, safety plans, and transition plans. Exercise independent clinical judgment within the scope of your professional license and provide clinical direction to the MHRS. Provide individual, family, and group therapy and therapeutic skill-building services.

Provide psychoeducation, emotional processing, coaching, and development of healthy social and emotional skills. Conduct care coordination and collaborate with youth, families, residential staff, MHRS staff, social workers, probation officers, and other support professionals.

Connect youth and families with appropriate community resources and services. Educate caregivers and other support persons regarding the youth's behavioral health needs and treatment goals. Participate in Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings and treatment team meetings.

Support permanency planning, transition planning, and successful discharge to an appropriate lower level of care. Conduct risk assessments and participate in crisis response, de-escalation, safety planning, and incident debriefing. Review and approve clinical documentation when required.

Support treatment teams in addressing co-occurring behavioral health, substance use, physical health, developmental, and intellectual needs. Collaborate with the Program Manager/Clinical Director regarding clinical consultation and complex cases.

Provide coverage for MHRS responsibilities when needed or when the assigned MHRS is unavailable. Complete clinical documentation accurately and within required timelines. Participate in clinical supervision, team meetings, trainings, and continuing education.

Maintain compliance with applicable CFPC, Community Care Licensing, CARF, DHCS/STRTP, HIPAA, HITECH, and other applicable requirements. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

The Licensed Therapist provides specialty mental health services to youth in a residential setting, including assessments, treatment planning, and individual or group therapy. They also provide clinical leadership to staff and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support youth permanency and transition planning.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a valid California license as an LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW and be registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. A minimum of one year of experience in a residential treatment facility or outpatient mental health program is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical assessmentIndividual therapyFamily therapyTrauma-informed careCrisis interventionDiagnostic assessmentRisk assessmentMultidisciplinary collaboration

Social Worker Career Context

In California, the Social Work weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$96k (839 salary observations; 1,863 listings), vs ~$81k nationally (5,847 salary observations; 21,491 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2025-12-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% are remote, 28% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Social Work by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
California vs national$96k median in California$81k nationally (+19%)839 state / 5,847 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$74k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Social Work listings in California703 active6,453 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 38% remote · 28% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia Social Worker listings: 6% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment754 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 Social Worker Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

35 jobs · 26 employers
9
<$85k
6
$85k-100k
8
$100k-115k
6
$115k-130k
6
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 26 employers
401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
50%
CME allowance
37% this job
Loan repayment
10%
Relocation assistance
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,463 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.00M≈ 12.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,004/mo≈ 46% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 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.