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Sandstone Care
Alexandria, Virginia

Primary Therapist (LPC / LCSW / LMFT)

Social WorkerNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$70k-$87k

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: Alexandria, Virginia
  • Work Environment: Teen & Young Adult Outpatient Treatment Center
  • Schedule: Full Time | Monday to Friday (some evening hours maybe required)
  • Compensation Range: $70,000 - $87,000 Annual Salary (Dependent on Licensure / Experience)

About the Job

As a Mental Health 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 Viriginia in good standing is required
  • LPC/LMFT/Resident in Counseling/Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy/LCSW/ Supervisee in Social Work

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
  • 401(K) with up to 5% company match

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 days.
  • Discovery Call: Expect a 30-minute discovery call with one of our recruiters.
  • Interview with Hiring Manager: You'll have 1 hour 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 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 on the basis of 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

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyUtilization reviewTreatment planningDual-diagnosis treatmentMental health counselingCrisis interventionCase managementClinical supervisionMultidisciplinary collaboration

Social Worker Career Context

In Virginia, the Social Work weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$77k (112 salary observations; 479 listings), vs ~$81k nationally (4,412 salary observations; 19,550 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 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, 42% are remote, 40% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$79k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $78k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Social Worker Jobs

35 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution35 jobs · 24 employers

8
<$85k
9
$85k-100k
7
$100k-115k
10
$115k-130k
1
$134k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks31 jobs · 24 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
48%
CME allowance
23%
Loan repayment
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Modesto, California

$117k-$134k
#2

LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

LifeStance Health · St. Paul, Minnesota

$73k-$126k
#3

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

$74k-$126k
#4

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

$92k-$125k
+ 33 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.9
Better work-life than 30% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,480 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Alexandria

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$703k≈ 10.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,285/mo≈ 39% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
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.

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About Sandstone Care

Hospitals and Health Care
Denver, Colorado
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Flexible PTO
Paid holidays
Wellbeing days
401(k) with up to 5% match
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employee Assistance Program