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AMFM Healthcare
Vienna, Virginia

Primary Therapist (Floater)

CounselorIncludes callIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$80k-$114k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 38m ago · Verified live

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Primary Therapist

STATUS: Full-Time Exempt

REPORTS TO: Clinical Director

Summary

The Primary Therapist - Floater at AMFM Healthcare is a critical position in the organization tasked with the care of each client's treatment at the facility.

Under the direction of clinical leadership the Clinical Director sets the treatment goals and objectives of the clients in their caseload with guidance from the clinical team, assesses the needs and development of clients throughout the entirety of their stay, contributes to their clients mental health diagnosis, and guides overall care.

They conduct groups with clients and family as needed and deliver top of the line, quality care. The Floater position is not assigned an on-going case load, but rather supports the 7 programs in the Fairfax County region and will support the Primary Therapist assigned to the caseload. Travel between programs will be reimbursed.

Schedule: Sunday to Thursday, 12pm-8:30pm

Qualifications

1. Minimum Education Requirement: Masters degree or higher in a relevant course of study at an accredited university.

2. Acceptable Credentials - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Associate level licenses are accepatable.

3. Must have active registration with the state licensure board.

4. Hands-on experience in Groups (process, psycho educational, and topic), Family Therapy, Individual Therapy (wide range of modalities accepted), and working with clients with addiction issues.

5. Flexibility to work some weekends on call and assist when requested on after hours crisis calls.

6. Successful completion of the ADP Selective Screening Services background check as well as any other state, federal or company required background/record check.

7. Physical Requirements: Ability to work on a computer/keyboard, use electronic systems, communicate with others through written and verbal formats, ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time, ability to climb stairs, listening, reading comprehension, lifting up to 20 lbs.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to communicate with family members, clients, and other staff members professionally and respectfully.

2. Ability to operate standard office machines and equipment, including telephones, computers, copy machines, fax machines, calculators, scanners, and shredders.

3. Ability to be professional and maintain a positive attitude and relationships with coworkers.

4. Excel at both written and verbal communications to convey essential information; must be able to utilize the proper linguistic syntax and spelling.

5. Knowledge of clinical and medical terminology as it relates to the delivery of clinical care to the clients within our programs as required by our payers.

6. Knowledge of the clinical, medical, and miscellaneous services provided to the clients.

7. Ability to use computer software including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and G Suite products.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct clinical evaluation, biopsychosocial assessment, client diagnosis, and interpretive summary. Prepare person-centered treatment plans, case management, consultation, education, and referral as needed, provide therapeutic interventions including crisis counseling to individuals, groups and families as needed, and facilitate individual psychotherapy sessions and group therapy.

2. Review and sign clinical documentation completed by provisional-level clinicians to ensure compliance with licensure requirements, utilization review standards, and quality of client care. Additionally, provide guidance and support by reviewing and signing documentation for interns, non-licensed clinicians, and, as needed, other staff in supportive roles (i. e., Client Support Coordinators, Clinical Mentors, Client Coordinators, Resident Coordinators, Case Managers).

3. Provide support to graduate-level practicum students by offering guidance, supervision as required by their academic program, and reviewing documentation and signing as needed.

4. Provide services in accordance to organization’s policies and procedures and established Mental Health and Substance Abuse Standards as well as within the scope of practice of the therapist.

5. Evaluate the individual and family systems as well as assess clients functioning within work, family, and routines of daily living and identify areas needing continued support, resources, and treatment in order to assist clients.

6. Maintain Electronic Health Records to reflect the course of treatment and provide required documentation.

7. Prepare pre-certification/authorization information to insurance utilization review team and subsequent concurrent review (continued stay) clinical reports per medical necessity criteria.

8. Provide emergency crisis services during work hours and after hours as assigned.

9. Attend staff meetings, supervisory conferences, training, and other activities, which ensure effective and efficient functioning of clinical operations.

10. Adhere to organizational standards and policies and procedures, code of ethics, legal aspects of clinical practice, professional standards, duty to warn, abuse and neglect reporting policies and procedures and exercise professionalism at all times.

Competencies

1. Group Facilitation

1. Opening - strong start. Set tone. Introductory statement of material to be covered during the class; objectives for the group set

2. Room is prepared appropriately for all group members to participate and engage in the discussion or activity

3. Curriculum and/or topic is set and approved, evidence based, and materials all prepared.

4. Staff engages the participants and accurately guides the discussion throughout the duration of the group in order to meet stated group objectives.

2. Clinical Documentation

1. Knowledge of regulations and guidelines

2. Prepares accurate and concise notes

3. Write comprehensive, clear interpretive summaries

4. Progress notes consistent with treatment plan goals and objectives.

3.. Individual Counseling

1. Theory of individual counseling

2. Describe, select, and use appropriate strategies

3. Session focuses on Tx Plan

4. Understands functions and techniques of individual counseling.

4. Treatment Planning (Person-Centered)

1. Based on assessment and client needs

2. Goals in client words

3. 1st or 2nd person objectives, measurable & behavioral specific

4. Reassessment when needed

5. Utilization Review Documentation

1. Clinician accurately documents client mental health symptoms and behaviors

2. Clinician submits documentation on time

3. Clinician relays adequate information in order for the UR team to determine appropriate level of care

4. Clinician is adept at completing both ASAM and LOCUS assessments for new clients

5. All dimensions of care are appropriately addressed by clinician with supporting evidence

Pay Rates

Associate Therapist - starting rate: $80,000

Independently Licensed Therapist - starting rate: $100,000

Independently Licensed Therapist and ability to supervise others - starting rate: $114,000

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

ASAM assessmentLOCUS assessment

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 60% are remote, 36% have no call, 56% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$97k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $96k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution43 jobs · 35 employers

15
<$90k
14
$90k-110k
7
$110k-130k
4
$130k-150k
3
$150k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks37 jobs · 35 employers

401k / retirement match
97%
CME allowance
46%
Loan repayment
24%
Sign-on bonus
14%
PSLF eligible
14%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,002 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Vienna

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$876k≈ 10.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,412/mo≈ 51% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 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 AMFM Healthcare

Mental Health Care
San Juan Capistrano, California
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Travel reimbursement