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North County Lifeline
Chula Vista, California · Hybrid

Mental Health Therapist II/III, CYBHI/ Springs Charter

Counselor / TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$30-$35/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Mental Health Therapist II/III

School-Based CYBHI Services

Lifeline Community Services is hiring a Mental Health Therapist to provide school-based behavioral health services to youth and families through California's Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI).

The Mental Health Therapist provides assessment, treatment planning, individual and family therapy, case management, and care coordination to support the behavioral health needs of students and their families.

This position is primarily based at a partner school in the Otay Ranch/Chula Vista area and works collaboratively with school personnel, families, Lifeline staff, and other providers to increase access to high-quality, culturally responsive behavioral health services.

This is a direct-service position with a strong school-based presence. The Therapist will generally work onsite at the assigned school four days per week. The fifth workday may include opportunities for hybrid work based on program and client needs. Some travel to other Lifeline offices, school sites, or community locations may be required.

Clinicians receive regular clinical supervision and support. Associate-level clinicians may accrue supervised hours toward licensure in accordance with BBS requirements.

Mental Health Therapist II: BBS registered

Mental Health Therapist III: BBS licensed

Required Qualifications

  • BBS registration or licensure as an AMFT, LMFT, ACSW, LCSW, APCC, or LPCC.
  • Experience providing mental health services to children, adolescents, young adults, and/or families.
  • Ability to build effective therapeutic relationships with youth and families while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Ability to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate services.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with school personnel, families, behavioral health providers, and other members of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Strong organizational, time-management, clinical documentation, and communication skills.

Ability to work independently in a school-based environment while remaining connected to and engaged with the broader Lifeline clinical team.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct behavioral health assessments and develop individualized treatment plans.
  • Provide individual, family, and group behavioral health services as clinically appropriate.

Deliver services in a school-based setting and coordinate care to support students' behavioral health and overall functioning.

Collaborate with parents and caregivers, school personnel, and other professionals involved in the student's care.

Provide case management and care coordination with professionals such as primary care providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, school personnel, social workers, and other community providers.

  • Provide crisis assessment, intervention, consultation, and linkage to appropriate services when needed.
  • Participate in individual and group clinical supervision as required.
  • Maintain timely, accurate clinical records and meet applicable program, payer, county, and agency documentation requirements.
  • Participate in quality assurance and continuous quality improvement activities.
  • Attend required team meetings, trainings, and school or community meetings related to client care.
  • Complete other duties as assigned.

Schedule and Location

  • Full-time, non-exempt position.
  • Position is primarily school-based in the Otay Ranch/Chula Vista area.
  • Four days per week are expected to be worked onsite at the primary school location.
  • The fifth workday may be eligible for a hybrid schedule based on client, school, and program needs.
  • Travel to other Lifeline offices, school sites, and community locations as needed is required.
  • Schedule may vary based on school calendar, student needs, program requirements, and agency operations.

Compensation

  • Mental Health Therapist II – BBS Registered: $30.00–$33.00/hour (DOE)
  • Mental Health Therapist III – BBS Licensed: $32.29–$35.00/hour (DOE)

Salary is commensurate with experience and education. Differential pay may be offered for qualifying bilingual skills.

Additional Requirements

Must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and a good driving record.

Must be willing to use a properly insured, reliable personal vehicle for work-related travel. Mileage is reimbursed in accordance with agency policy.

Employment is subject to required clearances, including background/fingerprint checks, driving record review, tuberculosis testing, and drug testing.

Lifeline Community Services is a nonprofit human services organization serving communities throughout San Diego County. Our mission is to build self-reliance among youth, individuals, and families through problem-solving, skill-building, and accessible community-based services.

Come be part of a team who CAREs! At Lifeline, you will find people who are Connected to the communities we serve, Authentic, and Resourceful. We are Responsive to the needs of our clients and Engaged in our mission to build self-reliance among youth, adults, and families. Equal Opportunity Employer.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our clients and maintaining the integrity of our workplace, North County Lifeline conducts comprehensive background and drug screening processes for all prospective employees. This includes, but is not limited to:

Driving Record Check: Verification through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to ensure a good standing driving record.

Employment Verification: Confirmation of your employment history to verify your experiences and qualifications.

Reference Checks: Contacting provided references to gain insights into your work ethic, professionalism, and suitability for the role.

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening: A TB test to ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff, in line with public health recommendations.

Drug Screening: A 10-panel non-DOT drug test to screen for the presence of common illicit substances, ensuring a drug-free workplace.

Criminal Background Checks: Comprehensive checks through the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, and Child Abuse Index to identify any history that may impact your suitability for employment, particularly in roles involving vulnerable populations.

These screenings are a vital part of our hiring process and must be successfully completed for employment eligibility.

North County Lifeline is dedicated to fair and responsible hiring practices and ensures that all screenings are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, respecting the privacy and rights of all candidates.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this process, aimed at creating a safe and productive work environment for everyone.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a valid BBS registration or licensure as an AMFT, LMFT, ACSW, LCSW, APCC, or LPCC. Experience providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and families is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Behavioral health assessmentIndividual therapyCrisis interventionTrauma-informed careCulturally responsive practiceMultidisciplinary collaboration

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 28% have no call, 68% require no weekends — this position is remote.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$62k–$73kMental Health Therapy median $76k (middle half $62k–$89k)51 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$61k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in California570 active7,579 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingremotepeers: 48% remote · 28% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia counselor listings (all specialties): 12% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,476 in the last 30 days1,365 the 30 days before (+81%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−1.8% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

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Salary Distribution

36 jobs · 29 employers
7
<$80k
8
$80k-100k
13
$100k-120k
5
$120k-140k
3
$140k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 29 employers
401k / retirement match
97%
CME allowance
43%
Sign-on bonus
33%
Loan repayment
20%
PSLF eligible
10% this job

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 4.2
Better work-life than 30% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,558 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Hybrid
  • Remote
North County Lifeline logo

About North County Lifeline

Civic and Social Organizations
Vista, CA
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Clinical supervision
Bilingual differential pay
Mileage reimbursement
PSLF eligible