Associate Therapist - SUD treatment
Listed compensation
$70k-$80k
Listing transparency3 of 6 stated
Ask the employer about call expectations, nights and shift pattern and benefits.
- Employment & setting
- Full-Time · on-site
- Call expectations
- Not specified
- Weekends
- No weekends
Job Description
Cliffside West Los Angeles
At Cliffside West Los Angeles – part of the Discovery Addiction Services family – people can heal from a substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring disorder with dignity in one of our beautiful LA homes. Our multidisciplinary, whole-life approach can bring lasting recovery for your mind, body and spirit. With our unique, measurement-based system, we have the clearest vantage point of your needs while you’re in our care and beyond.
If you are looking for an organization that thrives on growth, celebrates diversity of thought, and rewards passionate execution, you’ve come to the right place. Because we put clients first, it is our honor to support and reward those who serve them.
Position Summary
The Associate Therapist works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Clinical Model. Therapist responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, providing milieu interventions, leading psychoeducational and process-oriented therapy groups, facilitate clinical assessments, conducting therapy sessions, and other case management tasks, as assigned.
Essential Job Functions
Ensure clinical documentation is completed timely throughout the course of treatment. All documentation is required to be done at the time of service.
- Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families/loved ones.
- Understands role in providing expeditious access to care for individuals seeking services.
- Participates in weekly treatment team and communicates weekly treatment goals with all team members.
- Maintain a case load of 5-7 patients.
- Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patients’ level of care.
- Facilitates the process orientated and psychoeducation groups daily/weekly.
Provides utilization reviews to insurance companies, providing appropriate clinical information to obtain initial authorization and continuing stay authorization, as necessary.
Is appropriately accessible to family members or loved ones. Returning all calls and emails within 4 hours during business hours of operations and 24 hours at all other times.
- Assesses patients for suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.
- May provide additional clinical support for other members of the clinical team in their absence.
- Communicates with the Utilization Review Department regarding authorizations.
- Discharge planning begins on day of admission for all patients.
- Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.
- Effectively manages crises in sessions and the milieu.
- Provides support to milieu staff in their interactions with patients and their loved ones.
- Works collaboratively with the entire treatment team and milieu staff to always ensure the highest level of clinical quality.
- Completes other tasks, as requested, or assigned.
- Knowledge, Education, and Experience
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in relevant field, required
- Completion of state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions, required
- Operates under supervision and is not licensed
- Obtain CPR, AED, and First Aid certification within 90 days of hire
- Must possess a current driver’s license and be in good standing
- Employment Status: Full time
- Schedule: Sunday-Thursday 9am-5:30pm
- Work location: West LA, CA
- Compensation range: $70,304-80,000 salary
Discovery Behavioral Health seeks to build a diverse staff that is reflective of the patients we serve and the communities where we work. DBH encourages multiple perspectives, experiences, and strives to hire and retain a diverse workforce.
We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Key Responsibilities
The Associate Therapist provides clinical treatment services, including facilitating therapy groups, conducting assessments, and managing a caseload of 5-7 patients. They are responsible for maintaining timely clinical documentation and collaborating with the multidisciplinary team to ensure patient safety and quality care.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a relevant field and have completed state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions. Additionally, they must obtain CPR, AED, and First Aid certification within 90 days of hire and possess a valid driver's license.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Key Skills
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 24% have no call, 72% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$75k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $68k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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