Discovery Behavioral Health logo
Discovery Behavioral Health
Los Angeles, California

Associate Therapist - SUD treatment

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

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
Posted 1h ago · Verified live

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

Substance use disorder treatmentPsychoeducational groupsCrisis managementSuicidality assessment

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).

Top Counselor Jobs

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution27 jobs · 21 employers

5
<$90k
11
$90k-105k
5
$105k-120k
6
$120k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks24 jobs · 21 employers

401k / retirement match
92%
CME allowance
46%
Sign-on bonus
21%
Loan repayment
21%
Relocation assistance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Therapist

Family Health Centers of San Diego · San Diego, California

$100k-$126k
#2

Remote Licensed Talk Therapist - Fee For Service

Thriveworks · Massachusetts

$124k
#3

Licensed Talk Therapist - Fee For Service

$124k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LCSW, LMFT, & LPCC) - Hybrid Role

$107k-$122k
+ 25 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

3.9/ 10
Listing-based score
  • No weekends
  • On-site

Living in Los Angeles

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$923k
Typical market rent
$2,778/mo
Residents’ average commute
31 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.