Primary Therapist

Primary Therapist Job Description

Position Summary

The Primary Therapist provides individual, group, and family therapy services to patients in residential and outpatient treatment settings. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the Primary Therapist is responsible for clinical assessments, treatment planning, case management, discharge planning, crisis intervention, documentation, and coordination of care to ensure patients receive high-quality, evidence-based treatment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans.
• Maintain an assigned caseload and provide individual, group, and family therapy sessions.
• Facilitate psychoeducational and process-oriented groups.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and communicate patient progress and treatment goals.
• Assess and intervene in situations involving suicide risk, self-harm, relapse, or other behavioral health crises.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, behavioral health technicians, families, referral sources, and community providers.
• Coordinate care, discharge planning, and post care services beginning at admission.
• Complete all clinical documentation, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries in a timely manner and in accordance with all regulatory, accreditation, and payer requirements.
• Support utilization review activities and provide clinical information necessary for insurance authorizations and continued stay reviews.
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA, regulatory agencies, and company policies.
• Provide support and clinical guidance to direct care staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field.
• Licensed or registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (AMFT, ACSW, APCC, LMFT, LCSW, LPCC) or licensed Psychologist preferred.
• Experience working with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.
• Knowledge of ASAM Criteria, DSM-5 diagnoses, and evidence-based treatment practices.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Valid California Driver's License and acceptable driving record.

Education

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field required.
• Registration or licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) or California Board of Psychology preferred.

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year of experience providing behavioral health, mental health, or substance use disorder treatment services.
• Experience working with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders preferred.
• Experience in residential treatment, outpatient treatment, or other behavioral healthcare settings preferred.
• Experience with utilization review, insurance authorizations, and discharge planning preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of ASAM Criteria, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based treatment modalities.
• Strong clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and case management skills.
• Strong ability to build therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and referral sources.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced treatment environment.
• Proficiency in electronic health records (EHR) and clinical documentation systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team.