Clinical Research Therapist

Sunstone Therapies; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-subsidized medical (HSA)

Job summary

Sunstone Therapies seeks a Clinical Research Therapist to deliver compassionate care across preparation, treatment, and integration in psychedelic therapy trials and standard care settings. The role engages with multidisciplinary teams and mentors trainees, contributing to best practices in compassionate, research-informed care.

The ideal candidate is a licensed provider in MD, with trauma-focused expertise, and a proven ability to maintain rigorous documentation, adhere to protocols, and lead

Qualifications

• Must be licensed to provide psychotherapy in MD (and preferred surrounding states).
• Experience in trauma-informed care and clinical settings.
• Ability to supervise trainees and work with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care across preparation, treatment, and integration sessions.
• Work in standard care settings including talk therapy and psychedelic therapies.
• Adhere to study protocols and ensure compliance with timelines.
• Follow SOPs and maintain accurate documentation for trials.
• Collaborate with physicians, therapists, and research staff.
• Mentor trainee/consultant therapists as needed.
• Participate in training sessions and clinical supervision.
• Lead as lead therapist on Sunstone clinical trials and liaise with sponsors.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Peer supervision

Therapeutic relationships

Communication skills

HIPAA compliance

GCP GDP knowledge

Education

Licensed provider in MD/VA

PsyD/PhD or equivalent

Job description

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: Full-time

Job Title: Clinical Research Therapist

Location: onsite in Rockville, MD

Department: Therapy

Reports To: VP, Operations

Supervises: N/A

Hours: Generally 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Daily start and end times may vary depending on study visits and operational needs, with typical hours falling between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Occasional Saturday availability may be required based on study schedules.

Context: Sunstone Therapies is the leader in the delivery of psychedelic therapy in the medical setting, focusing on the development and implementation of clinical trials with a path toward commercialization and clinical delivery as the field continues to evolve. Sunstone is looking to build our team and expand our offerings. At Sunstone, our culture centers on love and rigor, prioritizing whole-person healing for all.

To be successful in this role in this growth stage start-up, the candidate must be a detail-oriented self-starter and problem solver. They should be able to quickly shift projects and priorities to meet emerging needs, collaborate across departments, and align their approach with Suntone’s values. Join us in making a profound impact in the realm of therapeutic research!

Scope:

The Clinical Research Therapist plays a central role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients participating in psychedelic therapy and other therapeutic modalities at Sunstone. This position involves direct patient interaction across preparation, treatment, and integration phases, in both clinical research and standard care settings. Staff Therapists are key contributors to the development of best practices inpsychedelic-assisted therapy, and they work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including therapists, clinical researchers, and trainees. As Sunstone grows across sites and studies, this role is vital to ensuring that our therapeutic approach remains patient-centered, research-informed, and scalable.

Job activities include, but are not limited to:

• Working as a psychedelic therapist, providing clinical care to patients throughout their psychedelic therapy treatment cycle, including preparation, treatment, and integration sessions.
• Providing clinical care in standard of care therapy settings such as talk therapy, ketamine therapy, and any other therapeutic interventions Sunstone offers.
• Working as a research therapist, adhering strictly to study protocols, ensuring compliance with research timelines and requirements.
• Following Sunstone’s standard operating procedures, including clinical, documentation, and operational guidelines.
• Collaborating with Sunstone’s multidisciplinary team, including physicians, therapists and research staff.
• Mentoring and providing guidance to trainee and/or consultant therapists as needed.
• Attending essential training sessions and meetings related to the role.
• Participating in clinical supervision with experienced mentors and a peer community of therapists.
• Contributing to the development of best practices in psychedelic therapy, supporting Sunstone’s mission across various projects and priorities.
• Acting as a lead therapist on Sunstone clinical trials, liaising with the clinic team and with research sponsors.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience, and competencies:

Experience and Skills in Clinical Settings

• 5+ years of experience in licensed clinical mental health settings with a focus and/or expertise in trauma-informed care.
• Licensed in MD (required) and surrounding states like VA (strongly preferred)
• 1+ years of experience providing peer supervision to trainee therapists (strongly preferred).
• Ability to develop strong therapeutic relationships with patients.
• Excellent therapeutic, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Outstanding ability to interact well with patients, their family members, colleagues, and staff.
• Relevant education, training, and experience, in mental health care, counseling, or psychological therapies with a focus on trauma care.
• Knowledge of GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and GDP (Good Documentation Practice).

Professionalism and Ethical Standards

• High standards of integrity and ethics in clinical and teamwork.
• Approach to clinical care and teamwork with kindness, presence, adaptability, openness, and curiosity.
• Self-awareness, adaptability, and reflection to understand own limitations and biases.
• High levels of accountability and compliance with required procedures.
• Excellent attention to detail and record-keeping.

Work Environment and Collaboration

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and quickly changing environment.
• Flexibility and collaboration in both team and independent settings.
• Ability to problem solve, prioritize responsibilities, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Maintains adherence to required audio and video recording procedures during sessions with participants and patients. Sunstone records sessions for quality assessment, quality improvement, training, and research purposes and therapists will be recorded as a required part of their role.

Technological Proficiency and Learning

• Ability to quickly learn and independently use technology required for operational tasks.
• Adherence to HIPAA regulations and best practices for protecting patient confidentiality in digital and electronic formats.

Certification and/or Licensure

• Must be a licensed provider, must have and maintain one of the following: LCPC, LGPC, LCSW, PsyD, PhD or equivalent degree that allows you to legally provide psychotherapy and counseling in accordance with federal and local rules and regulations in the State of Maryland.

Working Location

Clinical Research Therapist are expected to work on-site with any requests for remote work being approved by the manager.

Physical Requirements

• Visual acuity, speech recognition, speech clarity.
• Ability to lift, lower, push, pull, and retrieve objects weighing a minimum of 30 pounds including medical supplies and equipment and the transferring and repositioning of patients. Reasonable assistance may be requested when lifting, pushing, and/or pulling are undertaken which exceeds these minimum requirements.
• This position primarily involves sedentary work, including extended periods of sitting. The role requires the ability to remain in a seated position, communicate effectively, and use standard office equipment.
• Sunstone is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Compensation and Benefits

Sunstone Therapies offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus benefits that include employer subsidized medical (HSA option available), dental, and vision coverage, as well as free short term disability and life insurance, professional development reimbursement, a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a retirement savings 401(k) plan with up to 3.5% employer match.