Clinical Therapist - Norwalk

Counseling and Research Associates, Inc.; Carson (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Masada Community Mental Health Services is seeking a Clinical Therapist to provide client-centered behavioral health services to children, youth, adults, and families. Under supervision, you will conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and deliver psychotherapy across multiple modalities.

The role emphasizes crisis intervention, care coordination, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to ensure comprehensive, culturally responsive care.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, Psychology, or related field.
• Current California licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PhD, or PsyD; or registration as ASW/AMFT/APCC.
• Valid California Driver's License; driving is an essential function.
• Active LPS designation required throughout employment.
• Experience in behavioral health, community mental health, or similar settings.

Responsibilities

• Ongoing clinical assessment and diagnosis using DSM criteria.
• Develops and updates individualized treatment plans based on needs.
• Provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy as appropriate.
• Care coordination, crisis intervention, and service delivery.
• Documentation of assessments, treatment plans, and outcomes.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Family engagement

Culturally responsive

Clinical assessment

Education

Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, Psychology, or related field

Tools

LOCUS

IP-CANS

Job description

The Clinical Therapist provides comprehensive, client-centered behavioral health services to
children, youth, adults, and families served by Masada Community Mental Health Services. Working under
the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, the Clinical Therapist provides timely clinical interventions,
including psychotherapy, ongoing assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis intervention, care
coordination, and other services appropriate to the client's needs and assigned program.

Annual Salary Range:

BBS Registered: $75,001-$95,000

Licensed: $85,001-$105,000

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. ONGOING CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS: Continuously assesses behavioral health
   symptoms, functioning, strengths, risks, treatment response, environmental factors, and changing clinical
   needs throughout the course of services. Reviews and integrates relevant behavioral health,
   developmental, psychosocial, family, medical, educational, substance-use, trauma, and systems
   information. Updates diagnoses, differential diagnoses, case conceptualizations, clinical formulations, and
   assessment documentation when new information, changes in presentation, treatment response, functional
   changes, regulatory requirements, or clinical circumstances indicate that reassessment is necessary.
   Completes comprehensive, focused, or supplemental assessments when clinically indicated or required by
   the assigned program. Applies current DSM diagnostic criteria and sound clinical judgment to ensure
   diagnoses remain accurate and clinically supported.
2. TREATMENT PLANNING, LEVEL OF CARE, AND SERVICE DELIVERY: Develops, implements,
   reviews, and updates individualized treatment and service plans based on ongoing assessment, medical
   necessity, client needs, strengths, preferences, culture, developmental considerations, treatment response,
   and program requirements. Continuously evaluates whether the client is receiving services at the
   appropriate level of care and whether the type, intensity, frequency, duration, and setting of services remain
   clinically appropriate. Adjusts treatment interventions and service delivery in response to changes in
   symptoms, functioning, risk, engagement, treatment progress, and level-of-care needs. Coordinates
   consultation, referral, transition, step-up, or step-down to another level of care when clinically indicated.
3. TIMELY TREATMENT AND CLINICAL INTERVENTION: Provides timely, clinically appropriate
   treatment interventions based on assessed client need, risk, functioning, treatment goals, and level of care.
   Provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy using evidence-based, evidence-informed, and
   clinically appropriate interventions within professional scope of practice. Provides rehabilitation, case
   management, collateral services, care coordination, crisis intervention, outreach and engagement, and
   other behavioral health services as clinically appropriate and consistent with assigned program
   requirements. Modifies interventions promptly when the client's presentation, response to treatment, safety
   needs, or level-of-care needs change.
4. CLIENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Establishes effective therapeutic relationships with clients,
   caregivers, and support systems. Promotes meaningful client and family participation in ongoing
   assessment, treatment planning, service delivery, outcome review, and transition planning. Identifies and
   builds upon strengths and incorporates client voice, choice, culture, preferences, and recovery goals into
   treatment.
5. OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: Conducts outreach and engagement activities when clinically or
   programmatically indicated to support treatment participation, reduce barriers to care, maintain continuity
   of services, and engage clients and families who may be difficult to reach or at risk of disengaging.
   Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members and community partners to address barriers affecting
   treatment participation and stability.
6. RISK ASSESSMENT, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND LPS RESPONSIBILITIES: Maintains an active Los
   Angeles County LPS designation throughout employment and exercises designated authority in
   accordance with applicable law, county requirements, agency policy, and professional scope of practice.
   Continuously assesses for suicide risk, self-harm, danger to others, grave disability, abuse, neglect,
   exploitation, substance-related risk, and other urgent safety concerns as clinically indicated. Provides crisis
   assessment, timely therapeutic intervention, safety planning, stabilization, and coordination with emergency
   and crisis resources when necessary. Initiates or participates in LPS evaluation and involuntary detention
   processes when clinically and legally indicated and within designated authority. Completes mandated
   reporting responsibilities and promptly communicates significant clinical and safety concerns to the Clinical
   Supervisor and treatment team. Participates in the agency's after-hours and on-call crisis response
   schedule as assigned and responds in accordance with program, agency, and county requirements.
7. LEVEL-OF-CARE MONITORING, REFERRALS, AND CARE COORDINATION: Routinely evaluates
   the appropriateness of the client's current level of care based on symptoms, functioning, risk, treatment
   response, engagement, support needs, medical necessity, and available clinical information. Uses clinical
   judgment and agency- or LACDMH-designated assessment tools to support level-of-care decisions. Makes
   clinically appropriate referrals and coordinates services when clients require additional, different, more
   intensive, or less intensive services. Collaborates with internal and external providers to support continuity
   of care and effective transitions between levels of care.
8. MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION: Collaborates regularly with Clinical Supervisors, Program
   Managers, therapists, case managers, psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, integrated care
   management, peer and family support staff, and other members of the treatment team. Coordinates as
   appropriate with schools, healthcare providers, child welfare, probation, managed care organizations,
   county agencies, community partners, and other systems involved with the client. Uses multidisciplinary
   consultation to inform diagnosis, treatment planning, risk management, level-of-care decisions, transitions,
   and coordination of services.
9. DOCUMENTATION: Completes accurate, thorough, clinically appropriate, and timely documentation of
   ongoing assessments, diagnostic updates, treatment plans, progress notes, psychotherapy and other
   treatment interventions, crisis services, collateral contacts, care coordination, level-of-care determinations,
   discharge or transition activities, and other required services. Documentation reflects current client
   presentation, medical necessity, treatment response, progress toward goals, identified barriers, changes in
   risk or functioning, and the clinical rationale for continued, modified, stepped-up, stepped-down, transferred,
   or discontinued services.
10. OUTCOMES, LOCUS, AND CLINICAL MEASURES: Completes required clinical outcome measures,
    reassessments, and agency- or LACDMH-designated tools within established timelines. This includes the
    Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) for applicable adult clients, the Integrated Practice - Child and
    Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IP-CANS) for applicable children and youth, and other required outcome
    or clinical measurement tools. Reviews and incorporates outcome‑measure findings into ongoing
    assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, clinical decision‑making, treatment interventions, service
    intensity, level-of-care recommendations, and evaluation of treatment progress. Use changes in outcome
    data and clinical presentation to identify when treatment should be modified or when transition to another
    level of care may be appropriate.
11. PRODUCTIVITY AND PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS: Meets productivity, caseload, service delivery,
    documentation, scheduling, client‑contact, field‑based, and other performance expectations established by
    the agency, assigned program, contractual requirements, and internal policies. Prioritizes timely clinical
    intervention according to client need and manages assigned workload effectively. Communicates promptly
12. FIELD-BASED AND COMMUNITY SERVICES: Provides services in office, clinic, home, school,
    community, field‑based, telehealth, or other approved settings according to clinical need and assigned
    program requirements. Meets applicable field‑based service expectations and travels independently to
    service locations as necessary. Transports clients only when authorized and required by assigned program
    responsibilities and agency policy.
13. CLINICAL CONSULTATION AND SUPERVISION: Participates actively and punctually in individual
    and group supervision, multidisciplinary team meetings, case consultation, case presentations, in‑service
    training, conferences, and other required clinical activities. Appropriately utilizes the Clinical Supervisor for
    changes in diagnosis, complex clinical presentations, risk and safety concerns, mandated reporting, ethical
    issues, treatment planning, treatment response, medical necessity, level‑of‑care determinations, transition
    planning, and other matters requiring clinical consultation.
14. CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA‑INFORMED PRACTICE: Demonstrates respect for the
    intrinsic value, individuality, identities, backgrounds, experiences, and cultures of clients, families,
    colleagues, and community partners. Provides services using culturally responsive, trauma‑informed,
    strengths‑based, recovery‑oriented, and client‑and family‑centered practices. Demonstrates cultural
    humility and sensitivity to the impact of trauma, systemic involvement, social determinants, and
    environmental factors on behavioral health and treatment outcomes.
15. ETHICS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Performs all responsibilities within
    professional scope of practice and applicable ethical, legal, licensing, confidentiality, and regulatory
    standards. Maintains appropriate professional boundaries, safeguards protected health information,
    protects client rights, and maintains strict confidentiality of client records and information.
16. CLINICAL TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS: Demonstrates proficiency in the electronic health record
    and other agency-approved clinical platforms, including Greenspace, Eleos, iDashboards, and designated
    assessment or outcome measurement systems as applicable. Accurately enters required clinical
    information and uses available technology to support ongoing assessment, documentation, outcome
    measurement, treatment decision‑making, communication, and coordination of care.
17. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: Participates in quality assurance and
    quality improvement, documentation review, utilization review, peer review, audit, corrective action, and
    other compliance activities as assigned. Responds to clinical and documentation feedback and completes
    required corrections within established timelines. Complies with agency policies, LACDMH requirements,
    Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services standards, medical necessity requirements, contractual
    requirements, and applicable federal, state, county, and licensing requirements.
18. COMMUNICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates effective written, verbal, interpersonal,
    organizational, problem‑solving, and clinical decision‑making skills. Communicates changes in client
    needs, diagnosis, risk, functioning, treatment response, treatment recommendations, level of care, service
    barriers, and follow‑up needs clearly, professionally, and in a timely manner. Demonstrates reliability,
    accountability, sound judgment, and professional conduct.
19. TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Completes required agency, clinical, regulatory,
    Evidence-Based Practice, outcome‑measure, LPS, and program‑specific training within established
    timeframes. Maintains required professional registration or licensure, continuing education, certifications,
    LPS designation, and other training requirements applicable to the position. Participates in ongoing
    professional development to strengthen clinical assessment, diagnostic, treatment, crisis‑response, and
    level‑of‑care decision‑making competencies.
20. SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supports and maintains a safe, hazard‑free workplace and complies
    with agency safety policies, OSHA safety requirements, established procedures, and applicable workplace
    health and safety regulations. Follows established safety protocols and promptly reports injuries, illnesses,
    hazards, unsafe conditions, workplace incidents, or other safety concerns to the appropriate supervisor or
    designated agency representative. All employee‑related injuries or illnesses must be reported immediately
21. OTHER DUTIES: Performs other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position
    as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Program Manager, Director, or executive leadership.

Position Requirements:

• Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, Psychology, or another related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
• Current California licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PhD, or PsyD; or current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an ASW, AMFT, or APCC, as applicable.
• Valid California Driver's License, proof of automobile insurance, good driving record. Driving is an essential function of the position.
• Must meet applicable requirements to provide Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services within professional scope of practice.
• Active Los Angeles County Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) designation is required and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Work experience in a behavioral health, community mental health, or comparable clinical setting preferred.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn LACDMH requirements, Medi-Cal documentation standards, Specialty Mental Health Services requirements, medical necessity standards, and behavioral health compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of or ability to develop proficiency with LOCUS, IP-CANS, and other agency-designated assessment, level-of-care, and outcome measurement tools applicable to assigned populations and programs.
• Demonstrated experience with trauma-informed care, strengths-based practice, family engagement, and culturally responsive services with children, youth, adults, and families from diverse backgrounds.

Work Environment:

This is a hybrid position requiring in-office attendance based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs. The work environment is primarily an office, clinical, and remote or hybrid setting and may include community-based locations when required by operational needs. The position may involve contact with individuals experiencing significant behavioral health symptoms, psychiatric crises, or acute emotional distress. Work schedules and in-office attendance are based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs.
The Clinical Therapist participates in the agency after-hours and on‑call crisis response schedule as assigned.