Lead Clinical Counselor – LCSW or LPCC

Partners4Wellness; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Part time

Job summary

Partners4Wellness seeks a California-licensed LCSW or LPCC to serve as a part-time Lead Clinical Counselor in Irvine, CA. The role blends direct client care with leadership, program development, and growth responsibilities within the Counseling & Connection Division.

This hybrid, office-based position offers 15-20 hours per week with compensation of $40-$50 per hour; part-time hourly employee reporting to the CEO. The division aims to strengthen clinical practices and service expansion.

Qualifications

• Active California license (LCSW or LPCC) in good standing.
• Master's degree in counseling, social work, clinical psychology, or related field.
• Clinical experience in behavioral health, substance use, family services, or related settings.
• Strong counseling, assessment, documentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with leadership and staff.
• Interest in program development and service expansion.
• Initiative, sound clinical judgment, and professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual counseling and telehealth as clinically appropriate.
• Counsel clients with stress, anxiety, substance use, relationship issues, and life transitions.
• Counsel DUI participants and SSA-referred clients in coordination with staff.
• Assess client needs and arrange referrals and warm handoffs.
• Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation per requirements.
• Help build division structure, intake, assessment, and outcomes tracking.
• Lead recruitment and development of future counselors and therapists.
• Strengthen counseling services and develop new behavioral health programs.
• Develop insurance- and third-party funded service opportunities; build community relationships.

Skills

LCSW/LPCC license

Private practice readiness

Independent work

Program development

Clinical leadership

Collaboration

Documentation

Communication

Education

Master's degree in counseling, social work, or clinical psychology

Job description

Counseling & Connection Division | Partners4Wellness

Part-Time | 15-20 Hours/Week | $40-$50/Hour | Irvine, CA | Hybrid

Partners4Wellness is seeking a California-licensed LCSW or LPCC to serve as a part-time Lead Clinical Counselor and help strengthen and grow our Counseling & Connection Division. This is a hands-on clinical role for someone who enjoys direct client care, collaboration, program development, and the opportunity to help build a growing behavioral health service line. The role combines direct counseling services with clinical leadership, program development, and division growth responsibilities.

About Partners4Wellness

Partners4Wellness (P4W) is an established Orange County nonprofit focused on developing partnerships to create healthier communities. Our programs span prevention, counseling, DUI services, family support, substance-use education, life-skills, mental wellness, case management, and community-based services. We work across county systems and community settings, including justice-involved populations, families, adults in DUI programs, youth, and individuals who need practical, accessible behavioral health support. Our culture values connection, initiative, collaboration, responsiveness, and staff who are comfortable helping create solutions- not simply maintain existing systems.

Primary Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide individual counseling and behavioral health support to P4W clients in person and via telehealth, as clinically appropriate.
• Serve clients experiencing stress, anxiety, emotional regulation concerns, substance use or recovery challenges, relationship and family conflict, and major life transitions.
• Provide counseling to DUI participants seeking additional support beyond education and case management services.
• Provide individual and family counseling to SSA-referred clients and families in coordination with program staff.
• Assess client needs, identify when a higher level of care is warranted, and facilitate appropriate referrals and warm handoffs.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and professional clinical documentation in accordance with applicable ethical, legal, confidentiality, contractual, and organizational requirements.

Counseling & Connection Division Leadership

• Help build the clinical structure, service model, client flow, and quality standards for the Counseling & Connection Division.
• Strengthen intake, assessment, referral, counseling, follow-up, discharge, documentation, and outcome-tracking processes.
• Help build and expand an accessible counseling service that serves both existing program participants and the broader community.
• Partner with leadership to enhance responsiveness, continuity of care, client satisfaction, and measurable outcomes.
• As the division grows, this role is expected to play a key role in the recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and development of future counselors and therapists while helping strengthen clinical practices, consultation processes, and quality-improvement efforts.
• DUI Counseling Integration: Strengthen and expand counseling support for DUI participants through continued collaboration with DUI education and case-management services.
• SSA & Family Services: Collaborate with the Counseling & Connection Program Coordinator and SSA team to support assigned cases, family-focused counseling, and related services.
• Anger Management & Specialized Services: Lead efforts to strengthen anger-management services and support the development of additional behavioral health and psychoeducational programs.
• Concierge Counseling & Connection: Lead the re-establishment of Counseling & Connection as an accessible pathway to counseling, coaching, family support, and behavioral health resources.
• Insurance & Third-Party Development: Partner with leadership to support the development of insurance- and third-party-funded service opportunities, including credentialing, reimbursement, and sustainable funding pathways.
• Referral Development: Build relationships with courts, attorneys, county agencies, schools, healthcare providers, treatment programs, employers, and community organizations.

Candidate Qualifications & Position Details

Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted California license in good standing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
• Master's degree in counseling, social work, clinical psychology, or another discipline appropriate to California licensure.
• Clinical experience in behavioral health, substance use, family services, justice-involved populations, community mental health, or related settings.
• Strong counseling, assessment, communication, documentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Comfort working independently while collaborating closely with leadership and multidisciplinary program staff.
• Interest in program development, referral building, clinical systems, and service expansion.
• Initiative, creativity, sound clinical judgment, professional boundaries, dependability, and consistent follow-through.
• Ability to work in a developing environment where responsibilities and opportunities will evolve as the division grows.
• Compensation: $40-$50 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, and clinical background.
• Schedule: Approximately 15-20 hours per week to start; hours may expand as services grow.
• Work Setting: Irvine office-based services, approved hybrid work, and telehealth, as appropriate.
• Employment Status: Part-time, hourly employee.
• Reports To: Chief Executive Officer, in close collaboration with Counseling & Connection leadership and program management.