Lead Crisis Therapist / Social Worker

Seneca Family of Agencies; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

PTO 5 weeks

11 holidays

Medical benefits

403b retirement

Language proficiency bonus

EAP

Job summary

Seneca Family of Agencies is seeking a Lead Therapist in California to provide comprehensive clinical services to youth while mentoring staff and leading clinical initiatives. You will support program quality, train teams, and develop areas of leadership that align with your skills and interests.

Responsibilities include delivering evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, play therapy), supervising interns and staff, and collaborating with supervisors to maintain high standards of care.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling/Psychology/Social Work or related field
• Registered with California BBS (ASW, AMFT, APCC) or full licensure
• Must be at least 21 years old
• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and licensing requirements

Responsibilities

• Provide all clinical services and responsibilities of Lead Therapist with strong clinical practice
• Mentor and provide clinical consultation to staff for professional growth
• Partner with supervisor to uphold policies and high standards of care
• Support quality and integrity of staff work through guidance and feedback
• Lead professional development and trainings for staff at sites and partner schools
• Develop and lead specialization areas or program leadership
• Provide expertise and training in CBT, DBT, play therapy, or other approaches
• Support program operations or clinical initiatives (billing, crisis procedures, data decisions)
• Build supervisory skills by supporting group supervision and supervising interns/counselors

Skills

Mentoring

Clinical supervision

Leadership

CBT

DBT

Play therapy

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling/Psychology/Social Work

Job description

About The Role

As a Lead Therapist, you’ll continue providing clinical services to youth while taking on opportunities to lead, mentor, and strengthen the work of your team. You’ll share your expertise through consultation and training, support your supervisor with program quality, and develop an area of leadership that matches your skills and interests. Whether you specialize in a therapeutic modality, support program operations, or develop your supervisory skills, you’ll have the opportunity to make a broader impact on the clinical program.

About Step Programs

The STEP (Skills, Transitions, Exploration, and Progress) program provides Day Treatment Intensive (DTI) services to youth ages 12-17. The goal of the STEP program is to provide intensive, short-term stabilization services to enable our clients to step down to lower levels of outpatient mental health treatment. All groups are designed to teach youth the skills necessary to help them learn about their mental health, provide psychoeducation, and help them learn skills to feel better and be safe. STEP consists of a multidisciplinary team of counselors, clinicians, a nurse, psychiatrist, and program supervisor.

About Seneca

Seneca has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces for nearly a decade. We’re committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of outstanding mental health, community-based, and educational services. We are committed to building a diverse staff, and our programs actively engage in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to promote equity and justice for the youth and families we serve.

Responsibilities

• Provide all clinical services and responsibilities of the Therapist role while consistently demonstrating strong clinical practice and performance
• Mentor and provide clinical consultation to staff to support their professional growth and development
• Partner with the supervisor to uphold agency policies, program expectations, and high standards of care
• Support the quality and integrity of staff work by providing guidance, feedback, and consultation as needed
• Take a lead role in professional development and trainings for staff at program sites, partner schools, and community settings
• Develop and lead one or more areas of specialization or program leadership based on your skills and interests
• Provide expertise and training in therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, play therapy, narrative therapy, or other evidence-based approaches
• Support program operations or clinical initiatives, such as Medi-Cal billing, crisis procedures, caseload tracking, data‑based decision‑making, or social‑emotional programming
• Build supervisory and leadership skills through opportunities such as supporting group supervision or supervising interns, counselors, and other staff

Qualifications (Required)

• Master’s degree in Counseling/Psychology/Social Work, or related subject area
• Registered with California BBS: ASW, AMFT, APCC, or full licensed
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Senecas’ insurance policy
• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements

Preferred

• Ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Excellent organizational, analytical, computer, and communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Leadership experience

SCHEDULE

• Full-time
• Monday - Friday, 8AM - 4PM

Benefits

• Starting at $83,546 - $97,546 per year, commensurate with experience
• Actual salary is dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role
• Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
• Salary increase each year
• $2,000 sign-on bonus for new Seneca employees
• Relocation assistance may be available
• 5 weeks of Paid Time Off and 11 Paid Holidays
• Comprehensive benefits package:
  • Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, fertility coverage
  • Long‑term disability, family leave, and life insurance
  • 50% paid premiums for dependents
  • 403b Retirement Plan
  • Employer‑paid Employee Assistance Plan
• Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• Seneca supports clinicians towards licensure and beyond:
  • We provide individual and group supervision, regular clinical case conferences, and licensure and renewal courses led by field experts
  • Expenses such as outside trainings or licensure fees can be mitigated through your clinical training stipend
  • Promotional opportunities across the agency in California