PER DIEM - School-Based Therapist

Effective School Solutions; Watsonville (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 129,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

No weekends

Light summers

Small caseloads

Free CEUs

Job summary

Effective School Solutions is seeking a Per Diem School-Based Therapist in California. You will deliver school-based mental health services to students, including individual, group, and family therapy, and conduct assessments within public schools.

This role offers flexibility with per diem assignments, allows for variable hours, and requires active CA licensure or related credential. Excellent collaboration with families and school staff is essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field.
• Active CA licensure or associate license in California.
• 2+ years of experience working with children/adolescents with behavioral or emotional needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide school-based mental health services: individual, group, and family therapy; intake, diagnostics, and assessments.
• Partner with families; facilitate parent support programs.
• Conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention; coordinate referrals to appropriate care.
• Develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans for student success.

Skills

Clinical documentation

EMR proficiency

Team collaboration

Crisis intervention

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work or related field

California license/associate license (e.g., AMFT, APCC, ACSW, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW)

Tools

EMR

Microsoft Office

Job description

PER DIEM School-Based Therapist -

Transforming student mental health in schools.

About Effective School Solutions

Effective School Solutions (ESS) is a leading provider of school-based mental health services, serving 6,000+ K–12 students across 12 states.

We deliver the level of clinical care typically found in private practice, out-of-district placements, or higher levels of care directly within public schools- providing a full continuum of clinical programming, professional development, and district consultation.

Position Type: Per Diem

Hourly Rate: $55.00-$62.00/hour

This is a per diem position and is not eligible for benefits. Per diem therapist support ESS on an as-needed basis, including coverage for leave assignments (e.g., medical or maternity leave).

Therapist in this role have flexibility in their level of commitment. They may choose to pick up occasional shifts, work a few days per week on an ongoing basis, or take on a temporary full-time schedule when covering a longer-term leave assignment. Per diem clinicians can accept or decline assignments based on their availability.

This role does not follow a consistent full-time schedule; however, full-time hours may be required on a temporary basis when covering extended leave assignments.

Why This Role Matters

You’ll provide critical mental health support to students who may not otherwise have access to care—helping them succeed academically, build resilience, and thrive.

At ESS, clinicians are trusted partners in shaping supportive school environments.

Responsibilities

Direct Clinical Care & Family Support

• Provide comprehensive, school-based mental health services, including individual, group, and family therapy, as well as intake, diagnostic, and clinical assessments
• Partner with families and facilitate parent support programming
• Conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention, ensuring student safety and coordinating referrals to appropriate levels of care when needed
• Develop and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans that support students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic success

Supervision, Training & Collaboration

• Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of the assigned school-based program
• Serve as the primary clinical point of contact for school partners, providing expert guidance, ensuring alignment on student support strategies, and fostering strong, collaborative relationships.
• Facilitate weekly consultation sessions to ensure alignment on student goals and documentation standards
• Collaborate with families, school staff, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated care, and provide consultation, coaching, and training on mental health and trauma-informed practices
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing professional development

Documentation, Compliance & Professional Expectations

• Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory, ethical, and organizational standards
• Uphold professional standards by maintaining active licensure, ethical practice, reliability, and a strong professional presence
• Monitor program performance and ensure alignment with ESS clinical and operational standards
• Support clinician performance through feedback, coaching, and evaluations

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field
• Active associate number or clinical license (e.g., AMFT, APCC, ACSW or LMFT, LPCC, LCSW ) in the state of California
• 2+ years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs
• Experienceprovidingtrainingand coaching to educational professionals andparents/caregivers on student mental health issues.
• Experience working with schools, families, and community-based services (school-based experience preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with students, families, and school staff
• Commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care and advocating for best practices
• Proven ability to positively influence, motivate, and elevate team members and stakeholders
• Ability to make confident, sound decisions in ambiguous or evolving situations
• Proficient in clinical documentation and use of electronic systems (e.g., EMR, Microsoft Office), with the ability to maintain accurate and timely records

Why Clinicians Choose ESS

• School-day schedule — No weekends; occasional evening hours as needed to support family engagement
• Light summers
• Small caseloads
• Ongoing clinical support, and free CEUs
• Competitive Pay
• Clinical leadership at the heart of our company

Make a meaningful impact o n student mental health.
Join Effective School Solutions

Equal Opportunity Employer

ESS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.