Primary Therapist

Novaris Behavioral Health; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Novaris Behavioral Health in Charlotte, NC, is opening a new PHP/IOP program and seeking an experienced, independently licensed clinician to join us as the Primary Therapist. You will shape how our groups run, develop curriculum, and set standards in a founding role.

Join a small, mission-driven team working directly with our Clinical Director and psychiatric provider to build the program from the ground up and implement evidence-based care.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related clinical field from an accredited institution.
• Active, independent North Carolina license: LCSW or LCMHC in good standing.
• Three or more years of post-licensure clinical experience in PHP, IOP, residential, or inpatient behavioral health.
• Demonstrated group facilitation experience with adult populations.
• Strong assessment and risk-management skills with sound judgment in high-acuity presentations.
• Comfort with EMR documentation and completing notes within 24 hours.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily process and psychoeducational groups using evidence-based modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, trauma-informed approaches).
• Serve as the senior clinician on the floor, managing acuity, making step-up and safety decisions, and holding the therapeutic frame during difficult moments.
• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and diagnostic formulation for new admissions, supporting our same-day assessment model.
• Develop and update individualized treatment plans on a cadence that meets clinical need, state requirements, and payer expectations.
• Document to a standard that supports medical necessity, and provide clinical detail to the UR team for concurrent review and appeals.
• Coordinate with admissions, outside providers, and lower levels of care to make transitions safe and non-abrupt.
• Contribute to clinical policy, workflow, and documentation standards as we complete state licensure and Joint Commission accreditation.

Skills

Group facilitation

Clinical judgment

Assessment & diagnosis

Risk management

EMR documentation

Education

Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related field

Job description

Primary Therapist — PHP/IOP (LCSW, MSW, or LCMHC)

Novaris Behavioral Health · Charlotte, NC - Full-time, on-site

Role Summary

Novaris is a new mental health PHP and IOP opening in the University area. We're hiring an experienced, independently licensed clinician to join our program.

This is a founding role. You'll be the clinician clients see every day and the person who shapes how our groups actually run, the curriculum, the milieu, the standards. You'll work directly with our Clinical Director and psychiatric provider, and you'll have real influence over how this program is built rather than inheriting someone else's system. If you've spent years running someone else's PHP and have opinions about what you'd do differently, this is that job.

Key Responsibilities

• Group Programming and Facilitation: Lead daily process and psychoeducational groups using evidence-based modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, trauma-informed approaches). You'll also help build and refine the group curriculum rather than delivering a fixed one.
• Clinical Judgment in the Milieu: Serve as the senior clinician on the floor, managing acuity, making step-up and safety decisions, and holding the therapeutic frame during difficult moments.
• Assessment and Diagnosis: Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and diagnostic formulation for new admissions, supporting our same-day assessment model.
• Treatment Planning: Develop and update individualized treatment plans on a cadence that meets clinical need, state requirements, and payer expectations.
• Utilization Review Support: Document to a standard that supports medical necessity, and provide clinical detail to the UR team for concurrent review and appeals.
• Discharge and Transition Planning: Coordinate with admissions, outside providers, and lower levels of care to make transitions safe and non-abrupt.
• Program Development: Contribute to clinical policy, workflow, and documentation standards as we complete state licensure and Joint Commission accreditation.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related clinical field from an accredited institution
• Active, independent North Carolina license: LCSW or LCMHC in good standing. This role is not eligible for associate-level licensure.
• Three or more years of post-licensure clinical experience, including direct experience in PHP, IOP, residential, or inpatient behavioral health
• Demonstrated group facilitation experience with adult populations
• Strong assessment and risk-management skills, with sound judgment during high-acuity presentations
• Comfort with EMR documentation and the discipline to close notes within 24 hours