Psychotherapist

Children's Health Council; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The Children's Health Council in Palo Alto seeks a licensed mental health clinician with strong DBT expertise to provide individual, family, and group therapies for children, adolescents, and young adults. This in-person role emphasizes evidence-based care, crisis management, and collaborative treatment planning.

Ideal candidates hold a California LMFT/LCSW/LPCC, with advanced DBT training and a track record in comprehensive DBT programming.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field and active California license.
• Extensive DBT training and experience with high-risk youth.
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based psychotherapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and families.
• Individual therapy with phone coaching options.
• Family therapy and parenting skills coaching.
• Group therapy and crisis intervention.
• Treatment planning and assessing progress.
• Coordinate care with schools, physicians, and community providers.
• Participate in IEP meetings and educational consultations as indicated.
• Maintain risk assessment and safety planning practices.

Skills

DBT Therapy

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Risk assessment & safety planning

Clinical interviewing

Education

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

Active California LMFT/LCSW/LPCC license

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Telehealth platforms

Job description

he DBT Psychotherapist provides evidence-based mental health treatment to children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, with a primary focus on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This clinician will provide individual therapy, family therapy, parenting skills coaching, DBT skills training, group therapy, crisis management, and care coordination for youth clients. Clients may present with emotional dysregulation, suicidal ideation or behaviors, non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors, anxiety, depression/mood disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and related concerns.

The ideal candidate is a licensed master's-level clinician (LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC) with extensive DBT training and experience. Preference will be given to candidates who are DBT-Linehan Board Certified™ or who have completed the DBT Foundational and/or Intensive DBT training. Ideal candidates are those with substantial experience providing DBT services (including in-vivo skills coaching), and ideally within a comprehensive DBT team model.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Services

• Provide evidence-based psychotherapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and families
• Individual therapy with phone coaching options
• Family therapy and parenting skills coaching
• Group therapy
• Crisis intervention and risk management
• Consultation and treatment planning
• Conduct comprehensive clinical interviews with clients and caregivers
• Develop case formulations and individualized treatment plans using evidence-based approaches
• Monitor treatment progress and adjust interventions as clinically indicated
• Provide collateral consultation with parents, schools, physicians, psychiatrists, and community providers
• Participate in multidisciplinary care coordination with psychology, psychiatry, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and education teams
• Maintain appropriate risk assessment and safety planning practices for clients experiencing suicidality, self-harm, or significant emotional dysregulation
• Participate in IEP meetings, school consultations, and other educational meetings when clinically indicated

DBT Program Responsibilities

• Participate actively on a DBT consultation team
• Support the development and maintenance of DBT programming and best practices
• Provide education and training to clients, families, clinical staff, and community members regarding DBT principles and skills
• Maintain fidelity to DBT treatment models and evidence-based practice standards
• Contribute to DBT program development and expansion, quality improvement initiatives, and outcome monitoring

Administrative Responsibilities

• Complete all documentation, including progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, and reports, within established timelines
• Meet productivity expectations established by Clinical Services leadership
• Attend clinical meetings, consultation groups, clinical case conferences, and other required meetings
• Adhere to all legal, ethical, and professional standards governing clinical practice
• Maintain commitment to child safety, mandated reporting responsibilities, and professional boundaries
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, or related field with active California LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC license
• Minimum three (3) years of post-licensure experience working with children, adolescents, and families
• Advanced training and experience in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Demonstrated experience treating high‑risk youth, including emotional dysregulation, self‑harm, suicidality, and complex mental health presentations
• Strong knowledge of DBT principles, interventions, and treatment hierarchy
• Expertise in evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents
• Knowledge of ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders, and emotional dysregulation
• Strong clinical assessment and case formulation skills
• Ability to manage high‑risk clinical situations effectively and independently, including 5150 processes
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Familiarity with electronic health records and telehealth platforms
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive care

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of intensive DBT training through Behavioral Tech or equivalent recognized training program
• Experience providing comprehensive DBT programming including individual therapy, phone coaching, skills groups, family work, and consultation team participation
• Experience supervising unlicensed trainees or early‑career clinicians
• Experience working in pediatric medical, behavioral health, or school‑based settings
• Experience providing family therapy and parenting skills coaching
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development
• Experience collaborating with schools and community providers

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods
• Ability to occasionally lift and move materials up to 20 pounds
• Ability to provide services in‑person and via telehealth as clinically indicated

Special Requirements

• Afternoon and evening hours in Palo Alto to accommodate clients' school schedules
• This is primarily an in‑person position
• Extensive interpersonal interaction with peer colleagues and external clinic contacts
• Strong interpersonal skills including communication, collaboration, openness to feedback, and commitment to ongoing learning