School-Based Therapist (High School) New Santa Maria, CA

Effective School Solutions; Santa Maria (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Clinician supervision

School-day schedule

Light summers

Competitive pay

Small caseloads

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Effective School Solutions is seeking a School-Based Therapist - High School in Santa Maria, CA. You will provide individual, group, and family therapy to a small group of students with emotional and behavioral challenges within a trauma-informed framework.

You will collaborate with school staff and families to create safe, supportive environments that promote social, emotional, and academic growth, while maintaining clear documentation and engaging families as needed.

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience working with children/adolescents with behavioral or emotional challenges.
• Active associate number (ASW, AMFT, APCC) or full clinical license (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) in California.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
• Experience in school-based or youth mental health settings preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and electronic medical record systems.

Responsibilities

• Deliver individual, group, and family therapy aligned with ESS’s trauma-informed approach.
• Coordinate care and referrals to appropriate community services.
• Collaborate with school administration, teachers, and ESS teams to support student success.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and participate in regular team meetings.
• Engage families through programming and parent support groups as needed.

Skills

Experience with youth

Communication skills

Documentation

Education

California license (LCSW/LMFT/LPCC)

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Be Part of the Solution at Effective School Solutions (ESS)

At Effective School Solutions, we’re redefining what school-based mental health can look like — balancing meaningful impact with professional stability and personal well-being.

We offer: Clinician Supervision | School-Day Schedule ( no evenings or weekends ) | L ight S ummers (10hr/ wk for 5 weeks) | C ompetitive P ay and B enefits | S mall C aseloads | A C ollaborative C ultur e that values your growth and well-being.

About Effective School Solutions:
Effective School Solutions (ESS) is a leading provider of school-based mental health services for K–12 students. Serving over 6,000 students across 12 states, ESS brings the level of clinical care typically found in private practice settings directly into public schools. In response to the growing mental health needs of young people, ESS has expanded its offerings to include a full continuum of clinical programming, professional development, and consultative services for districts.

What You Can Expect

• Ongoing, multi-layered support from Regional Directors, clinical supervisors, and your school team.
• Extensive training in ESS’s evidence-based, school-focused model of care.
• A stable, school-based schedule with no intensive travel or unpredictable hours.

About the Role

ESS is seeking a School-Based Therapist - High School in Santa Maria, CA . This therapist will provide therapeutic services to a small group of students with emotional and behavioral challenges, supporting their social, emotional, and academic growth.

You’ll collaborate with school staff and families to create safe, trauma-attuned environments that promote lasting stability for students

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver individual, group, and family therapy aligned with ESS’s trauma-informed approach.
• Coordinate care and referrals to appropriate community services.
• Collaborate with school administration, teachers, and ESS teams to support student success.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and participate in regular team meetings.
• Engage families through programming and parent support groups as needed.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience working with children/adolescents with behavioral or emotional challenges.
• Active associate number (ASW, AMFT, APCC) or full clinical license ( LCSW, LMFT, LPCC ) in California.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
• Experience in school-based or youth mental health settings preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and electronic medical record systems.

Why Join ESS

• Make a real difference addressing the youth mental health crisis in schools.
• Join a mission-driven organization with strong growth and innovation.
• Enjoy school-year schedules and light summers.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and professional development opportunities.
• A culture that values clinician voice and work-life balance.

Be part of the solution. Be part of ESS.

The starting salary range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 yearly

#HP

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For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Effective School Solutions’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

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