Therapist

Project 180; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Project 180 is a leading provider of forensic behavioral health services within Los Angeles County, delivering wraparound and recovery-focused care through the Project Based Housing program.

The therapist role involves intensive field-based clinical work, including psychotherapy, case management, and crisis intervention, supported by a multidisciplinary team. Licensed clinicians engage justice-involved clients toward meaningful recovery goals.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work or mental health, with valid license (e.g. BBS).
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
• Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle.
• Ability to transport clients in a personal vehicle as needed.
• Must not be on probation or parole.
• Basic computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive, wraparound, on-site and field-based clinical services.
• Engage clients with rapport, motivational interviewing, and outreach.
• Provide individual and group psychotherapy, rehabilitation, case management, and crisis intervention.
• Coordinate with collaterals (family, probation, court) and provide mental health education.
• Maintain comprehensive case notes and billing records.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to plan and execute interventions.

Skills

Clinical care

Empathy

Collaboration

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Organization

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in social work or mental health

Tools

EHR systems

Job description

Project 180 Overview

Mission: SSG-Project 180 provides practical and clinical behavioral health, re-entry, and diversion solutions that empower justice-involved Angelenos to achieve lasting personal transformation and reclaim their lives.

Org. Summary: Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with Los Angeles County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD). Annually, we serve over 1,500 justice-involved individuals.

At the heart of our organization are our core values - our fundamental, non-negotiable beliefs that guide how we make decisions and work with one another in service of our mission:

Humanity: We lead with a people-centered focus, seeking to understand and value the lived experience of others and centering their human dignity.

Integrity: We honor the trust placed in us by doing what is right while fulfilling our commitments - even when no one is watching.

Adaptability: We embrace the pivot, evolving to meet the complex needs of our community.

Empowerment: We cultivate the tools, confidence, resilience, optimism, and agency within every individual to lead their own transformation.

Equity: We honor everyone’s unique journey, meet them where they are and commit to providing the targeted support and resources that allow each individual to contribute and thrive.

Interdependence: We move as a unified team, trading silos for collective strength, recognizing that our greatest impact is achieved together.

The Program

The Project Based Housing program is funded by the Department of Health Service (DHS) Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR), the ODR/ICMS program provides intensive wraparound services to the high-need/high-barrier behavioral health population in the LA County jail system. The program provides permanent supportive housing for some of the most underserved or highest utilizers in the county system. Services are delivered through a recovery-oriented, harm-reduction framework.

The Position

Under the supervision of the Senior Supervisor and Clinical Supervisor, the therapist is responsible for providing intensive, wraparound, field-based clinical services including psychotherapy, rehabilitation, clinical case management, and crisis intervention. Therapists also serve as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. A successful Project Based Housing therapist will actively engage this population in services, supporting their clients in making progress towards meaningful recovery goals.

Essential Functions

Provide intensive, wraparound, on-site and field-based clinical services

• Actively engage clients in services through the development of strong rapport, consistent contact, and use of motivational interviewing. Provide outreach services as needed, meeting clients “where they are at” (service location, client’s point of view).
• Complete initial assessment, formulate a diagnosis, and engage clients in treatment planning. Services to target symptom reduction and cornerstones of recovery-oriented care (instilling hope, empowerment, self-responsibility, and engaging in meaningful roles).
• Provide individual and group psychotherapy, rehabilitation, clinical case management and crisis intervention services.
• Engage and join with collaterals (family members, probation, court) as appropriate. Provide education related to mental health recovery to better support clients. Engage in client advocacy.

• Service delivery is consistent with ethical standards and a harm reduction, strength-based, trauma-informed framework.

Collaborate with a multidisciplinary treatment team to coordinate client care

• Actively contributes to the planning and execution of clinical interventions in collaboration with the treatment team. Leverage the unique skills and abilities of team members in service delivery.
• Participate in outreach and engagement efforts with the treatment team.

• Coordinate services with various public and private community health, mental health, and social service agencies to ensure appropriate services for clients

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive case notes in the electronic health record per program guidelines
• Maintain and submit billing records per program guidelines
• Participate in program data collection per program guidelines.

Fulfill baseline Project 180 staff expectations.

• Regular attendance is required. Holiday or weekend work may be required.
• Maintain and uphold Agency's mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Maintain active license and/or registrations as applicable (i.e. BBS, CCAPP)

Skills and Abilities

• Clinical Expertise: Provides clinical care with a focus on high-quality service delivery.
• Empathetic and able to develop strong relationships with clients
• Collaborative: Able to work in diverse teams to solve complex issues
• Adaptive to changing circumstances and client needs in a dynamic environment
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, remain calm under pressure.
• Organized: Strong organization systems and attention to detail
• Communication skills: Clearly conveys information, builds report, and effectively engages with clients.

Minimum Qualification

• Master’s degree in social work or mental health field from an accredited college or university, and valid license or registration with licensing body (i.e. the BBS).
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
• Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required.
• Ability to transport clients in personal vehicle as needed.
• Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole).
• Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check
• Basic computer skills

Preferred

• Spanish speaking
• Experience working with forensic and/or dual-diagnosed populations.
• Experience working on an interdisciplinary team in a mental health or hospital setting.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

Job duties are to be performed both in office and field settings.

Physical Requirements

The employee is expected to move about the worksite throughout the day, which may involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee is expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements.

Mental Requirements

The employee must be able to do any/all of the following: perform complex and varied tasks such as synthesizing information and making decisions without immediate supervision; handle routine distractions, interruptions, noise, and uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; interact professionally and diplomatically in high-stress situations; create and follow plans; meet deadlines.