CLINICAL COUNSELOR -Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP)

About the Department

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment, and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Our mission is to facilitate the successful reintegration of individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society. We provide education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs in a safe and humane environment.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and more fulfilling environments for employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. Through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices, we aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry into the community.

We are committed to building an inclusive and respectful workplace, attracting and hiring candidates from all communities, and empowering employees from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. Our programs work cooperatively to provide the highest level of healthcare possible to a diverse correctional population.

About the Role

This position is for a Clinical Counselor located at Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) in Crescent City, CA, within Del Norte County. Main communication for this role will be via email.

Effective July 1, 2025, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) requires full-time employees in Bargaining Unit 19 and related Excluded, Exempt, and Statutory Exempt employees to have their base salary reduced by 3% and receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Part-time and permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same conditions on a prorated basis.

Eligible candidates may receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend after six months of employment, as well as a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year (totaling $20,000). CDCR/CCHCS employees may also qualify for a $5,000 referral bonus if the selected candidate remains employed for 90 days.

Responsibilities

The Clinical Counselor (CC) works in Mental Health Services under the general direction of the Senior Psychologist (Supervisor) or Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I. The CC applies counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques within the scope of applicable Business and Professions Code(s) and license to improve an incarcerated individual’s mental health and the effectiveness of preventative skills and behaviors for wellness.

The CC works preventatively with the incarcerated population, including those not in the mental health delivery system, to provide access, outreach, and prevention wellness strategies.

Requirements

Additional details about the job duties can be found in the Duty Statement.

Benefits

• $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend (after six months of employment, if eligibility criteria are met).
• Monthly recruitment and retention differential during the first year (totaling $20,000, if eligibility criteria are met).
• $5,000 referral bonus for CDCR/CCHCS employees (if the selected candidate remains employed for 90 days).
• PLP 2025 leave credits (5 per month through June 2027, with a 3% base salary reduction for eligible employees).