Mental Health Therapist

About the role

The Associate Therapist works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Clinical Model. Therapist responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, providing milieu interventions, leading psychoeducational and process-oriented therapy groups, facilitating clinical assessments, conducting therapy sessions, and other case management tasks as assigned. The position is on‑site in Fairfax Station, VA.

Responsibilities

• Ensures clinical documentation is completed timely throughout the course of treatment; all documentation is required to be done at the time of service.
• Establish therapeutic rapport with patients and families/loved ones.
• Facilitates admission assessments and the admission process for new patients with professionalism, courtesy, and a welcoming attitude.
• Understands role in providing expeditious access to care for individuals seeking services.
• Participates in weekly treatment team and communicates weekly treatment goals with all team members.
• Maintains a case load of 5‑6 patients in RTC and 10‑15 in OP level of care.
• Completes appropriate number of therapy sessions assigned weekly for patients, including family/support system sessions aligned with the patient's level of care.
• Facilitates process‑oriented and psychoeducation groups one to two times daily in RTC and 2‑4 times daily in OP.
• Required to sit at a meal and/or snack a minimum of once per week.
• Facilitates multi‑family groups, family program, and/or family weekend.
• Provides utilization reviews to insurance companies, providing appropriate clinical information to obtain initial authorization and continuing stay authorization, as necessary.
• Is appropriately accessible to family members or loved ones; returns all calls and emails within 2 hours during business hours and 24‑48 hours all other times.
• Assesses patients for suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.
• May provide additional clinical support for other members of the clinical team in their absence.
• Communicates with the Utilization Review Department and Business Department regarding authorization and payment.
• Begins discharge planning on day of admission for all patients.
• Completes discharge session with patient to ensure coping skills, transition plan, and resources are understood and intact.
• Ensures discharge appointments are confirmed with patient and loved ones prior to discharge.
• Communicates with referral sources and outpatient providers for continuity of care upon admission, midpoint, and discharge.
• Facilitates patient transfers to higher level of care, as needed.
• Actively participates in clinical outreach and program tours, as needed.
• Effectively manages crises in sessions and the milieu.
• Provides support to milieu staff in their interactions with patients and their loved ones.
• Works collaboratively with the entire treatment team and milieu staff to always ensure the highest level of clinical quality.
• Completes other tasks as requested or assigned.
• RTC Only: Provides on‑call support to facility at least 1× per month and returns all program phone calls within 20 minutes while on call.
• Communicates appropriately with On Call Administrator or Regional Director regarding pertinent facility issues while on call.

Qualifications

• Master's or Doctorate degree in a relevant field (required).
• Completion of state requirements to conduct therapeutic interventions (required).
• Operates under supervision and is not fully licensed.
• Must possess a current driver's license and be in good standing.

Schedule

Full‑time, Monday‑Friday, 9 am‑5 pm primarily, with rotating on‑call and flexible hours.

Pay

Pay range: Associate Therapist $70,000‑85,000; Therapist (fully licensed) $80,000‑95,000; Senior Therapist $90,000‑100,000.