Mental Health Therapist II (LMFT / LPCC)

Therapist II – Licensed LMFT / LPCC

RYSE Wellness – Residential Mental Health Treatment Program

Job Type: Full-Time, W-2

Work Location: In Person

Salary: $80,000–$90,000 annually, based on relevant experience and qualifications.

RYSE Wellness is an intimate six-bed residential mental health treatment program providing a concierge level of individualized, high-touch care for adults experiencing complex mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, and other psychiatric challenges. Our intentionally small residential setting allows our interdisciplinary team to provide highly personalized attention while integrating individual and group therapy, psychiatric and medical support, case management, experiential services, and evidence-based interventions. RYSE combines the warmth and individualized attention of a boutique treatment environment with strong clinical standards, helping clients achieve stabilization, meaningful progress, increased independence, and successful transition to the next appropriate level of care.

Job Summary

The Therapist II is a fully licensed clinician responsible for providing advanced clinical care and case leadership within RYSE Wellness's residential mental health treatment program.

This role includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, individual and group therapy, family therapy, risk assessment, crisis intervention, clinical documentation, and interdisciplinary coordination. Therapist II clinicians are expected to independently manage complex psychiatric presentations and ensure treatment goals are effectively integrated across the residential environment.

This is an advanced clinical position and does not include formal management of other therapists.

Primary ResponsibilitiesClinical Assessment & Treatment Planning

• Complete biopsychosocial assessments, clinical intake documents and weekly progress notes within the required timeframe.
• Develop comprehensive clinical formulations based on symptoms, functioning, risk, treatment history, family dynamics, and barriers to recovery.
• Develop and update individualized treatment plans with measurable clinical goals and interventions weekly.
• Lead treatment planning for assigned cases and evaluate progress toward treatment goals.
• Ensure treatment recommendations support medical necessity and the appropriate level of care.

Direct Clinical Care

• Provide individual psychotherapy according to program standards and client needs.
• Facilitate psychotherapy and psychoeducational groups.
• Conduct family and/or couples therapy when clinically appropriate.
• Utilize evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, and other appropriate interventions.
• Address anxiety, depression, trauma, mood instability, interpersonal difficulties, emotional dysregulation, treatment resistance, and other complex psychiatric concerns.

Risk Assessment & Crisis Intervention

• Independently assess suicidal ideation, self-harm, homicidal ideation, psychosis, behavioral instability, and other clinical safety concerns.
• Develop and update individualized safety plans.
• Recognize changes in psychiatric acuity and initiate appropriate clinical interventions and escalation.
• Collaborate with clinical leadership, nursing, medical providers, and other appropriate team members during psychiatric crises.

Interdisciplinary & Residential Coordination

• Participate actively in weekly interdisciplinary treatment-team meetings and case consultation meetings.
• Translate treatment goals into practical interventions that can be reinforced within the residential milieu.
• Provide client-specific clinical guidance to Behavioral Health Assistants (BHAs) regarding appropriate coping strategies, boundaries, behavioral approaches, and treatment-plan implementation.
• Collaborate with LVNs and medical/psychiatric providers regarding symptoms, medication-related observations, and changes in client presentation.
• Coordinate closely with case management regarding family involvement, aftercare, discharge barriers, and continuity of care.
• Identify treatment-interfering patterns such as avoidance, emotional dysregulation, dependency, boundary concerns, or staff splitting when clinically relevant.

Clinical Documentation

• Maintain timely, accurate, objective, and audit-ready clinical documentation.
• Complete individual, group, family, weekly progress, treatment-plan, risk, safety-plan, and discharge documentation as required.
• Clearly document symptoms, functional impairment, interventions, client response, treatment progress, risk, and ongoing clinical needs.
• Ensure documentation supports medical necessity and continued residential level of care when clinically appropriate.
• Participate in chart audits and quality-improvement activities.

Discharge & Continuity of Care

• Assess readiness for transition to PHP, IOP, outpatient treatment, or another appropriate level of care.
• Address clinical and behavioral barriers to successful transition.
• Collaborate with case management, families, and receiving providers to support continuity of care.
• Prepare clients therapeutically for increased independence and changes in treatment structure.
• Complete clinically appropriate discharge recommendations and documentation.

Clinical Quality & Professional Leadership

• Model strong clinical judgment, therapeutic boundaries, communication, and ethical practice.
• Participate in complex-case consultation and clinical risk-review discussions.
• Serve as a clinical resource to interdisciplinary team members regarding assigned clients.
• Contribute to clinical programming, quality improvement, and treatment-process improvements.
• Maintain compliance with California licensing requirements, HIPAA, ethical standards, RYSE policies, and applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements.

The Therapist II does not routinely provide formal supervision or performance management but is expected to support associate-level therapists (AMFTs/APCCs) through clinical guidance, case consultation, and modeling best practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Psychology, or related behavioral health field.
• Active California LMFT or LPCC license in good standing.
• Strong competency in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, psychotherapy, and clinical documentation.
• Demonstrated competency in suicide/self-harm risk assessment, safety planning, and crisis intervention.
• Strong knowledge of DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary residential treatment environment.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in residential treatment, inpatient behavioral health, PHP, IOP, crisis services, or another higher-acuity behavioral health setting preferred.
• Experience treating complex mental health presentations.
• Experience conducting family therapy and working with high-risk clients.
• Experience with CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
• Understanding of medical necessity and behavioral-health level-of-care criteria.
• Electronic medical record experience; Kipu preferred.

Schedule & Employment Structure

• Full-time, W-2
• On-site residential behavioral health setting
• Evening and/or weekend availability may be required
• Participation in clinical meetings, interdisciplinary treatment teams, trainings, and program activities as assigned

Benefits

Benefits include:

• 401(k)
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development opportunities

Who Thrives in This Role

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