Behavioral Health Therapist

Arlington County VA • Arlington, WA

13h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Child & Family Services Division of Arlington County’s Department of Human Services, Children’s Behavioral Health Bureau, is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist for its outpatient team. The Bureau provides comprehensive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health and substance use services to youth, with support from their parents. Services are delivered in homes, schools, community settings, and the DHS office.

The therapist provides culturally responsive and trauma-informed therapeutic services to youth experiencing mental health challenges, substance use issues, or involvement with other child-serving systems, including legal, educational, and child welfare systems. The role may be filled at the Licensed, Non-VA Licensed, or Resident/Supervisee level. The department provides supervision to staff pursuing licensure. Virginia clinical licensure must be obtained within the timelines specified for the applicable level.

The position involves work in the DHS office and community settings, including schools, homes, and other locations. The standard work schedule is 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or as established by program needs, with at least two evenings after 5:00 p.m. required each week. Employees may telework when not working in person, subject to program and client needs; at least two in-person workdays per week are required, with up to three telework days permitted as approved.

The selected candidate must complete all sections of the application, including supplemental questions. A resume may be attached but does not replace a completed application. The position requires a pre-employment background check, including criminal, driving, education, professional licensure, and credit history checks, as well as Virginia Child Welfare and Neglect Central Registry checks. Employment restrictions apply to current or recent recipients of Arlington County CSB services.

Requirements

• For the Licensed level, hold a Virginia Department of Health Professions license as an LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW.
• For the Non-VA Licensed level, hold a relevant professional license in another jurisdiction and perform supervised behavioral health work while awaiting Virginia licensure; obtain Virginia clinical licensure within 90 days of hire.
• For the Resident/Supervisee level, meet the educational requirements for a temporary Virginia Resident in Counseling or Resident in Clinical Psychology license, or register as a Supervisee in Social Work, within 90 days of hire; obtain appropriate clinical licensure within three years of hire.
• Complete the requirements for a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or another directly related clinical discipline, including internships and practicum requirements specified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
• Provide official transcripts to the hiring manager before onboarding.
• Meet the position’s background-check requirements, including criminal, driving, education, professional licensure, credit history, and Virginia Child Welfare and Neglect Central Registry checks.
• Meet the stated employment restrictions concerning current or recent receipt of Arlington County CSB services.

Nice To Haves

• Fully licensed in Virginia.
• Experience providing direct mental health and substance use services, including therapy or case management, to youth in community-based settings.
• Experience providing co-located services.
• Experience with intensive care coordination or high-fidelity wraparound interventions or models.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive services to youth with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders in schools, the DHS office, homes, court, and other community settings.
• Provide services that may include individual, family, and group therapy; case management; care coordination; high-fidelity wraparound; and individual and group caregiver support.
• Attend school-, office-, and community-based meetings and legal hearings.
• Conduct intake assessments to determine diagnoses and develop treatment plans and recommendations.
• Provide crisis intervention to help youth maintain safety in the least restrictive setting.
• Establish effective therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Participate in multidisciplinary teams to coordinate behavioral health services, support effective treatment and consultation, and promote youth emotional and behavioral well-being.
• Participate in community outreach and engagement as requested.
• Document services in the Electronic Health Record system in compliance with clinical, court, managed care, funding, and program licensing standards.
• Maintain accurate records and fulfill administrative and regulatory requirements throughout treatment, including court reviews and service delivery for youth and families.

Benefits

• $2,500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2,500 gross sign-on bonus after probation is met.
• Health benefits.
• Dental benefits.
• Vacation leave.
• Sick leave.
• Commuter transportation subsidies.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Generous retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level