Associate Mental Health Therapist AMFT APCC ACSW – Encinitas

To apply you must fill out the form at the bottom!

Our Mission

To promote behavioral health and wellness for our clients to obtain a high quality of life within themselves, their family, and their community. We work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, providing services that include assessment, short-term solution-focused interventions, consultation with other providers, and crisis intervention. If clients are feeling stuck, stressed from life circumstances, or having trouble adjusting to new transitions, we use several therapeutic modalities to help anyone who comes through our door.

Our Practice Philosophy

We believe in empowering our therapists to practice their craft with minimal micromanagement. Our approach is built on trust, autonomy, and mutual respect. We maintain a laid-back, supportive environment where you can thrive as a therapist while maintaining professional independence.

Your Professional Freedom

  • Conduct therapy sessions using your preferred therapeutic modalities and approaches
  • Trust in your clinical judgment and professional expertise
  • No rigid scripts or one-size-fits-all methodology
  • Freedom to tailor your approach to best serve your clients

Position Details

Important: This is primarily an In-Office Position with approximately 10-40% telehealth.

While we offer telehealth flexibility for some clients, this is primarily an in-office position. We are not hiring for remote work or telehealth-specific roles. Our offices are located in Rancho Bernardo and Encinitas, and we prefer candidates within a 35-minute commute to either location. The commute timing generally avoids rush hour traffic.

Licensing Status

We are only looking for non-licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, non-licensed Professional Clinical Counselors and non-licensed Clinical Social Workers working on getting their hours to become licensed. Preferred candidates would have 1,000+ hours remaining before licensure and desire working with us until they reach the hours necessary for licensure as it is not preferable for client continuity of care if they have to move to other therapists.

Available Positions

We are seeking both full-time and part-time clinicians with flexible scheduling options based on your preferences and our client needs.

Scheduling Structure

Weekday Hours:

  • 12 PM – 8 PM shifts
  • 8 AM – 2 PM shifts
  • 2 PM – 8 PM shifts
  • Or similar shifts of 5-8 hours preferred
  • Most clients prefer appointments between 12 PM – 8 PM on weekdays

Weekend Hours:

  • Flexible scheduling available
  • Clients more willing to schedule morning appointments
  • Weekend-only positions welcome

Important Note: Due to client demand, some evening shifts until 8 PM should be expected (1-4 shifts per week but generally what you desire or what office space/times are available). If you’re unable to work any weekday evening shifts, this position is likely not the right fit. However, we enthusiastically welcome weekend-only therapists for any hours you prefer.

Caseload Development

  • Clients are initially booked with you, then you manage ongoing scheduling
  • Caseloads typically build over a few weeks
  • Faster caseload development for therapists wanting fewer hours
  • Preference for therapists seeking 20+ hours/week (unless weekend-only)

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide individual, group, and/or family therapy to clients with diverse mental health needs including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship issues, and stress management
  • Work with clients of all ages, including children and adolescents
  • Conduct comprehensive initial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans
  • Utilize various therapeutic modalities and interventions tailored to client needs
  • Maintain accurate and timely client records in accordance with ethical and legal standards
  • Collaborate with other professionals and external resources for holistic client care
  • Engage in ongoing professional development and adhere to ethical guidelines and licensing board regulations
  • Participate in regular supervision and case consultations

Our Simple Expectations

We keep our requirements straightforward and reasonable:

  • Honor your scheduled office hours and assigned shifts – Office space is shared among team members, so consistency is important
  • Complete progress notes within 24 hours of each client session
  • Reschedule clients promptly when needed to maintain continuity of care
  • Follow standard ethical and legal guidelines for the profession

Flexible Service Delivery

Once you and your clients have established solid therapeutic relationships and built rapport, you’ll sometimes have the option to transition appropriate clients to telehealth sessions. This flexibility may allow you to better serve your clients’ needs as well as add some change for yourself.

Qualifications

Required:

  • Master’s or Doctoral degree in Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy or similar from an accredited institution
  • Current AMFT, APCC, or ACSW status with associates number or at least registration completed
  • Willingness to work with children and adolescents along with adults
  • Strong diagnostic and assessment skills
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
  • Commitment to cultural humility and providing inclusive, client-centered care
  • Ability to commute to our Rancho Bernardo or Encinitas offices (preferably within 35 minutes)

Preferred:

  • Demonstrated proficiency in various therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, EMDR, psychodynamic, humanistic approaches)
  • 1,000+ hours remaining before licensure with desire to complete supervision hours with our practice

What We Offer

  • Competitive compensation: $40/hour starting out
  • Comprehensive benefits package
  • Supportive work environment: Collegial atmosphere with minimal micromanagement
  • Professional development: Opportunities for growth and continuing education
  • Practice support: We provide supervision, peer consultation, and EMR system (Simple Practice)
  • Meaningful work: The chance to make a real difference in the lives of individuals and families
  • Telehealth flexibility: Option to move established clients to remote sessions after rapport is established

The Bottom Line

We’re looking for responsible, skilled therapists who can work independently while being part of a supportive team. If you thrive with professional autonomy and appreciate a low-stress work environment focused on excellent client care, you’ll find our practice to be an excellent fit.

Our goal is simple: create the conditions for you to do your best therapeutic work while maintaining the administrative structure necessary for a successful practice.

Ready to join our team? We’d love to hear from you and discuss how you can make a difference with us!

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Internship

Pay: $40.00 – $43.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 40 per week

Benefits:

  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Retirement plan

To apply please fill out and submit the application below:

Job Application Form
Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? *
Have you completed a Master’s Degree program? *
Are you comfortable working with children? *
Do you have a current associate number or have you at least registered for one with the California BBS as an AMFT, APCC, ACSW? *
Are you already an LMFT, LPCC, or LCSW with the California BBS? *
Have you ever worked for other private practices previously? *
Are you interested in working weekends? (multiple selections are allowed)

Please check your commute to respond to the question below

This position requires regular commuting to our offices. The links below will open Google Maps in a new tab and calculate the time/distance from any location you enter to our offices.

Encinitas Office:
317 N El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
→ Click to check driving distance & directions

Rancho Bernardo Office:
16776 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
→ Click to check driving distance & directions

We prefer candidates within 35 minutes of either location. Commute timing generally avoids rush hour traffic. This data is NOT recorded in the application submission.

Please include a URL.