Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This position includes a $2500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2500 gross sign-on bonus after probation has been met.

Arlington County’s Department of Human Services ( DHS ) has an opportunity for an experienced full- time Behavioral Health Therapist within the Outpatient Services Bureau (OSB) of the Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD). This individual will be responsible for providing comprehensive, trauma -informed and culturally responsive mental health and substance use therapy and case management services to adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), substance use and/or co-occurring disorders

To learn more about the Department of Human Services, please visit the  DHS website .

Minimum Qualifications:

Note:  Please refer to the guidelines for registration and licensure set forth by the  Virginia Department of Health Professions  prior to completing this application.

Education:  Completion of the requirements for obtaining a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or other directly related clinical discipline with internships and practicum requirements specified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

Therapists may be hired at one of the following levels:

Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed):  Possession of one of the following professional licenses from the Virginia Department of Health Professions: LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW.

Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed):

- Possess a license in a jurisdiction other than Virginia and are performing supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management and counseling work while awaiting licensure from the Virginia Department of Health Professions of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline: (LPC), (LCP), (LMFT), (LCSW);
- License must be obtained within 90 days of hire; and
- While awaiting licensure from the State of Virginia (LPC), (LCP), (LMFT), (LCSW), must meet the criteria of a Qualified Mental Health Professional- Adult (QMHP-A) or a Qualified Mental Health Professional- Child (QMHP-C) per the Virginia Board of Counseling regulations within 60 days of hire.

Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee):

- Perform supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management, and counseling work as a trainee in order to obtain one of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline in the state of Virginia:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Must meet the educational requirements to obtain a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT) or Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP), or register as a Supervisee in Social Work (LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions within 90 days of hire;
- Meet the criteria of a Qualified Mental Health Professional- Adult (QMHP-A) or a- per the Virginia Board of Counseling regulations within 60 days of hire; and
- Obtain appropriate licensure within three years of hire.

Desirable Qualifications:  Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following experiences:

- Working with clients with co-occurring substance use disorders;
- Experience providing best practices related to mental health and substance use;
- Conducting assessments for the seriously mentally ill to determine needs for outpatient clinical services, housing needs, financial entitlements, and other services; and/or
- Experience providing Evidence Based Treatment to those with trauma related needs.
- Conducting ongoing and accurate risk assessments and developing safety plans/interventions .

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).

• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. In accordance with § 19.2-392.15, applicants are not required to provide information regarding sealed arrests, charges, or convictions in response to any questions or inquiries during the hiring process.

Additional Information

Work hours: 40 hours per week with normal working hours between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with some flexibility. Employee may be required to work some evenings depending on programmatic need. Some telework available.

Although positions may be underfilled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST (LICENSED): $96,304.00 - $149,240.00 Annually
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST (NON-VA LICENSED): $96,304.00 - $149,240.00 Annually BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (RESIDENT/SUPERVISEE): $83,158.40 - $128,876.80 Annually

This recruitment may be used to fill similar future vacancies, of which; some may have Bilingual requirements. An assessment of oral Spanish proficiency will be required before a candidate can be appointed to the bilingual position (English/Spanish). The incumbent in a bilingual position would receive the language pay premium on all hours worked and on paid leave hours.

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here .

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

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