Find purpose in helping patients regain balance in their daily lives through meaningful clinical support. As a Behavioral Health Therapist with Alvarado Parkway Institute’s La Mesa Outpatient Evening Program, you’ll provide group and individual therapy in a harm-reduction–focused setting that supports individuals managing co-occurring mood and substance use disorders. This role is ideal for an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) who thrives in a supportive and collaborative clinical environment, enjoys evening work, and is eager to grow as a clinician. You’ll facilitate therapy groups, conduct assessments, support individualized treatment planning, and participate in crisis intervention—all while gaining supervision and mentorship within a strong interdisciplinary team. We’re seeking an independent thinker and self-starter who brings curiosity, creativity, professionalism, and compassion to their work. If you’re passionate about helping people make lasting change and developing your clinical skills in a dynamic outpatient program, we’d love to have you on our team.

About Alvarado Parkway Institute (API):Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) is a 66-bed free-standing psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, California, home to San Diego’s largest and most comprehensive outpatient program. Our three Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs are designed to help individuals restore stability, independence, and hope. Guided by a patient-centered philosophy, API focuses on symptom management, community integration, and relapse prevention to support long-term wellness. We believe in treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—through evidence-based care, compassionate support, and value-added services that truly enhance each patient’s treatment experience. 

About this position

This position is a Behavioral Health Therapist to join our La Mesa Outpatient Evening Program, serving patients in both mood and substance use tracks using a harm-reduction approach. In this role, you’ll provide direct clinical care—including group therapy, individual assessments, and crisis management—and assist the day program on Tuesdays and Thursdays as needed. Schedule:

• 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The ideal candidate demonstrates sound clinical judgment, strong communication skills, and a passion for helping patients achieve recovery and stability. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a compassionate, patient-centered program while advancing your clinical expertise in an engaging and supportive environment. 

Behavioral Health Therapist Responsibilities:

• Familiarity in developing treatment plans, self-harm intervention plans.
• Establish and maintain a good rapport and working relationships to foster intra and inter-departmental communications necessary for the delivery of quality patient care; responds to requests for information from patients, families, and caregivers; provides directions as necessary; reflect the confidentiality of patient and organization information; communicates pertinent information as necessary by telephone and/or writing.
• Provides individual and group psychotherapy, psycho education and where appropriate, family counseling to facilitate patient attainment goals; makes use of recognized, effective interventions; provides crisis intervention as needed; adheres to billing and documentation guidelines.
• Completes psycho-social assessments as well as other required assessments and screenings to document relevant patient history and identify preliminary issues for treatment focus by interviewing the patient and family member(s) of support network.
• Develop and coordinate individualized treatment plans for the patient based upon physician order; patient-derived data, treatment team recommendation, records of previous treatment/chart review, and ancillary sources (e.g., family members, etc.); identify and assess community-based resources to facilitate development of concurrent, ancillary support; identify and develop appropriate discharge plans based upon patient need, treatment team recommendation(s), and available resources.
• Attend regular treatment team meetings to provide Behavioral Health Therapist perspective to total case management of the patient by reading and discussing written program notes from charts and communicating any state or local agency legal requirements for case management with the interdisciplinary team.
• Complete all mandatory third-party notifications per organizational policies and procedures and community/legal requirements; represent facility in any legal proceedings. 
• Display cultural sensitivity with regards to patients and staff.
• Provide appropriate referrals to inpatient and/or outpatient settings; complete or assist in the completion of assessments to facilitate from one level of care to another.
• Participate in activities than enhance professional growth and development.
• Perform all other related tasks as required.

Required Skills and Experience:

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of acute adult psychological disorders; advanced principals of abnormal psychology as specifically as applies to adults.
• Related regulatory compliance and reporting requirements. 
• Computer software applications. 
• The programs and objectives of the department/division.
• The rules, regulations, laws, policies, and procedures governing activities, such as the Affordable Care Act.

Skill in:

• Skills in case management, time management, and crisis intervention common to patients with acute psychosis as well as to non-violent crises intervention practices
• Identifying and producing innovative ideas and thinking strategically.
• Promoting best practices in all areas of work.
• Meeting and exceeding customer/client needs and satisfaction.
• Skills in conducting individual and group psychotherapy.
• Skills in maintaining information as highly confidential.
• Must demonstrate the ability to treat other age populations as needed or have the capacity to develop skills through the organizations cross-training, orientation program.

Ability to:

• Ability to clearly summarize pertinent clinical information via written correspondence and medical records documentation.
• To be adaptable and flexible.
• Work effectively and collaborate with others within a team environment.
• Ability to problem solve and initiate resolution to problems.
• Read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, or governmental regulations.
• Write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from government officials, management, union leaders, and employees.
• Analyze and identify problems and to develop feasible solutions.
• Apply technical knowledge to work duties.
• Analyze complex information and applies expert knowledge of health plans to produce high quality work, products and service.
• Take responsibility for actions, projects and people.
• Make quick, clear decisions which may include tough choices, after considering the risks.

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• Master’s degree in social work, MFT, psychology, or equivalent master’s degree in a recognized mental health field.
• Must be licensed eligible. 
• Registration/license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology required.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• Experience in outpatient or inpatient setting preferred

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Vision sees details of objects at close range.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Walk and/or stand for long periods of time (3/4 of the workday). 
• Lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.

Conditions of Employment

In compliance with API’s policies and guidelines, all API employees are required to adhere to the following:

Background/Reference Check & Licensure/Certification

• Completion of a satisfactory background and reference checks.
• Employee signed employment non-compete/confidentiality agreement
• Individuals whose position may require licensure, registration or certification must maintain such as current and valid. It is the employee's responsibility to send updated copies to Human Resources before the expiration date. It is the employee's responsibility to notify Human Resources of any changes or proposed changes in status to licensure, registration, or certification. Failure to do so could result in employee suspension.

Covid-19 and Flu Vaccinations; Medical

• Provide a copy of COVID-19 Vaccination OR have an Exemption Request (Deferred Pregnancy, Medical, or Religious) approved by the API HR Director; and those who have an approved Exemption must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and observe all other infection control requirements, including face coverings.
• Annual Flu vaccination is required as a condition of hire and ongoing employment. Only those who are allergic to the vaccine or meet contraindications as indicated on the current CDC Vaccine Information Statement shall be exempt from this condition of hire and ongoing employment but are required to wear a mask while inside an API owned or operated building or vehicle during influenza season, Employees must provide physician documentation to support any reported allergy or contraindication. Flu season typically runs between November and March.
• Pass drug and alcohol test performed by Concentra.
• Clear TB skin test or Chest X-Ray at Concentra.
• Complete a satisfactory physical examination at Concentra designed solely to determine your ability to perform the duties of the position being offered. 

EEO Statement

API provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.