Residential Primary Clinician

Residential Primary Clinician

Services Provided: ASAM 3.5 Clinically Managed High-Intensity Residential Treatment, Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery

Location: The Homestead in Molina, Colorado Reports To: Associate Clinical Director/Clinical Director Employment Type: Full Time Salaried Maximum Caseload: 12 Clients + Facilitate Groups

Compensation: 7278k DOE and Licensure

Position Summary

The Primary Clinician provides individualized, evidence-based clinical services to clients participating in Ava Health's residential treatment program at the Homestead, supporting individuals experiencing mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions.

This position is responsible for managing an assigned caseload, providing individual and group therapy, developing individualized treatment plans, and overseeing the clinical treatment of assigned clients throughout their residential stay.

Primary Clinicians collaborate closely with nursing, psychiatric providers, case management, Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs), and residential leadership to support psychiatric stabilization, substance use recovery, and a safe, structured, therapeutic residential environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical Services & Treatment Planning

• Maintain an assigned caseload of up to 12 residential clients.
• Conduct clinical assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, and regularly evaluate client progress.
• Provide individual therapy and facilitate assigned process, psychoeducational, and skills-based therapy groups.
• Utilize evidence-based interventions, including DBT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed approaches.
• Oversee the clinical treatment of assigned clients, including continued-stay recommendations, level-of-care transitions, and discharge planning.

Group Programming & Therapeutic Milieu

• Facilitate therapeutic groups and collaborate with clinical staff and BHTs to support consistent, effective residential programming.
• Promote client engagement, accountability, emotional regulation, and development of healthy coping skills throughout the residential experience.
• Collaborate with BHTs to reinforce treatment goals, behavioral expectations, and therapeutic interventions within the daily residential routine.
• Provide clinical guidance regarding behavioral challenges, interpersonal conflicts, emotional dysregulation, and therapeutic boundaries.
• Support a safe, structured, compassionate, and recovery-oriented therapeutic environment.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Crisis Intervention

• Coordinate care with nursing, psychiatric providers, case managers, BHTs, and residential leadership.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, clinical staffing, and interdisciplinary care planning.
• Assess and respond to psychiatric symptoms, behavioral crises, and safety concerns using appropriate clinical interventions and de-escalation techniques.
• Communicate relevant clinical information, safety concerns, and treatment recommendations to appropriate team members.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to support psychiatric stabilization, individualized behavioral interventions, and continuity of care.

Documentation & Professional Responsibilities

• Complete all required clinical documentation accurately and within established timelines, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Maintain documentation supporting medical necessity, treatment progress, and appropriate level of care.
• Follow organizational policies, ethical standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision, professional development, and quality improvement activities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Degree in Substance Use or MH Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field, or an appropriate addiction counseling credential within the scope of assigned duties (CAS, LAC, LCSW, LPCC, LPC, MFT, etc.).
• Current Colorado clinical license, provisional license, or qualifying addiction counseling credential.
• Experience treating mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions.
• Strong clinical judgment, communication skills, organization, and ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to respond effectively to psychiatric symptoms, behavioral challenges, and changing client needs within a residential treatment environment.

Preferred:

• Experience in residential treatment, psychiatric stabilization, inpatient behavioral health, or other intensive behavioral health settings.
• Training in DBT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, or crisis de-escalation.
• Familiarity with ASAM criteria, clinical documentation requirements, and level-of-care transitions.

Professional Expectations

The Primary Clinician is expected to demonstrate clinical competence, accountability, adaptability, effective communication, and a commitment to person-centered care. This role requires strong therapeutic relationships, compassionate boundaries, proactive collaboration, and the ability to support clients experiencing complex psychiatric and substance use challenges.

Primary Clinicians are expected to contribute actively to the therapeutic residential environment while empowering clients to develop the skills, confidence, and personal responsibility necessary for lasting recovery.