DSHS Maple Lane Psychology Associate

Salary : $84,984.00 - $114,264.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Grand Mound, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 2026-02518
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: BHHA
Opening Date: 06/02/2026
Closing Date: 6/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step


Description

DSHS Maple Lane - Psychology Associate

Join our team as a Psychology Associate at our newest behavioral health treatment campus, Maple Lane, located near Centralia, Washington.

BHTC Maple Lane Campus-Oak Unit's primary mission is to provide behavioral health care for residents who have been determined to require involuntary care under RCW 71.05. BHTC's mission is to promote recovery, resilience, and rehabilitation for those residents, leading to successful community transition.

The Psychology Associate is an integral position that will be responsible for delivering psychosocial interventions to an assigned group of residents. Evidence-based group and individual therapy and promoting effective interpersonal skills on the treatment milieu are essential components of the Psychology Associate position. The Psychology Associate will function as a key member of an interdisciplinary treatment team that includes medical, psychiatry, nursing, psychology, social work, and institutional counselors.

About Maple Lane provides innovative treatment for residents who are civilly committed or adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Through smaller, community-based residential units, Maple Lane supports Washington State's vision of behavioral health care delivered closer to home, family, and support systems, helping residents maintain meaningful community connections.


Maple Lane is a key business unit within the Department of Social and Health Services Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration. Our dedicated staff provide residents with enriching opportunities and therapeutic experiences outside of a hospital setting, supporting a successful transition back into the community. This is an excellent opportunity to join a team committed to modernizing and strengthening behavioral health treatment across Washington State.


Some of what you will do

Resident Information and Case Formulation:

• Obtain historical psychosocial documentation through records requests of past treatment.
• Participate in treatment teams as assigned and contribute observations and treatment response data to help formulate resident conceptualizations and treatment plans.
• Engage residents in social skills activities when indicated.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure residents are appropriately oriented to facility.
• Collaborate with social work to develop a comprehensive community success plan.

Treatment:

• Understand and apply established treatment models to resident care.
• Contribute to integrated treatment plans by helping to formulate treatment goals.
• Provide group therapy utilizing evidence-based and clinically promising clinical practices assigned to residents.
• Conduct individual therapy sessions at a minimum of one session per month, but ideally as needed in consultation with the treatment team to promote progress and stability.
• Monitor residents' progress regarding established treatment goals and documents in progress notes.
• Monitor warning signs and risk factors for suicide, self-harm, and violence towards others. Notify nursing and clinical staff when risk is detected to provide concerns and to help formulate a safety management strategy in accordance with the integrated treatment plan and clinical consultation.
• Complete the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) when indication to die by suicide is detected.

Collaborative Resident- Centered Care:

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment team, including psychiatry, social work, medical, nursing, and other institutional staff.
• Respond to email, messages, and phone calls in a timely matter.
• When differences arise between disciplines, work to understand interests and obligations of other disciplines and adapt to integrated treatment needs.

Milieu Management:

• Contribute to a therapeutic milieu by intervening to de-escalate residents by utilizing Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and other facility approved techniques.
• Therapeutically engage resident post-crisis to re-establish rapport and engage resident in behavioral chain analysis.

Clinical Documentation:

• Maintain current, accurate, and behaviorally descriptive clinical documentation in the Electronic Health Record (HER).

Who should apply?
We are searching for professionals with:

• A master's degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution

AND

• Registration as a Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor or professional licensure in the State of Washington

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• In-depth working knowledge of group behavior and dynamics.
• Experience in intervening and de-escalating crisis/dangerous situations.
• Knowledge of all hospitals, state, and federal regulatory standards, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of mental illness and recovery principles.
• Ability to work with difficult or angry residents in a therapeutic, non-threatening manner. Ability to work as a team member and to resolve personal conflicts in a calm, non-threatening manner.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with management, peers, residents, and the public as required to cany out the assigned duties of the position.
• Demonstrate proficient operation of the following equipment: Computer, copy machine.
• Must be able to effectively communicate with management, peers, clients, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
• Ability to be competent in basic computer skills, including word processing and navigating a web browser in order to utilize the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• This position also requires full competency in the designated EHR system following the completion of requisite EHR Training as assigned.

Additional information

• Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
• Work schedule: 9:00am to 5:30pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Why join us?
We partner with people to access support, care, and resources. DSHS employees make a difference in WA State every day by supporting sustainable recovery, independence, and wellness. See why people like you choose careers at DSHS:


Questions?
Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Peter Bonato at and reference job number #02518.


The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental Information


Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.


Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or View phone number on click.appcast.io.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.


Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.


Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.


Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.


Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026
01


Which option best describes how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position? Please select one.

• I have a master's degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution, and I am registered as a Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor.
• I have a master's degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution, and I hold professional licensure in the State of Washington.
• I do not meet the minimum qualifications listed above.

Required Question