Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed)

Job Description

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.

Salary range effective as of July 1, 2026

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) for the Arlington County Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST) within the Client Services Entry Bureau. As part of a team that provides mobile outreach to the community, this position responds to urgent/crisis behavioral health needs in the community to include conducting mental health assessment, providing crisis intervention and stabilization, short-term counseling, assisting individuals and their families with identifying resources, and linking individuals to services as needed, conducting welfare checks, partnering with the police and first responders to divert people from arrest and/or hospitalization when appropriate.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include:

• Responding to calls from 911 and first responders to assess needs, determine appropriate level of care, de-escalate and make referrals;
• Providing clinical intervention services for clients experiencing a behavioral health crisis;
• Conducting evaluations and risk assessments, utilizing a strength-based approach;
• Conducting screenings for hospitalization or other diversionary services (e.g. partial hospitalization, residential, respite, intensive community services), ensuring that services are provided in the least restrictive environment;
• Working with Police, Emergency Services, Fire/EMS, ECC, and other partners as needed to identify people in need and to coordinate services;
• Engaging with people who may be in distress, assessing their needs and determining a plan for stability;
• Conducting welfare checks for people connected to Behavioral Health services in the county as well as referrals from first responders;
• Managing information about participants of MOST to ensure that all contacts are recorded;
• Assisting the Program Manager with generating and maintaining accurate program specific statistical data; and
• Utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and various software such as electronic health records to document cases and interactions.

The ideal candidate is patient, calm, organized, and understanding, with a natural curiosity and a genuine commitment to fostering positive interactions within both the community and their team. They bring experience and the ability to adapt to evolving situations on a daily basis, while also demonstrating creativity and initiative in developing thoughtful, out-of-the-box solutions to a wide range of challenges as they arise.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's degree 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;
• Considerable post-master's degree experience providing mental health services;
• One (1) year minimum of working with seriously mentally ill individuals in crisis; and
• Licensure by the appropriate board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP), appropriate to the employees' discipline (e.g. LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) at time of employment.

Clinicians may be hired at the following levels:

Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed):

• Possession of one of the following professional licenses from the Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP): LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW

Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed):

• Perform supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management and counseling work while awaiting licensure from the VDHP;
• Possess a license in a jurisdiction other than Virginia related to a behavioral health discipline: LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW; and
• VA License must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

Behavioral Health Therapist (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 VDHP within 90 days of hire; and
• Obtain appropriate licensure within three years of hire.

Desirables : Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Knowledge of solution focused crisis counseling, the Stages of Change Model, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma informed care;
• Preadmission Prescreening Clinician Certification from the VA Department of Behavioral Health & Development Sciences (DBHDS); and
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Special Requirements:

• A complete application will include an attached resume which highlights how your background and experience align with the qualifications for this position.
• Certification: Must possess a Preadmission Prescreening Clinician Certification from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Development Sciences (DBHDS) or obtain within 180 days of employment.
• Driver's License: The applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver's license. The must have the ability to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.
• Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. A pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check will also be completed before hire.

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

Additional Information:

Work Hours: 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with some flexibility and differing hours depending on programmatic need. Work is performed as part of 24/7 operation and the worker must be able to work shifts as necessary, including after-hours and during emergency situations as necessary.
Positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. See the applicable annual salary ranges below:

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

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


For more information on Arlington's family friendly benefits, click here.


NOTE: This position is listed as "open continuous." Interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Applicants will be referred and interviewed on a continuous basis. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be considered. The application process will close when the position is filled, or enough qualified applications have been received.