Salary : $86,688.00 - $116,544.00 Annually
Location : Pierce County - Lakewood, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: BHA
Opening Date: 08/31/2026
Closing Date: 9/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
DSHS CSTC Cottage Therapist

Join our team at the (CSTC) within as a Psychology Associate, you will be responsible for family therapy and family group programming. You will serve as the therapist for a caseload of approximately 10 families and contribute to CSTC's family group programming. You will also be responsible for supporting Program Directors in designing and implementing group treatment interventions, contributing to treatment plans, and supporting milieu programming.

You will provide formal and informal psychological consultation regarding psychiatric disorders, treatments, and care strategies to other direct care counselor staff who are assigned to the cottages, work with an Interdisciplinary team, and actively collaborate with cottage psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, recreation therapists, and youth counselors to provide treatment by BHA, CSTC, TJC, and CMS guidelines. Join us today in our mission of helping our community shape their own lives!
Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.

Some of what you'll do:

• Use evidence-based practices and state-of-the-art therapeutic strategies to provide family, individual, and group therapy and outreach program services for children and adolescents with diverse and complex diagnostic presentations.
• Participate in treatment team case formulation and interventions to effectively implement individual treatment plans.
• Assesses and documents patient progress toward treatment goals.
• Understand and apply established treatment models to patient care.
• Provide family therapy sessions to address treatment targets determined by the treatment team.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment team members, including psychiatry, social work, nursing, and other hospital staff.
• Provide clinical consultation on psychological principles, to youth counselor staff in the application of proposed treatments for patients.
• Participate in continuing education in ethics and other topics relevant to the practice of therapy.
• Maintain current annual training and certifications as mandated by facility policy.

Who should apply?

• A master's degree in psychology, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution of higher education
• Registration as a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor or professional licensure in the State of Washington

How to apply?

Along with your application, please attach the following:

• Letter of interest (up to two pages) specifically addressing the education, knowledge, and competencies you have that will make you successful in this job.
• A current chronological resume.
• Three or more references

If you have questions about job number 07011 contact the Recruiter, Chris Pulley via email at Reference announcement 07011 in the subject.

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.

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