Senior Therapist - Youth & Families

Salary: $74,423.18 - $99,692.06 Annually
Location : Alexandria, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Community and Human Services
Division: CENTER FOR CHILD AND FAMILY
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
Closing Date: 11/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit: N/A

Senior Therapist - Youth & Families

This position qualifies for a signing bonus of $3,000. The Senior Therapist - Youth & Families positionpartners with high needs youth and their families in an array of behavioral health services that are designed to help children live and thrive in their homes and communities. As part of Alexandria's System of Care, coordinate closely with youth, families, their natural supports and colleagues in child welfare, juvenile justice, and education to ensure that integrated services are trauma informed and strengths based, and prioritize family and youth voice and choice, cultural influences and equity, outcomes-based work, and collaboration. This is a hybrid position providing outpatient mental health and substance use treatment, as well as services in the K-12 school system and the community. Services are primarily provided in a community mental health center, with additional services delivered in homes, schools, other community locations and virtually. Tasks are performed in accordance with established policies and procedures under the general supervision of a CFBHS Team Leader or Therapist Supervisor. This position provides services billable to insurance, including Medicaid.
The Opportunity:

• Services are primarily provided at Mark Center Drive, in K-12 schools and the community.
• Engage youth with significant mental health and substance use challenges and their families in evidence based, youth led, and family driven individual, family and group outpatient therapy, case management, crisis intervention and clinical assessment
• Develop and monitor treatment plans with youth and their families based on their strengths, needs, preferences, and goals;
• Consult, collaborate and coordinate closely with system partners, i.e., family support partners, child welfare, juvenile court system, schools, child advocacy center, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Guardians Ad Litem, police, etc.;
• Participate in multi-disciplinary workgroups, treatment planning meetings, court hearings, and relevant training, conferences and workshops;
• Provide presentations on behavioral health topics related to school-age youth and their families;
• Supervise graduate level interns or externs;
• Collect outcome, research and satisfaction data with persons served;
• Prepare a variety of written reports including progress notes, treatment plans, quarterly updates, clinical/mental health evaluations, status reports and reports to referral agencies;
• Maintain medical records in accordance with accreditation body, Department policies, licensing and Medicaid regulations;
• Follow department policies and procedures, including those related to productivity expectations, client payment issues, training and clinical licensure; and
• Perform all other relevant duties assigned.

What we are looking for:

The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge of diagnosis, assessment and evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents who experience trauma, mental health and substance use challenges; skills in conducting behavioral health assessments, treatment plans, family, individual and group therapy; ability to prioritize youth and family voice and collaborate with community partners; ability to document in an electronic health record; ability to communicate both orally and in writing, in a clear concise manner, with other professionals and with the public.
What we offer you:In addition to an awesome group of people to work with, the City of Alexandria offers great benefits!
As a full-time employee of the City of Alexandria, the following are available to you:

• Health Insurance
• Tuition Assistance and Professional Development
• Multilingual Pay Program
• Employee Transportation Benefits Program
• Virginia Retirement System
• Paid Annual and Sick Leave/Sick Leave Bank
• Paid City Holidays
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Spring Health Mental Health Services
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is also a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Use the following link to access the PSLF website and learn about this program in detail: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Possession of Masters degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field; at least two years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders; and licensure or license eligible (has completed all required education and supervision as required by applicable board) as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the time of appointment; if license eligible, the employee must obtain Virginia licensure at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.
Preferred Qualifications
Fluent and Bilingual in both English and Spanish to meet the needs of persons served; At least two years of post-master's experience engaging school-age youth and their families in trauma-informed evidence-based behavioral health treatment services; Certification or training in TF-CBT or EMDR; At least three years of experience providing family therapy; At least one year of experience with electronic medical records.

Notes
This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; education/certifications; and driver's license.

Schedule: Schedule TBD upon hire.