Senior Therapist - Youth Substance Use (Bilingual)

Senior Therapist - Youth Substance Use (Bilingual)

Salary

$74,423.18 - $99,692.06 Annually

Location

Alexandria, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2027-00556

Department

Department of Community and Human Services

Division

CENTER FOR CHILD AND FAMILY

Opening Date

09/15/2026

Closing Date

10/15/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Bargaining Unit

N/A

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Senior Therapist - Youth Substance Use

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work.

This position qualifies for a signing bonus of $3,000. Are you searching for a position with purpose; a position that allows you to share your clinical expertise; a position that challenges you? Are you passionate about partnering with children and youth with significant mental health and substance use challenges and their families, natural supports, and system partners to ensure children live and thrive in their homes and communities? If so, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is hiring a Senior Therapist with a focus on Youth Substance Use. We are a team dedicated not only to children, youth, and families, but also dedicated to supporting and valuing team members. We provide extensive development and learning initiatives, a competitive wage and benefits package, a focus on equity, and the facilitation of advanced clinical training and career advancement opportunities.

The Opportunity:

• Engage youth with substance use and mental health challenges and their families in evidence based, youth led, and family driven individual, family and group therapy, early intervention, case management, crisis intervention and clinical assessment and screening;
• Develop and monitor treatment plans with youth and their families based on their strengths, needs, preferences, and goals;
• Support linkage to young adult and adult behavioral health services;
• Provide consultation and ensure close collaboration and coordination with school and other system partners, i.e., child welfare, juvenile court system, 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;
• 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 as assigned.

What we are looking for:

The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge of diagnosis, assessment and evidence-based treatment for adolescents who experience substance use, trauma and mental health; 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.

Who we are:

As a member of Child and Family Behavioral Health Services (CFBHS), you will work alongside professionals who are passionate about engaging youth with behavioral health challenges and their families in top-notch clinical services. We prioritize collaboration with professionals in child welfare, juvenile courts and the schools to ensure quality care. We are a community of lifelong learners who partner, challenge, and support each other to advance our clinical knowledge and skills, and help youth and families achieve the best outcomes.

CFBHS is part of the Center for Children and Families (CCF) which provides services in the areas of Behavioral Health, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Child Welfare, Early Childhood and Youth Development. CCF provides compassionate, collaborative, and effective person and family-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety, recovery, and resiliency for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and substance abuse disorders.

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 drivers license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

At least two years of post-master's experience engaging adolescents and/or young adults with substance use disorders and their families in trauma-informed evidence-based behavioral health treatment services; At least one year experience providing behavioral health services in a school setting; At least two years of experience providing family therapy; Certification or training in Motivational Interviewing with youth and families; At least one year of experience with electronic medical records. Fluent and bilingual in English and Spanish to meet the needs of persons served.

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: Monday-Friday, school hours, occasional evenings as needed

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.

We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandrias excellent benefits and programs!

Click here to learn more about Employee Benefits

Click here to learn more about the Citys Employee Development Program

The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team of Human Resources at DHR.TA@alexandriava.gov.

01

In Virginia or any other location, have you ever been or are the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect? If yes, list all cases and explain. If no, indicate "N/A."

02

All positions in DCHS require successful completion of pre-employment background checks in the Virginia State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry and national Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database. Some positions require criminal records check, and scrutiny of any found criminal records against the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services list of Barrier Crimes. Some positions require drug testing, and verification of driver's license and education/certifications.

• I Understand.

03

To answer "Yes" to this question, you must answer "Yes" to all the following questions: • Do you possess a Masters degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field? • Do you have at least two (2) years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders? • Are you currently licensed or are you 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. • Do you possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of your residence? If you answer "No" to any part of this question you must answer "No".

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered "No" to question 3, do you have any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position? (If you answered, "Yes to question 3, please answer "Yes" to this question).

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have at least two (2) years of post-master's experience engaging adolescents and/or young adults with substance use disorders and their families in trauma-informed evidence-based behavioral health treatment services?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience providing behavioral health services in a school setting?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have at least two (2) years of experience providing family therapy; Certification or training in Motivational Interviewing with youth and families?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience with electronic medical records?

• Yes
• No

09

Are you fluent and bilingual in both English and Spanish to meet the needs of persons served?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Alexandria

Address City Hall

421 King Street,

Alexandria, Virginia, 22314

Phone 7037463784

Website http://alexandriava.gov/jobs