Working at Summer Sessions Counseling Means You Value:

Equitable access to quality mental health care
Work-life balance and sustainable clinical practice
Collaboration over competition
Community building and advocacy
Diversity, inclusion, and belonging
Ethical, evidence-informed care
Lifelong learning and professional growth

A Different Kind of Practice

At Summer Sessions Counseling, we believe mental health care should be accessible—not just available to those who can afford to pay privately. That belief shapes every decision we make.

As an insurance-based practice, we accept most major insurance plans because we believe financial barriers should never prevent someone from receiving quality mental health care. Every day, our clinicians have the opportunity to serve children, adults, couples, families, veterans, students, essential workers, and community members who might otherwise go without care.

This model allows us to make a meaningful impact across San Luis Obispo County and throughout California.

We also recognize that choosing to work in an insurance-based practice is a values-driven decision. While private-pay practices may offer higher earning potential, many clinicians find deep fulfillment in knowing their work reaches people who need it most. If your passion is increasing access to care and reducing barriers to treatment, you'll find a professional home here.

We Believe Great Care Starts with Great Clinicians

Providing exceptional therapy requires clinicians who are supported, respected, and encouraged to care for themselves as thoughtfully as they care for their clients.

We value sustainable caseloads, healthy boundaries, flexibility, and a culture where asking for support is viewed as a strength—not a weakness. We believe that clinicians who feel connected, balanced, and appreciated provide the best possible care.

We Grow Together

No therapist has all the answers, and we don't expect anyone to.

We value curiosity, collaboration, consultation, and continued professional development. Our team includes clinicians with diverse specialties, lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, and therapeutic approaches. We learn from one another, celebrate one another's successes, and support each other through challenges.

Our diversity isn't simply something we value—it strengthens our clinical work and enriches the care we provide.

We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, individuals from historically marginalized communities, military families and veterans, and clinicians whose lived experiences bring unique perspectives to the therapeutic relationship.

Is Summer Sessions the Right Fit?

You may thrive here if you believe that:

Mental health care is a right, not a privilege.
Collaboration creates stronger clinicians and better outcomes.
Diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility are essential to ethical practice.
Community matters.
Work should be meaningful without requiring you to sacrifice your own well-being.
Clinical excellence and compassion can exist alongside healthy work-life balance.

If you're looking for more than just a job—if you're looking for a practice where your values align with your work and where your clinical skills can make a lasting impact—we would love to hear from you.

Together, we're helping build a healthier, more connected, and more compassionate community.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST Job Description:

Job details

Salary:

$35-50 per clinical hour (Associates)

$60-85 per clinical hour (Fully Licensed)

(Based on Case Load size, Supervisory Roll and other factors are considered in pay scale)

Job Type:Part-time/Full-time in person (some remote)

Full Job Description

Job description

Mental Health Therapist

Summer Sessions Counseling is looking for a therapist to be a part of the team! This is a part time W-2 position for a Therapist in California with a registration number from BBS. The ideal candidate has prior experience in human services, an unrestricted license in California, a desire to grow, and willingness to “sit in the muck” with clients.

Please email cover letter & resume to alexann@summersessionscounseling.org or Complete Summer Sessions Application HERE

Requirements:

Masters Degree in Counseling
License or Registration Number with the BBS

This job will be a good fit if the following describes you:

Willing to hold meaningful and deep space for clientele
Finds balance in being organized, detail oriented, working independently, and having a sense of humor, being in touch with your authentic self, working collaboratively.
Holds a “come as you are” approach to supporting others
Prioritizes healthy communication, conflict resolution
Dependable, trustworthy, growth mindset
Prior work with children, disordered eating (trained/certified), LGBTQ a PLUS

Job Responsibilities:

Build and maintain a caseload of 20-25 clients weekly
- Be on time for sessions
- Maintain regular communication and boundaries
- Adhere to time requirements, note taking and submission deadlines
Conduct intakes, psychosocial assessments, and mental health diagnosis including the clients’ acuity, strengths, and treatment needs
Develop family-centered and culturally appropriate treatment plans and provide outpatient services to include: providing individual counseling, family counseling and couples counseling. Use evidence-based practices and trauma-informed practices.
Responsible for clinical documentation, i.e., progress notes, patient assessments, service/treatment plans, and other forms/records as required in a timely manner. Maintain detailed case files and other documentation in 100% compliance with the program standards.
Complete BBS paperwork
Other duties as assigned

Application Requirements:

Please email cover letter & resume to alexann@summersessionscounseling.org or Complete Summer Sessions Application HERE

Summer Sessions Counseling prioritizes emotional health and mental health support as a right for all. Equity and access to all, normalizing mental health and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health looks like being authentic, sounds like compassionate healthy communication and feels like validation and unconditional positive regard. An important emphasis on “come as you are” is evident here, and if you like plants….. Added bonus!

Holding space for and validating areas of discomfort is quite the undertaking! But you have healthy boundaries and a healthy mindset that allows you to interact from a place of authenticity and availability.

Diversity is a must! We encourage people of color, minorities, LGBTQ+ candidates, as well as disabled individuals and those who have been consumers of mental health services to apply. We celebrate being an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in employment on the basis of any protected status or other non-merit factors.

Therapists start with a base pay which is paid per billable sessions, Building a full caseload may take 3-6 months

We provide:

A chill work environment
Referrals and marketing
Growth opportunities
EHR for ease of notes & billing
Weekly supervision / consultation
Newly Renovated office space
Flexible work schedule
401K option

Work Location:

* Downtown San Luis Obispo

* Santa Maria

* Occasional Work From Home/Telehealth