PER DIEM - School-Based Therapist

Effective School Solutions (ESS) is a leading provider of school-based mental health services, serving 6,000+ K–12 students across 12 states. We deliver the level of clinical care typically found in private practice, out-of-district placements, or higher levels of care directly within public schools. This is a per diem position and is not eligible for benefits. Per diem therapists support ESS on an as-needed basis, including coverage for leave assignments. Clinicians provide critical mental health support to students who may not otherwise have access to care—helping them succeed academically, build resilience, and thrive.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive, school-based mental health services, including individual, group, and family therapy, as well as intake, diagnostic, and clinical assessments; Partner with families and facilitate parent support programming; Conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention, ensuring student safety and coordinating referrals to appropriate levels of care when needed; Develop and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans that support students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic success; Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of the assigned school-based program; Serve as the primary clinical point of contact for school partners, providing expert guidance, ensuring alignment on student support strategies, and fostering strong, collaborative relationships; Facilitate weekly consultation sessions to ensure alignment on student goals and documentation standards; Collaborate with families, school staff, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated care, and provide consultation, coaching, and training on mental health and trauma-informed practices; Participate in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing professional development; Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory, ethical, and organizational standards; Uphold professional standards by maintaining active licensure, ethical practice, reliability, and a strong professional presence; Monitor program performance and ensure alignment with ESS clinical and operational standards; Support clinician performance through feedback, coaching, and evaluations

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field; Active associate number or clinical license (e.g., AMFT, APCC, ACSW or LMFT, LPCC, LCSW) in the state of California; 2+ years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs; Experience providing training and coaching to educational professionals and parents/caregivers on student mental health issues; Experience working with schools, families, and community-based services; Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with students, families, and school staff; Commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care and advocating for best practices; Proven ability to positively influence, motivate, and elevate team members and stakeholders; Ability to make confident, sound decisions in ambiguous or evolving situations; Proficient in clinical documentation and use of electronic systems (e.g., EMR, Microsoft Office), with the ability to maintain accurate and timely records

Nice to have

School-based experience

Benefits

School-day schedule; No weekends; Light summers; Small caseloads; Ongoing clinical support; Free CEUs; Competitive Pay; Clinical leadership at the heart of our company