Salary: $33.07 - $61.11 Hourly
Location : Alexandria, VA
Job Type: Part-Time
Job Number: 2026-00452
Department: Department of Community and Human Services
Division: CENTER FOR ADULT SERVICES
Opening Date: 06/29/2026
Closing Date: 7/20/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Senior Therapist / Therapist Trainee (Jail Services)- Part Time
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 if hired at the Senior Therapist level. Are you searching for a position with purpose; a position that allows you to share your expertise? A position that challenges you? Are you passionate about learning and developing your clinical skills and working with professionals dedicated to supporting your ongoing professional development? If so, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is hiring for
Senior Therapist or Therapist Trainee in our Jail Behavioral Health Services Team. This position is located at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center. This position will provide clinical intervention and services to adult inmates experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, and is part of a team of seasoned clinicians, dedicated to helping our clients adjust to incarceration and live health and meaningful lives when they return to their communities.
An Overview
The Senior Therapist and Therapist Trainee provides psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups with emotional, behavioral, psychological and/or substance use disorders. An employee in this class maintains a large caseload of individuals or families, many of whom are dually diagnosed with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. The incumbent engages fully and actively with individuals or families in assisting them to address their feelings, behaviors, fears, and anxieties related to their mental health and/or substance use challenges, and to assist with problem solving. Employees in this class provide diagnostic evaluations which provide therapeutic information and guide the therapist's interventions, and the need to make referrals to additional treatment services, vocational or job opportunities, medical treatment, and other community referral sources, as needed. The therapist generally conducts these tasks during regular working hours, but they may be called upon to work evenings or weekends in response to individual or family needs. The work is performed in a variety of human services settings.
A Senior Therapist is distinguished from a Therapist Trainee by the greater independence of action allowed in completing work assignments and the requirement for licensure in providing psychotherapy for consumers. The incumbents in this class may serve as clinical supervisor for practicum/intern students, as well as for co-workers seeking licensure. The work is performed under the general supervision of a program or team leader.
The Opportunity
- Provides crisis intervention and may assist in evaluations for higher levels of care, with supervisory consultation
- Conducts clinical assessments under supervision, identifying individual strengths, needs, and service history; consults with supervisor for diagnosis and service planning
- Conducts evaluations for SMI/SED status, under supervision, to inform service eligibility and planning
- Develops treatment plans subject to review and approval by a licensed clinical supervisor
- Provides individual and group psychotherapy under clinical supervision and in accordance with approved treatment plans
- Implements targeted case management services for individuals in the detention center through coordinating services with associated external agencies
- Coordinates services including referrals to housing, employment, healthcare, and other supports, with supervisory guidance as needed
- Completes documentation and clinical records in accordance with applicable state, federal, and departmental standards, supervisor reviews documentation for clinical quality and compliance
- May provide court-related documentation and testimony with supervisory support
- Participates in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and may co-facilitate workshops, under supervision
- Maintains regular supervision meetings to review cases, clinical work, and licensure progress
- Performs related duties as assigned, within the scope of supervised practice
- Provides crisis intervention and diagnostic evaluations
- Conducts individual and group counseling
- Completes biopsychosocial clinical intake evaluations and other clinical assessments
- Performs risk assessment evaluations and provides recommendations for treatment, security precautions, and housing recommendations based on clinical impressions
- Develops client-centered recommendations based on inmates' assessed needs, strengths, motivation, and stage of change
- Provides targeted case management services for individuals in the Detention Center, coordinates services with associated agencies and resources outside the jail
- Provides consultations to Detention Center staff and with other agencies
- Maintains consumer records consistent with all applicable State and Departmental standards
- Performs pre-screening of inmates for detention to State Psychiatric Institutions
- Other duties as assigned
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have knowledge of individual and group behavior including knowledge of treatment issues related to co-occurring disorders, substance use disorder; psychopharmacology; psychiatric disorders; and/or elderly and aging issues. Ability to work successfully with a diverse population; Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing with other professionals and with the public.
About the Department and Position Overview:
The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders.
Under the supervision of the Team Supervisor, provides clinical intervention services to adult inmates who are experiencing psychiatric, behavioral and/or substance use related problems in the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center. Duties include triage, psychosocial assessment, diagnostic evaluation, risk assessment, brief counseling, individual and group counseling, specialized case management, and facilitation of temporary detention orders for forensic hospitalization of inmates as needed. Possesses excellent knowledge of diagnostic assessment and treatment of incarcerated individuals with mental illness/substance use disorders. Develops and maintains excellent rapport with other professional staff of the Detention Center and related community agencies. Ensures continuity of information flow and consumer care from shift to shift. Communicates thoroughly, relevantly, and in an organized fashion both orally and in writing. The expectation if hired at the Senior Therapist level is to conduct the duties of the position independently, requiring minimal supervision.
Minimum & Additional Requirements
Senior Therapists (Licensed) - To qualify for a Licensed Senior therapist position, all candidates must have possession of Master's 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.
Therapist Trainees (Non-Licensed) - To qualify for a Non-Licensed Therapist Trainee position, you must have possession of Master's degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field;
working toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be completed
within three years of hire. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
We are seeking licensed Senior Therapists and non-licensed Therapist Trainees for various divisions within DCHS. For positions filled at the non-licensed Therapist Trainee level, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Community & Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure. The applicable salary range for each designation is as follows:
- Senior Therapist (Licensed): $34.72 - $61.11 Hourly
- Therapist Trainee (Non-Licensed): $33.07 - $58.20 Hourly
Preferred Qualifications
At least one (1) year of experience working with jail/forensic population. Currently licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Clinical Psychologist in the state of Virginia. Bilingual (English-Spanish) skills. At least one (1) year of experience conducting group and individual interventions for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Certification or training in Motivational Interviewing.
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.
This position is located within the Alexandria Detention Center and must pass additional background investigation from the Alexandria Sheriff's Office (ASO), to include a polygraph conducted by the ASO.
Schedule (On-Site): The team is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00AM- 4:30PM, and for Senior Therapists (Licensed) there is a rotating Saturday shift.
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 Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!
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
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.
03
Please answer "Yes" if you meet the requirements for one of the following, if you answer no to any part of this question you must answer no.Senior Therapist• Possess a Master's degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education, or a related field• Have at least two (2) years of post-graduate work experience providing direct clinical services to individuals with substance abuse, psychiatric, or emotional disorders• Licensed 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?• Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities. Therapist Trainee• Possess a
