Behavioral Health Clinician Jobs in California
Behavioral Health Clinician jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with demand concentrated in community mental health centers, county behavioral health departments, managed care organizations, and integrated health systems at every level from entry-level associate clinician through senior clinical supervisor. Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area lead hiring volume, with large employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and Anthem Blue Cross maintaining consistent openings. The most in-demand specialties are substance use disorder treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and crisis intervention. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Who we are: La Clínica de La Raza is a community-based health center committed to providing culturally appropriate, high-quality, and accessible health care to the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. We have spent over 40 years advocating for and creating a health home for the many that have been denied access to care. As health care activists, we are dedicated to ensuring all individuals have access to quality healthcare regardless of coverage. From our genesis as a community health center in 1971, we understood that we cannot heal our communities without also addressing the economic and social factors that affect health. Many times, this requires that we go outside and provide services in other settings to build the bridge that links individuals to our health center for preventive and primary care. Over 90,000 individuals come to La Clínica because it is a welcoming place that addresses the whole person, coordinating and connecting them to a broad network of services to improve and maintain their health and well-being. While we are still known for our activism and spirit of social justice, we are also proud to have grown into a sophisticated provider of primary health care services with 35 sites across Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties. We are also a National Health Service Corps approved site. As such, our therapists and providers are eligible for federal and state loan repayment!
About the position: Under the supervision of the Site Manager and Clinical Supervisor, the individual in this position is responsible for providing a full range of culturally sensitive social work, behavioral health treatment and case management services to youth and families served by La Clínica’s School-based Health Centers and will be part of a multi-disciplinary medical team. Services provided include screening, psychosocial/ psychiatric assessments, crisis intervention, BH panel management, short-term counseling/therapy/psycho-education for youth, families, and groups, individualized service planning, goal setting, progress monitoring, and care coordination. The Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician I/II - School Based Health Center is an integrated member of the school community and is also responsible for collaborating with school personnel to increase access to social emotional health services.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician I: Requires Masters in Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy from an accredited program, including two years' experience preferably in a medical/social services setting providing counseling and crisis intervention services. Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology.
- Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician II: Requires Masters in Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy from an accredited program, including two years' experience preferably in a medical/social services setting providing counseling and crisis intervention services. Licensed with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology.
- Knowledge of the principles and techniques of social work, psychology and human behavior, including the impact of physical health, mental health and substance use conditions.
- Experience providing short-term individual and family counseling/therapy and case management to clients with behavioral health, psychosocial, and medical conditions including issues of domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, trauma as well as medical conditions requiring special care.
- Clinical and/or internship experience working with children, youth, and/or transitional-aged youth.
- Knowledge of mandated reporting laws, child development, family systems, stages of change, and co-occurring mental health and substance use/abuse conditions.
- Ability to apply case management skills effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others (schools, social services, medical, housing, legal, etc.); record & secure accurate and clinically pertinent bio-psycho-social data.
- Working knowledge of DSM-5 required.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a multicultural client population with experience providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services.
- Ability to work across cultures and demonstrate support of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Demonstrated cultural competence and proactive self-reflection on positionality and incorporation of antiracism approaches to clinical care.
- Ability and willingness to work under pressure and as part of an interdisciplinary team and establish positive working relations with staff and patients. Flexible, willing to take on new tasks as needed.
- Experience with modalities of brief counseling, including CBT, solution-focused counseling and motivational interviewing strongly preferred.
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred but not required
Experience and Other Certifications
- Two+ years of experience in a mental health/medical/social service setting providing assessment counseling/therapy and crisis intervention services; new graduates from a mental health training program may substitute two years of field internship experience.
- Must hold a current BLS (Basic Life Support) Certificate. You will have 30-day grace period to obtain your certificate from the date of hire.
- Experience working in diverse/low income and immigrant communities
- Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician I must have Master’s in Social Work (MSW), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Psychology, Counseling, or other counseling degree, or Doctorate degree in psychology from an accredited program or university and be registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an ASW, AMFT, or APCC
- Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician II must have an LCSW, MFT, LPCC or PsyD/PhD, California license
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
In the School-Based Health Center setting, the Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician I/II will:
- Perform psycho-social/behavioral health assessment, intervention and treatment services for children, adolescents, adults and their families under the supervision and license of his/her clinical supervisor.
- Co-manage client care under the direction of a licensed Clinical Supervisor, and provide a range of clinical services including: screening, bio-psycho-social/psychiatric assessments, mental status examinations, crisis intervention, BH panel management, short term counseling/therapy/psycho-education for individuals/families/groups, collateral services, individualized service planning, goal setting and monitoring.
- Conduct routine assessments of pregnant patients, identify strengths and risks, and develop a service plan in accordance with CPSP protocols and procedures.
- Provide behavioral health panel management interventions.
- Provide outreach, education, advocacy, information, linkage and follow-up as needed to coordinate care.
- Formulate a provisional ICD-10 and DSM-5 diagnosis which is reviewed and established under the license of the Clinical Supervisor.
- Coordinate services with other community agencies, providing collateral services; establish good working relationships with staff members and outside professionals in order to maintain continuity of care.
- Provide crisis intervention for La Clínica patients and crisis support to coworkers in the medical department.
- Participate as an active member of the primary care treatment team. Provide support to colleagues and contribute to the creation of a positive and supportive work environment. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with staff, medical providers, and community partners. Is a positive reflection La Clinica.
- Recommend to the Integrated Behavioral Health Manager changes that would improve service delivery. Aid in the development and implementation of new treatment programs under the supervision of the Manager, and as assigned.
- Meet required encounter productivity goals on a monthly basis.
- Review clinical interventions and case documentation with supervisor regularly.
- Participate in staff meetings, trainings, case conferences, and peer review process.
- Perform other clinical, administrative, and operational duties as assigned.
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Find JobsBehavioral Health Clinician Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Behavioral Health Clinician Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health clinician jobs across California.
- Active California licensure such as LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or registered associate status with the BBS
- Master's degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related clinical field
- Experience delivering individual and group therapy using evidence-based modalities such as CBT or DBT
- Familiarity with California Medi-Cal documentation standards and electronic health record systems
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments and develop individualized treatment plans
- Experience serving diverse populations including justice-involved, unhoused, or dual-diagnosis clients
Behavioral Health Clinician Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a behavioral health clinician in California?
Becoming a behavioral health clinician in California requires a master's degree in social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy, followed by registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an associate. Associates must complete supervised clinical hours and then pass the licensure exam for their credential, earning the LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC designation. County behavioral health departments and large health systems regularly hire registered associates while they complete their supervised hours.
Which companies hire behavioral health clinicians in California?
Employers hiring behavioral health clinicians in California right now include La Clínica, One Community Health, and Salud Para La Gente, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large county behavioral health systems, federally qualified health centers, and integrated managed care plans also represent a significant and consistent share of openings throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most behavioral health clinician jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento have the most behavioral health clinician openings in California. Los Angeles and San Diego generate the highest volume because of their large county behavioral health departments, dense federally qualified health center networks, and major health system campuses, while the Bay Area's concentration of managed care organizations and academic medical centers drives strong demand in that region as well.
Are there remote behavioral health clinician jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most clinical fields, since telehealth delivery is now a standard modality for outpatient therapy in California. About 33% of behavioral health clinician openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting ongoing telehealth adoption by managed care plans and group practices. Outpatient individual therapy and care coordination roles are the positions most likely to offer fully remote or hybrid schedules, while crisis, residential, and intensive outpatient roles remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a behavioral health clinician in California with little or no experience?
Registering as a Board of Behavioral Sciences associate immediately after graduation is the most direct entry path, because it allows you to apply for positions where the employer provides required supervision. California county departments, federally qualified health centers, and large systems like Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health regularly hire registered associates for staff clinician roles. Case manager and mental health rehabilitation specialist positions are common lateral entry points that build clinical experience, and bilingual Spanish fluency is a meaningful credential advantage throughout the state.
Where can I find and apply to behavioral health clinician jobs in California?
You can find and apply to behavioral health clinician jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers across the state. Find roles that fit your license status, specialty, and preferred region and apply directly to the listings that match.
See All 44 Behavioral Health Clinician Jobs in California
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