Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California
Mental Health Specialist jobs in California are concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where high demand for behavioral health services across community health centers, hospital systems, and integrated care settings drives consistent hiring at every experience level. Major employers with a long-standing presence in California include Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. The most in-demand specialties are crisis intervention, substance use disorder counseling, and trauma-informed care. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 87+ Mental Health Specialist jobs
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) – Day Treatment Intensive Program (DTI)
Vista, CA | Full-Time | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Pay: $27.00–$30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience
Help People Build Stability, Independence, and Recovery
Exodus Recovery is seeking a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) to join our Day Treatment Intensive (DTI) Program in Vista, serving adults experiencing serious mental illness and co-occurring behavioral health needs.
As part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the MHRS provides rehabilitation and recovery-oriented services that help participants strengthen coping and independent living skills, increase community functioning, and work toward greater stability.
Why Join Exodus?
- Monday–Friday schedule, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- No routine evening or weekend shifts
- Adults-only program
- Facilitate therapeutic rehabilitation and recovery-oriented groups
- Work as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team
- Help shape and grow a developing behavioral health program
- Make a meaningful impact in participants’ recovery and community independence
What You’ll Do
- Facilitate rehabilitation, recovery, wellness, coping-skills, and independent living groups
- Provide individual support, coaching, and skills development consistent with participant treatment goals
- Assist participants with community integration, wellness, and recovery planning
- Promote engagement, attendance, and active participation in treatment
- Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and care coordination
- Document services and participant progress in accordance with program and regulatory requirements
- Help maintain a welcoming, respectful, and recovery-oriented therapeutic environment
Required MHRS Qualifications
Applicants must meet the qualifications for a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) in accordance with California Title 9 requirements through an applicable education and experience pathway:
- Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of qualifying experience in a mental health setting; or
- Graduate professional education plus qualifying mental health experience, with graduate professional education substituting for up to two (2) years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis; or
- Associate Arts (AA) degree plus qualifying experience, including four (4) years of experience in a mental health setting and up to two (2) years of post-AA clinical experience used to substitute for the bachelor’s-level educational requirement.
A bachelor’s degree alone does not meet MHRS qualification requirements.
Education and qualifying experience used to establish MHRS eligibility must be verifiable as part of the hiring process.
Additional Qualifications
- Experience working with adults experiencing serious mental illness preferred
- Experience facilitating groups, teaching life skills, or providing recovery-oriented rehabilitation services strongly preferred
- Strong communication, engagement, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and work effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team
- Ability to receive supervision, collaborate with team members, and incorporate feedback into practice
- Valid California driver’s license and good driving record
About the Program
The Day Treatment Intensive (DTI) Program provides structured behavioral health treatment for adults experiencing serious mental illness and co-occurring behavioral health needs who benefit from a higher level of support than traditional outpatient services.
Participants may be transitioning from hospitalization, crisis services, or other higher levels of care. Through structured therapeutic and rehabilitation groups, individualized support, medication services, and multidisciplinary treatment, the program helps participants work toward symptom stabilization, improved daily functioning, greater independence, and successful community integration.
Work Location: In person – Vista, CA
Pay: $27.00–$30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience
Pay: $27.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) – Day Treatment Intensive Program (DTI)
Vista, CA | Full-Time | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Pay: $27.00–$30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience
Help People Build Stability, Independence, and Recovery
Exodus Recovery is seeking a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) to join our Day Treatment Intensive (DTI) Program in Vista, serving adults experiencing serious mental illness and co-occurring behavioral health needs.
As part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the MHRS provides rehabilitation and recovery-oriented services that help participants strengthen coping and independent living skills, increase community functioning, and work toward greater stability.
Why Join Exodus?
- Monday–Friday schedule, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
- No routine evening or weekend shifts
- Adults-only program
- Facilitate therapeutic rehabilitation and recovery-oriented groups
- Work as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team
- Help shape and grow a developing behavioral health program
- Make a meaningful impact in participants’ recovery and community independence
What You’ll Do
- Facilitate rehabilitation, recovery, wellness, coping-skills, and independent living groups
- Provide individual support, coaching, and skills development consistent with participant treatment goals
- Assist participants with community integration, wellness, and recovery planning
- Promote engagement, attendance, and active participation in treatment
- Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and care coordination
- Document services and participant progress in accordance with program and regulatory requirements
- Help maintain a welcoming, respectful, and recovery-oriented therapeutic environment
Required MHRS Qualifications
Applicants must meet the qualifications for a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) in accordance with California Title 9 requirements through an applicable education and experience pathway:
- Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of qualifying experience in a mental health setting; or
- Graduate professional education plus qualifying mental health experience, with graduate professional education substituting for up to two (2) years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis; or
- Associate Arts (AA) degree plus qualifying experience, including four (4) years of experience in a mental health setting and up to two (2) years of post-AA clinical experience used to substitute for the bachelor’s-level educational requirement.
A bachelor’s degree alone does not meet MHRS qualification requirements.
Education and qualifying experience used to establish MHRS eligibility must be verifiable as part of the hiring process.
Additional Qualifications
- Experience working with adults experiencing serious mental illness preferred
- Experience facilitating groups, teaching life skills, or providing recovery-oriented rehabilitation services strongly preferred
- Strong communication, engagement, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and work effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team
- Ability to receive supervision, collaborate with team members, and incorporate feedback into practice
- Valid California driver’s license and good driving record
About the Program
The Day Treatment Intensive (DTI) Program provides structured behavioral health treatment for adults experiencing serious mental illness and co-occurring behavioral health needs who benefit from a higher level of support than traditional outpatient services.
Participants may be transitioning from hospitalization, crisis services, or other higher levels of care. Through structured therapeutic and rehabilitation groups, individualized support, medication services, and multidisciplinary treatment, the program helps participants work toward symptom stabilization, improved daily functioning, greater independence, and successful community integration.
Work Location: In person – Vista, CA
Pay: $27.00–$30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience
Pay: $27.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 87 Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mental Health Specialist JobsMental Health Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mental Health Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Telecare Corporation24
- Kaiser Permanente4
- Remi Vista3
- Wellness Together3
- County of Santa Cruz3
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mental health specialist jobs across California.
- Active California licensure such as LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or registered associate status
- Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related clinical field
- Experience providing direct mental health services in a community or clinical setting
- Proficiency in evidence-based practices such as CBT, DBT, or motivational interviewing
- Ability to conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and maintain clinical documentation
- Bilingual fluency in Spanish or another language spoken widely in the service population
Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mental health specialist in California?
Most mental health specialist roles in California require at minimum a master's degree in social work, counseling, or psychology, followed by supervised hours and licensure through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The BBS issues licenses including the LCSW, LMFT, and LPCC, each requiring completion of supervised experience hours and a written exam. Entry-level candidates can work as registered associates under a licensed supervisor while accumulating the hours needed for full licensure.
Which companies hire mental health specialists in California?
California mental health specialist roles are posted by Telecare Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, and Remi Vista and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's large integrated health systems, county behavioral health departments, and nonprofit community mental health centers represent the broadest and most consistent source of openings across the state.
Which California cities have the most mental health specialist jobs?
San Diego, San Leandro, and San Jose have the most mental health specialist openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its scale and the reach of county-funded behavioral health programs, while San Francisco and San Diego draw demand from large integrated health systems, Veterans Affairs facilities, and a high concentration of community mental health organizations serving diverse urban populations.
Are there remote mental health specialist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most clinical fields, since telehealth expanded access to mental health services significantly. About 38% of mental health specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting ongoing demand for virtual counseling and care coordination. Fully remote roles tend to cluster in outpatient therapy, care management, and utilization review, while crisis response and in-person assessment positions remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a mental health specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most direct entry path is registering as an associate with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, which allows you to work under licensed supervision and accumulate hours toward full licensure. County departments such as the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health and San Diego County Behavioral Health Services regularly hire mental health workers and case aides for entry-level roles. Candidates with a completed master's degree, a BBS-issued associate registration, and experience in adjacent roles such as crisis hotline counseling, psychiatric technician work, or case management have the strongest chance of landing a first clinical position.
Where can I find and apply to mental health specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to mental health specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 87 Mental Health Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mental Health Specialist Jobs