Mental Health Therapist Jobs in California

Mental Health Therapist jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with demand concentrated in community mental health centers, Kaiser Permanente and other large integrated health systems, school-based programs, and private group practices, at every level from associate-licensed clinicians to licensed clinical supervisors. The heaviest hiring is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where anchors like Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Telecare Corporation maintain large behavioral health workforces. The most sought-after specialties are trauma-informed care, child and adolescent therapy, and substance use disorder treatment. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles98+
Top employerLifeStance Health
Top cityRedlands, CA
Cities hiring52
Work type73% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 98+ Mental Health Therapist jobs

LifeStance Health
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
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LifeStance Health
Added 2d ago
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
LifeStance Health
Burlingame, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
$117k - $134k/yr
On-Site
Other
5,001-10,000

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LifeStance Health
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 2d ago
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
LifeStance Health
Claremont, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
$117k - $134k/yr
Hybrid
Other
5,001-10,000

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LifeStance Health
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 5d ago
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
LifeStance Health
Escondido, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$107k - $122k/yr
Hybrid
Other
5,001-10,000

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LifeStance Health
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
We won't show you this job again
LifeStance Health
Added 1w ago
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
LifeStance Health
La Mesa, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
$107k - $122k/yr
Hybrid
Other
5,001-10,000

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Shasta Community Health Center
Mental Health Therapist
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Shasta Community Health Center
Added 1w ago
Mental Health Therapist
Shasta Community Health Center
Redding, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
$70k - $108k/yr
On-Site
Other
501-1,000

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See All 98 Mental Health Therapist Jobs in California

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Mental Health Therapist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Redlands
8 jobs
Bakersfield
6 jobs
Los Angeles
6 jobs
Orange
6 jobs
San Francisco
5 jobs
Modesto
4 jobs
San Diego
4 jobs
Pomona
3 jobs
San Jose
3 jobs

Mental Health Therapist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • LifeStance Health
    LifeStance Health27
  • Maxim Healthcare
    Maxim Healthcare11
  • Loma Linda University Health
    Loma Linda University Health8
  • HealthRIGHT 360
    HealthRIGHT 3607
  • Sutter Health
    Sutter Health7

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services71
  • Education13
  • Insurance12
  • Consulting & Professional Services3
  • Technology & Software2

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in mental health therapist jobs across California.

  • Active California LCSW, MFT, LPCC, or licensed psychologist credential in good standing
  • Master's or doctoral degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or psychology
  • Experience providing individual and group therapy using evidence-based modalities such as CBT or DBT
  • Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical documentation standards
  • Ability to conduct biopsychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans
  • Bilingual Spanish-English skills preferred by many California community health and county programs

Mental Health Therapist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a mental health therapist in California?

Becoming a mental health therapist in California requires completing a qualifying master's or doctoral degree, then registering with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. You accumulate supervised hours under a licensed professional, then pass the California Law and Ethics exam and your discipline's clinical exam to earn your full license as an LCSW, MFT, or LPCC.

Which companies hire mental health therapists in California?

Employers hiring mental health therapists in California right now include LifeStance Health, Maxim Healthcare, and Loma Linda University Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's size and its extensive network of county-funded behavioral health departments, integrated health systems, and nonprofit community clinics means consistent openings at organizations of every scale.

Which California cities have the most mental health therapist jobs?

Redlands, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles have the most mental health therapist openings in California. Los Angeles drives volume through its sheer population and its dense network of county mental health programs and large hospital systems, while San Francisco and San Diego generate demand through major integrated health systems, Veterans Affairs facilities, and university-affiliated outpatient clinics.

Are there remote mental health therapist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most clinical fields, because licensed therapists in California can deliver teletherapy sessions to patients anywhere in the state under existing telehealth regulations. About 27% of mental health therapist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026. Individual outpatient therapy and certain group program facilitation roles are the most consistently offered in fully remote or hybrid formats.

How can I get hired as a mental health therapist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is securing your California Associate registration immediately after graduation and targeting county behavioral health departments and large nonprofit community mental health centers, which routinely hire associate-level clinicians and provide the supervised hours required for licensure. Programs at organizations like Telecare Corporation and county mental health systems across Los Angeles, Alameda, and Sacramento counties run structured associate clinician cohorts. Adjacent roles such as case manager or mental health rehabilitation specialist also serve as common stepping stones into therapy positions.

Where can I find and apply to mental health therapist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to mental health therapist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across health systems, community clinics, school-based programs, and private group practices. Find the roles that fit your license level and specialty and apply directly.

See All 98 Mental Health Therapist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Mental Health Therapist Jobs