OPT Mental Health Therapist Jobs
Mental Health Therapist roles on OPT typically require licensure or supervised hours toward licensure, which adds complexity to your job search. Most employers need you to hold or be actively pursuing a state clinical license. STEM OPT extension is not available for this field, so your 12-month window is the key timeline to plan around.
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Get Access To All JobsJoin a team that shares your calling
At MultiCare, you’re more than just a job title — you’re part of a team built on trust that cares for each other, our patients and our communities. Belonging here means living our mission and values every day. If your purpose and passions align with ours, you’ll find a place to grow, do meaningful work and build a career you love in a community that feels like home.
FTE: 1.0
Shift: Day
Schedule: Day
Position Summary
The Mental Health Therapist is a vital role at MultiCare, responsible for the delivery of clinical counseling and case management services. From patient advocacy to therapeutic interventions, this position will offer you dynamic engagements in your daily work functions.
Responsibilities
- You will provide person-centered counseling, advocacy and case management for patients
- You will develop treatment plans which clearly identify the patient’s voice, treatment strategies, and specific outcome measures
- You will meet agency documentation standards
- You will meet authorization requirements of contracts
- You will strategically tailor effective clinical/case management services to meet diverse patient needs
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health related field required; Master's degree preferred
- Washington State Counselor Agency Affiliated Registered or within 30 days and obtain within 90 days of hire unless a higher credential is held: Counselor Agency Affiliated Certified, Counselor Agency Affiliated Licensed, Mental Health Counselor Assoc (LMHCA), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Marriage & Family Therap Assoc (LMFTA), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), SW Associate Advanced License (LSWAA), SW Advanced Lic (LASW), SW Assoc Independent Clinical Lic (LSWAIC), SW Independent Clinical Lic (LICSW)
- Drivers License/Abstract
- Previous experience providing mental health counseling services preferred
About Greater Lakes Mental Health
Greater Lakes Mental Health is part of MultiCare’s Behavioral Health Network, serving more than 10,000 individuals across Pierce County each year. Providing mental health and substance use disorder treatment for adults, children and families with Medicaid coverage, Greater Lakes operates six convenient locations, including a 16-bed inpatient facility for voluntary and involuntary care. With experienced teams and robust training, caregivers help deliver recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care.
Why MultiCare?
Rooted in the local community
Partnering with patients, families and neighbors across the Pacific Northwest for more than 140 years.
Growth and education
Competitive tuition assistance, award-winning residencies, fellowships and career development to invest in you.
Well-being and support
Generous PTO, Code Lavender and Employee Assistance Programs to help you maintain balance and feel cared in your work and life.
Living our values
Respect, integrity, kindness and collaboration guide how we care for patients, communities and each other.
Belonging for all
Resource Groups and outreach programs help ensure every team member feels safe, seen, heard and valued.
Pacific Northwest lifestyle
Work and live where natural beauty, adventure and strong community connections are part of everyday life.
Pay and Benefit Expectations
We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive salary, medical, dental and retirement benefits and paid time off. As required by various pay transparency laws, we share a competitive range of compensation for candidates hired into each position. The pay scale is $30.40 - $43.75 USD. However, pay is influenced by factors specific to applicants, including but not limited to: skill set, level of experience, and certification(s) and/or education. If this position is associated with a union contract, pay will be reflective of the appropriate step on the pay scale to which the applicant’s years of experience align.
Associated benefit information can be viewed here.
Join a team that shares your calling
At MultiCare, you’re more than just a job title — you’re part of a team built on trust that cares for each other, our patients and our communities. Belonging here means living our mission and values every day. If your purpose and passions align with ours, you’ll find a place to grow, do meaningful work and build a career you love in a community that feels like home.
FTE: 1.0
Shift: Day
Schedule: Day
Position Summary
The Mental Health Therapist is a vital role at MultiCare, responsible for the delivery of clinical counseling and case management services. From patient advocacy to therapeutic interventions, this position will offer you dynamic engagements in your daily work functions.
Responsibilities
- You will provide person-centered counseling, advocacy and case management for patients
- You will develop treatment plans which clearly identify the patient’s voice, treatment strategies, and specific outcome measures
- You will meet agency documentation standards
- You will meet authorization requirements of contracts
- You will strategically tailor effective clinical/case management services to meet diverse patient needs
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health related field required; Master's degree preferred
- Washington State Counselor Agency Affiliated Registered or within 30 days and obtain within 90 days of hire unless a higher credential is held: Counselor Agency Affiliated Certified, Counselor Agency Affiliated Licensed, Mental Health Counselor Assoc (LMHCA), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Marriage & Family Therap Assoc (LMFTA), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), SW Associate Advanced License (LSWAA), SW Advanced Lic (LASW), SW Assoc Independent Clinical Lic (LSWAIC), SW Independent Clinical Lic (LICSW)
- Drivers License/Abstract
- Previous experience providing mental health counseling services preferred
About Greater Lakes Mental Health
Greater Lakes Mental Health is part of MultiCare’s Behavioral Health Network, serving more than 10,000 individuals across Pierce County each year. Providing mental health and substance use disorder treatment for adults, children and families with Medicaid coverage, Greater Lakes operates six convenient locations, including a 16-bed inpatient facility for voluntary and involuntary care. With experienced teams and robust training, caregivers help deliver recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care.
Why MultiCare?
Rooted in the local community
Partnering with patients, families and neighbors across the Pacific Northwest for more than 140 years.
Growth and education
Competitive tuition assistance, award-winning residencies, fellowships and career development to invest in you.
Well-being and support
Generous PTO, Code Lavender and Employee Assistance Programs to help you maintain balance and feel cared in your work and life.
Living our values
Respect, integrity, kindness and collaboration guide how we care for patients, communities and each other.
Belonging for all
Resource Groups and outreach programs help ensure every team member feels safe, seen, heard and valued.
Pacific Northwest lifestyle
Work and live where natural beauty, adventure and strong community connections are part of everyday life.
Pay and Benefit Expectations
We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive salary, medical, dental and retirement benefits and paid time off. As required by various pay transparency laws, we share a competitive range of compensation for candidates hired into each position. The pay scale is $30.40 - $43.75 USD. However, pay is influenced by factors specific to applicants, including but not limited to: skill set, level of experience, and certification(s) and/or education. If this position is associated with a union contract, pay will be reflective of the appropriate step on the pay scale to which the applicant’s years of experience align.
Associated benefit information can be viewed here.
See all 846+ OPT Mental Health Therapist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Mental Health Therapist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Mental Health Therapist
Clarify your licensure status upfront
Mental health employers prioritize licensure over immigration status in screening. Lead with your degree, supervised hours completed, and which license you're pursuing. Employers who understand clinical pipelines are far more likely to engage once they see your professional standing.
Target employers who have sponsored before
Community mental health centers, hospital systems, and large behavioral health networks have existing HR processes for work authorization. Smaller private practices often lack this infrastructure. Focusing on organizations with 50-plus clinical staff significantly improves your sponsorship odds.
Understand your OPT authorization timeline
Your OPT period begins on your EAD start date, not your graduation date. Mental health roles often involve multi-month hiring processes. Apply early, and factor in that H-1B visa sponsorship would need to be filed before your OPT expires to maintain status.
Use your supervised hours as a negotiating asset
If you need additional supervised clinical hours for licensure, frame this as a shared investment. Employers gain a committed clinician who needs continuity of employment. That mutual dependency makes sponsorship conversations more natural and gives employers a concrete reason to commit.
Address OPT directly in your cover letter
Behavioral health hiring managers are not always familiar with OPT. One clear sentence explaining your authorization, your EAD validity period, and your H-1B eligibility removes ambiguity. Candidates who proactively address status concerns convert at higher rates than those who wait to be asked.
Prioritize NASW-affiliated and nonprofit mental health employers
Nonprofit community health organizations and federally qualified health centers frequently hire international clinicians and are experienced with sponsorship. These employers often value mission fit and clinical competence over citizenship status, making them a stronger starting point than private for-profit practices.
Mental Health Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Mental Health Therapist on OPT without a clinical license?
It depends on the state and role. Many states allow unlicensed graduates to provide therapy under supervision while accumulating hours toward licensure. You can work in these supervised associate or intern-level positions on OPT. However, roles requiring an independent license, such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Professional Counselor, require active licensure before you can practice autonomously.
Is STEM OPT extension available for Mental Health Therapist jobs?
No. Mental health therapy degrees, including Master of Social Work, Master of Counseling, and related clinical degrees, are not classified under STEM-designated CIP codes. This means you are limited to the standard 12-month OPT period. Planning your job search and any visa sponsorship transition within that window is critical.
What visa typically sponsors Mental Health Therapists after OPT?
The H-1B is the most common pathway. Mental health therapy qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires a specific graduate-level degree. Some employers in nonprofit or government settings may also be eligible to sponsor O-1 visa or pursue green card sponsorship directly. The H-1B lottery, filed in April for October start dates, is the primary transition route most OPT students pursue.
How do I find Mental Health Therapist employers who sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find mental health roles at employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship. Broader searches often surface roles where sponsorship willingness is unclear. On Migrate Mate, you can filter specifically for positions where employers have a track record of sponsoring international candidates, saving significant time in your search.
Does my clinical practicum or internship count as OPT-authorized work?
Pre-completion OPT can cover paid clinical practicums while you are still enrolled. Post-completion OPT covers employment after graduation. Your supervised clinical hours completed during OPT employment do count toward licensure in most states. Confirm with your DSO that your practicum site and supervisor arrangement are properly authorized under your specific OPT terms before starting.