Primary Therapist - Detox & Residential Treatment Desert Willow Wellness is a small, collaborative detox and residential treatment program in Palm Springs, and we are looking for an Associate Therapist who wants to do meaningful clinical work and have a meaningful role in the continued development of a growing treatment program. This is not a position where we are simply looking for someone to fill therapy hours. We are looking for the right clinician to become an important part of our treatment team. Our size allows therapists to truly know their clients, work closely with the people involved in their care, collaborate directly with program leadership, and have a genuine voice in how we continue to strengthen our clinical program. Therapists work alongside case management, nursing, BHTs, medical and psychiatric providers, clinical supervision, and leadership to understand the whole picture and provide thoughtful, individualized care. We value people who bring something to the table. That may be strong substance use experience, exceptional individual or group work, family therapy, trauma work, program development, a particular clinical specialty, leadership, or simply the ability to connect deeply with clients and work exceptionally well as part of a team. We want to understand what you do well and create an opportunity where those strengths can be put to use. Our Approach to Treatment Our approach emphasizes stabilization, individualized assessment, meaningful treatment engagement, and preparation for what comes next. Clients come to us at different stages of readiness and often with complex substance use, emotional, psychiatric, family, and practical challenges. Our role is to meet them where they are while providing the structure, clinical support, boundaries, and opportunity needed to stabilize and begin meaningful work. Therapy plays an important role in helping clients understand what is getting in the way, develop insight and accountability, strengthen coping skills, address underlying concerns, engage family and other supports when appropriate, and identify what they will need to continue moving forward after residential treatment. We are looking for a therapist who understands that good treatment is not isolated to the therapy office. What happens in groups, in the milieu, with nursing, with case management, and throughout a client's day can all provide important information about how that client is doing and what they may need. Compensation & Growth We recognize that the right clinician may bring more to this role than a specific number of years of experience.

•Compensation is flexible and will be discussed collaboratively based on experience, qualifications, clinical strengths, availability, and what you can bring to the role and our growing program.

•We are open to candidates at different stages of their clinical careers and recognize that experience and strengths do not always fit neatly into a predetermined box. For the right clinician, we are willing to have a thoughtful conversation about compensation, responsibilities, schedule, and opportunities to grow with the program. What You'll Do Provide individual, group, and family therapy based on client needs, treatment goals, and clinical appropriateness. Complete clinical assessments, evaluations, treatment plans, progress reviews, safety plans, and required clinical documentation. Develop individualized treatment goals and continually evaluate client progress, barriers, strengths, risks, and ongoing needs. Use trauma-informed, client-centered, and recovery-oriented approaches with clients experiencing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health concerns. Provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, safety planning, and appropriate clinical escalation when needed. Participate in family consultation, education, and family therapy when clinically appropriate and authorized. Collaborate closely with fellow therapists, case managers, nursing, BHTs, medical and psychiatric providers, clinical supervision, and program leadership. Contribute clinical perspective to treatment planning, case discussions, discharge recommendations, and continuation-of-care planning. Maintain accurate, clinically meaningful, and timely documentation. Participate in clinical meetings, case conferences, supervision, staff meetings, trainings, and interdisciplinary discussions. Maintain an engaged presence in the treatment environment and remain aware of how clients are functioning beyond scheduled therapy sessions. Help the treatment team understand clinically relevant client needs, behaviors, barriers, progress, and appropriate approaches. Contribute ideas and clinical perspective as we continue developing our groups, programming, resources, and treatment practices. Collaboration & Continuity of Care Our therapists work collaboratively rather than functioning as separate individual practices within the same facility. We provide treatment seven days a week, and continuity of clinical care matters. We are looking for someone who communicates proactively, works closely with fellow therapists, and helps the clinical team maintain consistent services across the treatment week. When schedules change or planned time off occurs, therapists are expected to communicate early and work collaboratively with one another and leadership to help coordinate appropriate clinical coverage whenever reasonably possible. This does not mean being available seven days a week. It means approaching the role with shared ownership of the clinical program and recognizing that communication, continuity, and teamwork are important parts of providing good care. What We're Looking For We are looking for someone who is clinically thoughtful, compassionate, reliable, collaborative, and comfortable being an active member of a multidisciplinary treatment environment. The right person should be able to build strong therapeutic relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries, communicate clearly with both clients and colleagues, use sound clinical judgment, and follow through on responsibilities without needing constant direction.

Qualifications include:

Master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a related behavioral health field from an accredited program. Current California registration or licensure in good standing as an AMFT, ACSW, APCC, LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC. Experience with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, residential treatment, or similar behavioral health populations strongly preferred. Familiarity with ASAM criteria and substance use treatment preferred. Strong individual and group therapy, assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and documentation skills. Ability to develop strong therapeutic rapport while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Strong clinical judgment and willingness to seek supervision or consultation when appropriate. Strong communication, organization, time management, and follow-through. Ability to work independently while also functioning as part of a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team. Ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse populations, including LGBTQIA+ clients. Current CPR/First Aid certification and TB clearance, or ability to obtain prior to employment. Associate-level clinicians must maintain active California registration and participate in required clinical supervision. Why Desert Willow Wellness? Because we are intentionally small, therapists at Desert Willow have an opportunity to be genuinely involved in the treatment process. You won't be one clinician buried inside a large clinical department or disconnected from the rest of a client's treatment. Our therapists have direct access to the other disciplines involved in care, clinical supervision, and program leadership. That creates opportunities for better communication, thoughtful treatment decisions, and a more complete understanding of the people we serve. We also believe good programs should continue to evolve. We welcome clinicians who bring ideas, ask thoughtful questions, identify opportunities to improve care, and want to contribute to building a strong clinical program rather than simply inheriting a fixed way of doing things. This is an opportunity for a clinician who wants more than hours toward licensure. We are looking for someone who wants to become an important part of a clinical team, deepen their experience in substance use and co-occurring treatment, contribute their strengths and ideas, and have a meaningful role in the continued development of the program. Schedule This is an

•in-person, hourly position

•at our Palm Springs facility. Specific days and hours will be discussed during the interview process. Because we provide care seven days a week, some schedule flexibility and collaboration with the clinical team are important to maintaining continuity of services. About Desert Willow Wellness Desert Willow Wellness provides detoxification and residential treatment for adults with substance use disorders in Palm Springs, California. We support clients with co-occurring mental health needs within our substance use treatment program and focus on stabilization, individualized assessment and treatment, meaningful engagement, and preparing each client for the appropriate next stage of recovery. Desert Willow Wellness is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to maintaining a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace and treatment environment.