Term Therapist I/II (Behavioral Health and Crisis Services)

Posting number: 2026-00505

Department: Department of Health and Human Services

Division: HHS 60 Behavioral Health and Crisis Services Division

Job classification: Therapist II

Posting type: Internal/External Applicants

Categories: Mental Health

Summary

Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position is as follows, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience:

Therapist I, Grade23 $78,929 – 104,800

Therapist II, Grade 24: $82,352 - $121,868

These positions are term positions budgeted through July 1, 2027. Continued employment beyond this date is subject to continuation of funding and is not guaranteed.

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County’s public health and human services that meets the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a department, we believe the health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a compassionate and enthusiastic Therapist II to join the 24-Hour Crisis Center within Behavioral Health and Crisis Services.

This position offers the opportunity to support a diverse population of all ages experiencing a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses, behavioral health crises, and co-occurring disorders. Relevant experience may include working in inpatient psychiatric settings, emergency departments, residential programs, group homes, or mobile crisis teams.

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, flexible, passionate about crisis intervention, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment to support individuals and families during critical moments.

Examples of duties

The Therapists are a full performance-level, clinical counseling position. Primary responsibilities include the application of crisis intervention principles and methods in the assessment, diagnosis, prevention, psychotherapeutic treatment, and case management of individuals and/or families involved in one or more of the four therapeutic components at the 24-hour Crisis Center.

This TI/TII position is considered essential and works as a multidisciplinary team member sharing direct service responsibilities with other Crisis Center staff.

Duties include serving in each of the four therapeutic components of the Crisis Center consisting of Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOT), Residential Crisis Services (RCS), walk-in clinical assessments and telephone crisis work.

• MCOT duties include some community outreach, working at any of the satellite locations and conducting clinical assessments outside and/or inside client's homes, on the street, often going up and down multiple steps or uneven terrain in inclement weather or poor conditions. MCOT presence is required to provide on-scene support at critical incidents and county wide emergencies or disasters.
• RCS duty includes individual, family, group therapy and oversight/monitoring of a therapeutic milieu for voluntary adult clients.
• Walk-in clinical assessments are conducted with a wide variety of clients of all ages with co-occurring disorders, all psychiatric diagnoses and multi-layered problems or situations.
• Telephone crisis work includes assessment of risk, a variety of referrals, information and collaboration/coordination with agency partners and after-hours backup for other county programs.

These positions are not remote and require the ability to work evenings and weekends. The individual selected for this position will be considered an Essential Employee. Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave. This position requires a driver’s license as the selected candidate will travel throughout the County to perform job duties.

The selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-placement medical exam, drug screening and a background check.

Qualifications

Therapist I Level:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in clinical or counselling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, nursing, or a related Behavioral science field.

Experience: None

Equivalency: None

License Requirement:

One of the following licenses, issued by the State of Maryland, must be held prior to appointment, and maintained by, the employee:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).

Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC); or

Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT).

Driver’s License Required: Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license issued by the candidate’s state of residence.

Therapist II Level:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree in clinical or counseling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, nursing, or a related behavioral science field.

Experience: Two (2) years of professional experience rendering therapeutic counseling, social work, nursing or psychology services, as pertinent to one’s professional licensing.

Equivalency: None.

LICENSE REQUIREMENT:

One of the following licenses, issued by the State of Maryland, must be held prior to appointment of, and maintained by, the employee:

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC);

Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (LCMFT);

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC);

Licensed Certified Social Worker/Clinical (LCSW-C);

Licensed Registered Nurse in the United States, certified as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the State of Maryland; or

Licensed Psychologist

Driver’s License Required: Possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license issued by the candidate’s state of residence.

Supplemental information

Preference for interview will be given to qualified candidates with experience in the following areas:

• Clinical experience as a mental health practitioner treating individuals with co-occurring disorders,

persistent mental illnesses and/or victimization and trauma.

• Professional experience in a crisis center, emergency room and/or other 24/7 setting providing urgent

• behavioral health services.

• Experience working in a residential treatment setting or on an inpatient hospital psychiatric setting.

• Experience providing crisis intervention services during community-wide emergencies such as natural

• disasters, serious accidents, and/or other emergency situations that might include fatalities.

• Experience providing mobile outreach response to psychiatric emergencies and/or on-scene support involving unexpected deaths.