What are the responsibilities and job description for the School Based Therapist position at Seneca Family of Agencies?
Hiring for Summer 2026, start date in July 2026.
$2,000 sign-on bonus for new Seneca employees in this position!
Seneca’s School Partnership Programs is hiring a School Based Therapist to guide students to success at East Bay Innovations Academy in Oakland, CA. As a School Based Therapist, you’ll provide therapeutic services, early interventions, and crisis support as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team that truly values your voice. We work closely with students, caregivers, and school staff to help youth navigate emotional and behavioral challenges while building a joyful and supportive school culture. If you’re looking for a place where you’ll feel appreciated, supported in your growth, and able to make a real impact—this is it.
ABOUT LIGHT THE CHANGE
Seneca’s Unconditional Education Light the Change Program partners with eight charter schools in Oakland and one charter school in Hayward; including charter management networks Education for Change, Lighthouse Community Public Schools, and Envision Education. Our goal is to provide essential mental health services to youth in grades TK - 12th in their neighborhood. We provide targeted early interventions to help students overcome behavioral and emotional challenges while minimizing referrals to a more restrictive school environment. We are an inclusive and welcoming program that strives for staff to feel valued, mattered, and supported with professional development while supporting our students and caregivers during some of the toughest times of their lives. Learn more about Seneca’s School Partnership Programs and Unconditional Education model.
ABOUT SENECA
Seneca Family of Agencies has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces for nearly a decade. We’re committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of outstanding mental health, community-based, and educational services. We are committed to building a diverse staff, and our programs actively engage in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to promote equity and justice for the youth and families we serve.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team with teachers, counselors, other specialists/educational staff, and program leadership.
- Provide interventions including therapy (individual, group, family) and case management for identified students based on school-based referrals, individualized clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Engage caregivers in the treatment process, providing frequent opportunities to discuss student growth and needs.
- Provide crisis intervention, including risk screening, assessment, triage, and service linkage.
- Utilize crisis communication and de-escalation techniques as per Seneca's crisis response training. This may include intervening with the clients' behavioral program through physical management of the clients, if applicable. Training in additional crisis intervention modalities may be required.
- Provide consultation to other school staff on safety assessments, mental health crises, accessing social service, and in utilizing healing centered techniques to experience success with all students.
- Contribute to a strong school culture by participating in or leading small group, classroom or school-wide activities for students that celebrate success and promote joy.
- Communicate effectively with families and all others involved in the daily life of the student, including other Seneca programs or outside agencies.
- Complete required data collection and service documentation for plan development and to measure the effectiveness of services, inform team decision making, and/or engage in service billing.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, professional clinical counseling, psychology or related licensure-eligible field
- Registered or eligible to register with the California BBS required
- Bilingual in Spanish /English skill set preferred
- At least 21 years of age
- Reliable transportation to and from the school site and other occasional meeting locations
- TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements
- Experience working with youth in a mental health or educational setting is strongly preferred
SCHEDULE
- Full-time: Hiring for Summer 2026, start date in July 2026
- School based schedule:
- Monday - Friday: 8AM - 4:30PM
- 5 weeks of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and 14 paid school break days
BENEFITS
- Starting at $73,212 - $87,212 per year
- Actual salary dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications
- $2000 sign-on bonus
- Salary increases each year
- $4000 salary increase upon licensure
- Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
- Comprehensive employee benefits package:
- Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and fertility coverage
- Short and long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance
- Partially paid premiums for dependents
- 403b retirement plan
- Employer-Paid Assistance Plan
- 5 weeks of flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and 14 paid school break days
- Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
- Relocation assistance may be available (added for clinicians, teachers, and specialists receive them if they are relocating over 100 miles)
- Abundant promotional opportunities across California and Washington
- Specialized training and development opportunities
- Seneca supports clinicians towards licensure and beyond:
- We provide individual and group supervision, regular clinical case conferences, and licensure and renewal courses led by field experts
- Expenses such as outside trainings or licensure fees can be mitigated through your clinical training stipend