The Stepping Stones Group
Make a Difference Every Day
Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!
School-Based Mental Health Provider (ERMHS) | Full-Time | Short-Term Substitute Assignment | LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC
About the Opportunity
Are you an experienced, fully licensed mental health clinician who wants to make a difference in a school setting? The Stepping Stones Group is seeking an Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) provider to step in for a three-month assignment, with an immediate start preferred. This is more than a job. It's a chance to keep students connected to the counseling and mental health support they need, while working alongside school teams who rely on your expertise.
You'll provide mental health services, conduct assessments, take part in IEP meetings, and collaborate with teachers and school staff to support students.
- Pay: Competitive hourly rate
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time, 37.5 hours per week, approximately 8:00 AM-4:00 PM depending on the school site's bell schedule
- Setting: Onsite, school-based, special education and general education settings
- Assignment length: About three months, with an immediate start preferred
- Start date: Immediate, through early February 2027
- Employment type: W-2
- Location: Shared with candidates during the application process
What You'll Do
- Provide Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) to students, including individual and group counseling as assigned
- Conduct mental health assessments and write clear, timely reports
- Prepare for and attend IEP meetings, contributing recommendations and goals
- Collaborate with teachers, special education staff, school psychologists, and administrators to support students
- Develop and carry out treatment and support plans using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches
- Respond to student concerns and coordinate with the school team on safety and next steps
- Keep accurate documentation and maintain student confidentiality in line with FERPA and mandated reporting requirements
- Step into an existing caseload and keep services running smoothly during a short-term assignment
Minimum Qualifications
- Active, full California license as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
- Associate-level or pre-licensed candidates cannot be considered for this role
- Experience providing mental health services in a school setting
- Experience conducting assessments and participating in IEP meetings
- Availability Monday-Friday, approximately 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Ability to complete required state clearances and background checks
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Authorization to work in the United States
You'll Thrive in This Role If You Are Open To:
- Starting right away and stepping into an existing caseload
- Working with students with a range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs
- Providing both individual and group services
- Working onsite in a school and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team
- Working a short-term, defined assignment
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience providing ERMHS or school-based counseling in a public school
- Experience writing mental health assessments for IEPs
- Experience with trauma-informed care and crisis response
- Experience with students with autism, anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges
- Bilingual in Spanish and English
- CPI or other crisis prevention training
Related Experience We Value
Experience as a School Counselor, School Social Worker, School-Based Therapist, Mental Health Clinician, Behavioral Health Clinician, LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or Educationally Related Mental Health Services provider is highly valued.
Why Candidates Choose This Role
- Short-term assignment with a clear start and end, ideal for a gap between roles or a flexible schedule
- Use your license in a hands-on school setting with a consistent weekday schedule
- Build experience with IEP-related mental health services and school teams
- Work alongside a multi-disciplinary team of educators and specialists
- Follow a predictable school schedule, with evenings, weekends, and school breaks typically off
Why You'll Love Working With Us
- Competitive pay
- Health and wellness benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance and 401(k) retirement plan for eligible employees
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Continuing education resources, including free CEUs and approved webinars
- Employee referral bonus program
- Supportive and collaborative clinical leadership
- Opportunities for career growth and advancement
- Meaningful work that directly impacts students and communities
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?
Successful school-based mental health providers are compassionate, organized, and dependable. They build trust with students quickly, document clearly, collaborate well with school teams, and keep students' wellbeing at the center of every decision.
About The Stepping Stones Group
We believe every child deserves exceptional support to succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. We partner with schools nationwide to provide high-quality educational and behavioral health services, and we give our clinicians the training, resources, and support to do their best work.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today. Please share your license type and your school-based mental health experience, including any IEP assessment work. Know someone great? Refer a colleague and earn a referral bonus.
The Stepping Stones Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.