How to hire a psychotherapist

How to hire a psychotherapist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step psychotherapist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a psychotherapist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new psychotherapist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a psychotherapist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your psychotherapist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a psychotherapist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a psychotherapist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a psychotherapist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of psychotherapists.

   Type of Psychotherapist	Description	Hourly rate
   Psychotherapist	Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and their environments.	$20-53
   Licensed Professional Counselor	A licensed professional counselor is a healthcare professional who specializes in providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional and mental health issues. They listen to their patients and utilize various techniques to address concerns and help through the healing procedures... Show more	$35-58
   Marriage And Family Therapist	Marriage and family therapists are health professionals who are licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders of married couples and families. These therapists are required to treat patients with issues such as child and adolescent behavioral problems, depression and anxiety, and marital conflicts... Show more	$19-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Patients
   • Individual Therapy
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Mental Health
   • Diagnostic Assessments
   • Community Resources
   • Mental Illness
   • Substance Abuse Disorders
   • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
   • Treatment Modalities
   • Rehabilitation
   • Community Agencies
   • Intake Assessments

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide individual, group therapy and rehabilitation services for clients with co-occurring disorders, trauma, addiction, grief, etc.
   • Perform case management services and prepare rehabilitation plans.
   • Administer cognitive and personality assessments, provide written summary of results to therapists, and provide verbal feedback to patients.
   • Cultivate and nurture positive, productive relationships with patients, families, and community providers to promote effective coordination of resources.
   • Experience in evaluations of adults, adolescents and children, including personality, clinical symptoms, developmental disabilities and cognitive status.
   • Conduct MST assessment including review of referral information, maintain the confidentiality of all consumer care information including protect health information.

   More psychotherapist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your psychotherapist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A psychotherapist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, psychotherapists' average salary in alaska is 54% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level psychotherapists 61% less than senior-level psychotherapists.
   • Certifications. A psychotherapist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a psychotherapist's salary.

   Average psychotherapist salary

   $69,921yearly

   $33.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level psychotherapist salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average psychotherapist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$94,928	$46
   2	Virginia	$94,702	$46
   3	New Jersey	$94,674	$46
   4	Pennsylvania	$90,286	$43
   5	District of Columbia	$90,030	$43
   6	Maryland	$89,741	$43
   7	California	$88,088	$42
   8	Rhode Island	$81,713	$39
   9	New York	$77,019	$37
   10	Minnesota	$74,364	$36
   11	Ohio	$73,159	$35
   12	Illinois	$72,491	$35
   13	Texas	$69,005	$33
   14	Washington	$67,212	$32
   15	Colorado	$66,954	$32
   16	Michigan	$65,900	$32
   17	Georgia	$63,791	$31
   18	Wisconsin	$59,997	$29
   19	North Carolina	$56,381	$27

   Average psychotherapist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sutter Health	$89,758	$43.15	14
   2	Columbia University in the City of New York	$84,007	$40.39	1
   3	TMS Health	$82,639	$39.73
   4	Atrium Health Floyd	$81,701	$39.28	13
   5	UC Santa Barbara	$74,943	$36.03
   6	Columbia Memorial	$74,911	$36.01
   7	The New York Foundling	$72,281	$34.75	2
   8	HealthPartners	$72,278	$34.75	1
   9	Children's Hospital Los Angeles	$71,805	$34.52	4
   10	Brown University	$71,742	$34.49	14
   11	Swedish Hospital	$70,477	$33.88
   12	University of Maryland Medical System	$70,335	$33.81	1
   13	University of Virginia	$70,313	$33.80	9
   14	American Psychological Association	$69,998	$33.65
   15	Florida Medical Clinic	$69,416	$33.37
   16	Baylor Scott & White Health	$69,276	$33.31	8
   17	Vivent Health	$69,185	$33.26	4
   18	Kaiser Permanente	$67,698	$32.55	43
   19	Pacific Medical Centers	$67,337	$32.37
   20	Ascension Michigan	$67,251	$32.33	3

4. Writing a psychotherapist job description

   A psychotherapist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a psychotherapist job description:

   Psychotherapist job description example

   Providing mental health services to clients referred through Whitman Walker primary care ages 13 and older. Therapists should have some level of expertise working with the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS infected and
   
   affected communities. A psychotherapist will provide individual, group, couple and family psychotherapy.
   
   Performs and behaves in accordance with Whitman-Walker’s mission, cultural norms, and core values of dignity, respect, affirmation, and humility.
   Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate manner with patients/clients/staff. Demonstrates excellent customer service by identifying and exceeding customer requirements. Adheres to Whitman-Walker policies and procedures, with special attention given to HIPAA requirements. Maintains data integrity through conscientious use of relevant tools and employing a system of checks and balances. Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to multi-task, meet deadlines and re-prioritize as needed. Participates in organizational quality and performance improvement activities. Role Specific Primary Essential Duties Intake, Assessment, and Treatment Planning Conducts thorough and comprehensive intake and assessment with each assigned client within the designated time frame. Facilitates the participation of the client in the development of goal-oriented treatment planning. Clinical Practice Provide individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy services. Maintain 30 hours of direct client care per week, unless delegated to do other work for the health Center approved by your manager. Effective in assessing for risk and intervening in crisis situations. Ensures appropriate clinical treatment congruent with DSM-5 diagnosis and comfortable with ICD-10 Provides case formulation for each client from a sound theoretical knowledge base. Attends clinical supervision with designated Behavioral Health Lead Clinician. Assess client and caregiver need for education; provides education as appropriate, and make referrals for additional education as needed. Referral and Advocacy Assists clients in identifying and accessing various internal and external community resources Provides timely referrals and monitors their progress. Effectively advocates for clients, as needed.
   Responds in a timely manner to all client, collateral, and agency contacts.
   
   • Monitoring, Reassessment, and Transition Planning Monitors client progress toward treatment goals. Reassesses client needs in a clinically appropriate time frame. Provides ongoing assessment of client’s level of care needs, coordinating client transfer to a different level of care or discharge from care, as appropriate. • Case Coordination Is prepared and actively participates in case presentations, conferences, and multi-disciplinary meetings. Effectively coordinates with other disciplines to address client needs and treatment goals. • Administration Maintains accurate and up-to-date records and computer information on every assigned client in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations. Conducts monthly review and resolution of data entry problems. Adheres to all program and Health Center policies and procedures Conducts quarterly chart audits in a timely manner in accordance with Quality Improvement procedures. Clinical documentation should be completed and locked within 72 hours • Performance Improvement Participates in quality assurance and quality improvement measures. Works with supervisor to identify areas for performance improvement and professional development. Attends and participates in internal and external in-services, workshops and conferences for professional development and to keep informed of changes and innovations in the field. Quality Improvement Understands and participates in quality improvement activities of the department Budget Responsibilities None Management Responsibilities None Core WWH Knowledge, Skills and Talents Required: • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. • Ability to manage time and effort in order to meet strategic objectives. • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing excellent customer service, both internal and external. • Knowledge of all applicable WWH policies and procedures. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Knowledge of healthcare information systems with the ability to adapt to new electronic medical record and population health platforms. • Analytical skills necessary for the preparation of accurate, concise and comprehensive reports. • Ability to maintain records and information in an accurate, timely and confidential manner. • Ability to adapt to changes in the service delivery model, re-prioritizing as necessary. • Flexibility to work various shifts, including afternoon, evening and weekend shifts as necessary. • Flexibility to work within the organization's various locations as necessary. • Commitment to health equity
   PRINCIPAL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: • Reports to the Senior Manager of Behavioral Health or their designee. Receives supervision as necessary around service provision and clinical intervention. • Works in collaboration with assigned clients. • Collaborates with WWH direct services staff and volunteers. May supervise volunteers or interns, as assigned. • Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team • Maintains relationships with other organizations as necessary to facilitate the provision of services to clients. • Attends required meetings and serves on committees and task forces, as assigned.
   Role Specific - Knowledge, Skills, and Talents Required • Strong working knowledge of Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, HIV/AIDS, LGBT issues, and clinical practice for effective provision of psychotherapy to diverse populations. • Strong clinical skills, with proven ability to engage, assess, provide interventions and terminate appropriately with diverse populations. • Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships within the organization and with external providers. • Strong knowledge of DSM-5 and impact of mental illness on diverse populations. • Demonstrated sensitivity to and competence with issues related to racial, cultural, gender identity and sexual minority status. • Good working knowledge of the health care delivery system, social services and community based resources. • Ability to provide a full range of services with minimal supervision • Good written and oral communication skills. • Basic computer skills.
   Education and Experience Required • Master of Social Work or Counseling/Psychology-related degree. • Current independent licensure in the District of Columbia • At least 2 years of clinical experience and 1 year of experience working with HIV/AIDS populations. • Experience with or sensitivity to LGBTQ issues. Working Conditions: Working conditions for this position are normal for an office environment. Individuals may be required to work evenings and/or weekends and organization events.
   Physical Demands: • Lifting: No more than 20 lbs. and infrequently. • Movement: Standing and sitting for long periods. • Visual: Long periods on a computer. • Concentration: Extended periods of engagement with computer systems where concentration is key to accuracy in data entry. Intermittent periods of engagement with a telephone system to respond to inquiries where concentration is key to task performance. • Communication: Direct and indirect communication. Written and verbal competency.
   The above job description is designed to indicate a general sense of the duties and expectations of this position. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities required. As the nature of our business demands change, so too, may the duties and responsibilities of this position. perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right psychotherapist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your psychotherapist job on Zippia to find and recruit psychotherapist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting psychotherapists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new psychotherapist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the psychotherapist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new psychotherapist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a psychotherapist?