CAREERS at the collaborative

 The LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative values competent and affirming care for all minority identities, accessible mental health care, and a healthy work/life balance and atmosphere for providers with a team work focus. All of our clinicians meet regularly  in person for case consultations, provide support to one another, and are accessible during work hours to each other for questions and/or camaraderie. Team work and collaboration is at the center of our values, and building relationships and trust amongst staff.

All employees have regular access to training, assistance with software or technical issues, access to company financials monthly including founder salary and business expenses for full transparency, and is encouraged to advocate for their needs. A healthy work/life balance that does not lead to burn out and is based in team work and support is the priority for this Collaborative. 

Each member of the collaborative is rigorously vetted and provided exceptional clinical training, and has committed to continued education around queer, gay, trans, and gender-diverse experiences, and is willing to work in a team-setting with transparency around business practices, goals, and financial literacy and stability.  We invest around $3-5,000 in onboarding and marketing expenses into each new team member to allow them the best chance to flourish, and because of that, we only take highly motivated and serious applicants who want to hit the ground running and have strong work and team ethics.

Our hiring process begins with an initial review of resume/CV, then a quick introductory video call to check eligibility and mutual goals, then a clinical interview with the founder and clinical director where you will be asked to review a case study and talk about how you'd work with the client presented. If moving forward, potential hires meet with the team for a team interview next and practice case consultation together. All team members must approve of the potential new hire, or they will not be offered a position at our organization because it is very important to us that everyone on the team feels heard, comfortable, and is cohesive. After the team interview, next steps include a federal and state wide background check, and 3 professional references including at least one prior supervisor or manager. Once welcomed onto the team, all clinicians are provided a mentor, onboarding training, and assistance adjusting to the position. 

New clinicians are not hired until the most recently hired clinician has a full case load, so as to reduce feelings of competition and increase collaboration.

Our clinicians are all W2 employees, and are expected to utilize Simple Practice electronic health record and Google Workforce for communication. Clinicians who are fully licensed and full-time currently receive a 60/40 split, with the possibility for increase in the future, or 45/55 split for pre-licensed individuals. Our current full-time fully licensed therapists make between $120-160,000/annually, and our pre-licensed therapists make between $70-90,000/annually.

Benefits are provided including health, dental, vision, and more through Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield in which the company pays 50% of the premium. Trainings, CEUs, and licensure fees are reimbursed on an as-needed basis with prior approval . Clinicians also are paid a flat hourly rate for non-client, non-billable hours, such as staff meetings, marketing events, etc at $40/hr for fully licensed clinicians and $25/hr for pre-licensed clinicians. Supervision is offered free to pre-licensed clinicians, and reimbursement for exams and exam studying materials is offered. All employees have 4 unpaid vacation/time off annually. 

All clinicians are offered a free, private session with an external financial planner at the start of their onboarding to make sure they are prepared financially for their own personal life and/or family goals at the start of their time with our organization and then once a year after.  The Collaborative pays for extensive marketing locally at over $5,000/month, including each clinician's Psychology Today profile, business cards, and online marketing. These outreaches are made public to everyone on the team, including the cost of each.  Team members receive a monthly profit and loss statement to be fully transparent on funds spent by the company. 

Licensure in Virginia is required for all employees, and other states are welcome but not mandatory, such as DC and MD. Clinicians make their own schedule and are required to maintain a case load of around 20 clients per week. This can be made up of individuals, couples, and/or groups, and it required that 25% of the case load is sliding scale and/or pro bono clients. There is a two-hour mandatory staff breakfast together every Thursday from 9a-11a in which the team meets to catch up, talk about gratitude and struggles, and do consults which is paid at the flat hourly rate. 

All clinicians are also offered optional training in business planning, how to open a private practice, and other clinical areas if desired. The Collaborative does not believe in non-competes and wants to empower each clinician to meet their own future goals. More information is provided in our employee handbook.