mental health therapist

support worker

behavioral specialist

receptionist/administrative assistant

clinical supervisor

The Community Lighthouse

I've debated writing a review because working at the Community Lighthouse will have honestly just been a blip in my timeline, but given further reflection, I don't want others to experience the lack of support I felt here due to the company's inability to invest in growth in regards to their employees. 
   If you are willing to hire newcomers in the industry, you have to be willing to put effort in CLEARLY communicating areas of improvement and ensuring that person feels supported in said areas. That is not what I experienced here. I experienced a false sense of security in regards to what *exactly* was expected of me, and was overall set for failure even though I had no seasoned experience in regards to working with children in community services.
   I was given a very high maintenance client right off the bat (only worked there for a little over 2 weeks and was not fully certified in all areas due to their lack of staffing I presume) and was expected to succeed beyond their expectations and fully regulate my own schedule and be perfect at it once the training for those two weeks were done.
   I worked there for 2 months- which is little time to show all that I am capable of as an employee that values their high sense of work commitment. I felt little in return. Little interventions were given to me in order to improve any areas of work I needed, my boss was ambivalent and usually gave me a thumbs up in areas I asked for clarification or were brought to me. 
Never was I under the impression that they were upset with me. But that's just it.

If you become inconvenient or imperfect in Community Lighthouse's eyes regardless of their lack of organization and investment in your success with them- they'll cut ties with you.
They believe in cutting off weak links, not investment in growth- the complete opposite of what they preach.

Job itself offers great opportunities for entry level workers and overall learning experiences when interacting with your clients, so it's not all doom an gloom- just not a committed company in my experience.


As a BMS our main priority is empowering our clients and families to learn better skills to manage high intensity behaviors. We do this by commuting to various parts of our clients communities (although you will be paired by zip code to avoid long commutes and burn out!) and teaching not only the children ways to regulate their behavior but you also teach their caregivers how to better support and connect with them throughout. A huge part of this work is play and tapping into your curious and silly side - there are so many reasons to smile within this work. However, this work can be challenging, as is most work within the Mental Health Field. Here at The Community Lighthouse they put so much care and development into all of their employees to ensure you feel confident in facing this field and all is complexities head on for years to come. Without the development from the managers, clinicians, admin staff, BMS peers and even the CEO himself I don't think I would feel nearly as confident in pursuing my Master's degree. The leadership team does everything they can to ensure you are feeling supported and challenged in continuing your growth (personally and professionally) even if that means growing into a new position or role outside of the company. There are also 4 opportunities to qualify for a raise each year with clear guidance on what you need to do to achieve them. Aside from developing each employee, The Community Lighthouse is continually working to improve as a company and one of the most receptive and welcoming spaces for bringing up any concerns and feedback you may have. Personally, I believe you can tell this company began within a family because it continues to feel like one with how inclusive everyone in the office is. Take a look at our core values on our website to get an understanding of what you really can expect when you become a part of our team.

A Typical Day at Work
I love providing guidance to non-independent clinicians, supervising their growth, and delivering psychotherapy services to the New Mexico community. Each day is dynamic, enriching, and filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and making a difference.

What You Believe You Learned
I’ve gained insights into workplace culture, maintaining a positive outlook, and fostering a growth mindset. I’ve learned about myself as a supervisor, explored various leadership styles, and adopted a proactive approach to challenges. I’ve come to understand that no system is perfect, but we have the power to make it work effectively.

Management
Management is exceptional. They respect me, make me feel valued, and provide protection and guidance. They create space for me to thrive and make the job more manageable.

Workplace Culture
The workplace culture emphasizes listening, adapting, and implementing changes. Like any organization, it evolves with new team dynamics, but overall, it’s a structured environment with policies designed to protect employees. At the same time, it’s a welcoming and caring place where management truly prioritizes staff well-being.

The Hardest Part of the Job
Navigating legal and ethical dilemmas, handling challenging clients, and managing vicarious trauma can be tough. Supervising multiple clinicians while ensuring all ethical and legal standards are met, all while maintaining a client-centered approach, is particularly demanding.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job
Everything! Collaborating with management, clinicians, and clients is deeply rewarding. Making a difference, one day at a time, brings me the most joy.

From my very first in-person interview, I could sense that The Community Lighthouse was a place where I could truly thrive. Their genuine enthusiasm, thoughtful questions, and clear passion for the organization’s mission immediately put me at ease and made me feel valued. It was evident that this was a company where collaboration, growth, and empowerment are at the heart of the culture.
The work culture here fosters a sense of autonomy by allowing flexibility in scheduling, while also placing a strong emphasis on professional development, with opportunities for training, mentorship, and career growth that make you feel like your success genuinely matters to the company. 
Leadership actively encourages open communication and collaboration as well as self-care, making it easy to feel heard, supported and appreciated. The company also prioritizes work-life balance, creating a positive environment where employees can thrive both professionally and personally.  
Weekly team meetings ensure goals stay on track while fostering collaboration and driving success for the entire team.  We celebrate wins while also embracing constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in areas that need development.
The most challenging part of the job is navigating the legal complexities of behavioral health within administration. It’s crucial to prioritize the client’s well-being while adhering to legal guidelines, managing legal documentation, and addressing the intricacies of family dynamics. At the same time, supporting our clinicians by managing their schedules and helping prevent burnout is equally important.
Overall, The Community Lighthouse is an amazing place to work if you’re looking for a role that’s both rewarding and inspiring, with a culture that helps you grow, feel valued, and truly make an impact.


I really wanted to enjoy working here. I will start with the positives- the clinical training is excellent, the clinical supervisors care about clients and staff, and all of the clinicians and admin who work here are amazing. 

However, the pay grossly undervalues the amount of hard work that goes into this job. The hours are grueling (11 hr days) and not sustainable. They advertise a wide pay range in their job listings but start people as low as they can with few opportunities for raises. They once threatened raises because they had to pay a plumber to unclog a toilet. You will be viewed by upper management as a tool for their profit. Heavy emphasis on KPIs masked behind the facade of “company values.”

They advertised benefits that they did not actually offer such as paid CEU’s and an “infants-in-the-workplace” program. They also took on an excessive amount of unpaid interns and had them bill insurance. It seems many decisions are made more from a fiscal standpoint rather than a clinically ethical one.

Policies and systems change quite frequently, and are made more complicated than they need to be, leading to everyone being on a different page. They ask for employee feedback but hardly follow up on it. 

The blatant nepotism here leads to weakened morale and high turnover. Overall, the work with the clients can be powerful and the clinicians here are great to work alongside of, however, the remaining conditions lead straight to burnout.

Throughout my tenure at The Community Lighthouse, I have had the pleasure of working with some of most committed and supportive providers and leaders in the field.  Management find individualized ways to further develop me in my role and continue to add growth in my career.  They have offered me avenues to not only obtain my ongoing CEUs, paying me while doing so, but also went out of their way to pay for additional advanced training.  

Behavioral health can be a rewarding yet demanding field.  The Community Lighthouse promotes self-care in their staff - finding ways to ensure you are not burning yourself out.  Schedules can be flexible to fit most personal needs.  They take charge to make improvements in their policies and procedures to personally nurture their staff and have no problem taking accountability along the way.  At no point, is there not been a colleague eager to jump in and assist in anyway they can - ONE TEAM, A TRUE TEAM!  This is all evident in the progress and success of the clients they have served for over 30 years!

It has been a true honor to work with The Community Lighthouse, and hope to continue to be guided by the Light they have shown me.  If you are looking to grow in the field, look no further than Lighthouse.  A breath of fresh air, for sure! 

TCLH allows you to create your own schedule and are also very accommodating if you have personal appointments which is great. While seeing clients out in the community you are also able to carve out time to complete your notes which is helpful and allows me to manage my time accordingly. While working here I do believe I am learning new things daily from both clients and coworkers. Everyone is very knowledgeable and also very supportive when you are needing extra assistance. I feel very comfortable to ask for help when needed and i'm able to communicate when I feel overwhelmed. They acknowledge their employees hard work and are constantly looking for ways to improve.  Management is one of the main reasons why I have decided to stay at TCLH long term. Never have I worked at a job where management actually cares about their employees. They genuinely care about their employees wellbeing and will make sure their employees are not feeling burnt out. I am supported each and every day. I have been working here for almost 10 months and would say I am generally a shy person but I feel like I have came out of my shell with the support from upper management. My confidence within my career has grown and do believe it has a lot to do with the support from both my coworkers and management. I wake up every morning happy to come to work.   

I’ve been with the Lighthouse for a while now, and it’s honestly one of the best places I’ve worked. Leadership here really listens and makes you feel like your voice matters. They’re always reaching out for feedback, and it’s clear they’re willing to make changes to keep improving. Nobody’s perfect, and neither is any company, but the Lighthouse is always working to get better—for both the staff and the clients.

The culture here is amazing. There’s a strong sense of teamwork, and people genuinely support each other. It’s a place where people check in on each other, and the flexibility we have with scheduling really helps with work-life balance. The Lighthouse also invests in us with paid CEUs and gives clinicians the freedom to make decisions for our clients. It’s nice to feel trusted and encouraged to grow.

Working here, I’ve seen firsthand how much they care about the impact we’re making. Clients feel supported, and we get to see the positive changes in their lives. It’s rewarding to be part of a team that’s making a difference, and it feels like everyone here genuinely cares.

If you’re looking for a place that values people, listens, and is always trying to improve, I’d highly recommend the Lighthouse.

As long as your a person with a great attitude that wants to learn, grow and be challenged, then you will be happy here. This company is all about helping everyone to succeed. Yes, there are numbers involved but its only to help you as an individual employee know and understand were your company is and how you effect your company as well. Which I think is important in taking accountability. It is a team based company. It is a family owned company, but I'd say they are professional, open, supportive, caring and unbiased as most family companies out there. Management takes the time out to help, hear you out, and is open to receiving feed back. The development that has been given is beyond what I would have expected and I will forever be grateful and be able to take where ever I go.They are big about developing their people.This is a company that is only going to continue to improve and work to get better so you gotta be on board and willing to adapt. I love all the people that I work with and enjoy coming into work and working with my co-workers. Being that it is Mental Health, there is a lot of stress that comes with the job, however the support, training and supervision is there to anyone that needs it at any time. Whatever position your in within the company, you will learn and take something from it.

The Community Lighthouse is truly special. From my experience, the commitment to creating a positive culture and prioritizing training is unmatched. The way they use Experiential Play Therapy (EPT) really stands out; it gives children the space to explore their feelings and work through their challenges in a safe, supportive environment.

It’s been amazing to watch Community Lighthouse grow from a small, local organization into a place that genuinely cares about both clients and staff. Programs like Comprehensive Community Support Services (CCSS) and the Functional Family Program have expanded their reach, addressing a wide range of needs in the community. The dedication of the team is evident—they really put their hearts into everything they do.

The benefits they offer, including paid training, paid time off, and benefits, show how much they value their staff. It’s exciting to see the opportunities for growth and advancement within the organization over the years.

I’ve seen how effective EPT can be in addressing trauma, and the approach here is truly remarkable. If you’re looking for a compassionate and nurturing environment for healing, The Community Lighthouse is where you want to be.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Mental health therapist 4 salaries reported	$50.63 per hour
Support worker 4 salaries reported	$26.50 per hour
Behavioral specialist 7 salaries reported	$13.00 per hour
Receptionist/administrative assistant 4 salaries reported	$17.75 per hour
Clinical supervisor 1 salary reported	$80,000 per year

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