therapist

case manager

customer care specialist

board certified behavior analyst

van driver

Valley Behavioral Health

This job is great for recent college graduates wanting to get into the mental health field or folks who are unemployed and looking to get something quick. The clients are interesting to work with, and you learn a lot about residential/in-patient/out-patient services, as well as how non-profits work. You will get to learn about the socio-political atmosphere in an intimate way, as well as how to work with varying personalities. The work-life balance is great, and they have one of the best PTO offerings I've seen at a company. The new CEO is great too, he is very compassionate, calm, and easy to get along with.

By and large, however, working for Valley Behavioral Health is not a great experience for many. This is due in part to the fact that Valley has had a negative reputation for a few years, so working with other organizations or community partners has been difficult for the employees here. Much of the community outreach initiatives include putting out fires that were lit by the previous CEO and working to re-build those relationships. Valley will hire just about anyone, so like any other job, you will work with awesome people and some seriously incompetent people as well. On top of this, the entire management structure of the organization is disorganized and full of mean, vindictive, and down-right rude people. People will get put on performance plans and fired left and right here, sometimes without reason, other than management not liking someone.

The compensation and benefits is one of the most frustrating aspects about working at Valley. You pay out the wazoo for health/dental/vision, and everyone (with the exception of upper management) is seriously underpaid and overworked. The company has not issued raises or bonuses in 3 years, and they are constantly telling people they will give folks a raise, but fall through on those promises. The only way to get a "raise" is to switch positions, however, I have seen people get paid between $0.06-$0.09 more an hour. It's a joke, and its extremely discouraging to anyone looking to advance. The wages they offer are not livable. In all honestly, career advancement here is not plausible, unless you have skills in upper management. It is truly a dead-end job for many. For this reason, the average turnover is anywhere from 6 months to a year here, and to me, that's a bad sign.

The training for most of the clinical positions includes a week-long orientation that includes marketing propaganda about why Valley is "so great" with much to be desired as it pertains to specific positions. Expect to be confused for the first 3-6 months of employment, because there is nothing in the onboarding training that gives you information on how to do your job. Many of the clinical staff come in having to learn everything on the job, and utilizing outdated health systems that malfunction just about every day.

As for the work culture, I have met some stellar people here, and some seriously awful people here, too. Again, you will find that at any job. However, as mentioned earlier, and in other reviews, upper management needs some serious reform. They create a culture of mistrust and back-stabbing relationships. Myself and others have expressed a difficulty in expressing oneself authentically because there are some extremely judgmental and untrustworthy characters in mid-upper management. At each unit I have worked at, everyone talks poorly about their job, the culture in the office, and about the company. It is obvious that most people do not want to be there. Some of my supervisors are supportive, while others have not been at all. You will be made to feel like every task is life or death and requires immediate attention, which can put a strain on your mental health too. Upper management as a whole has many internal issues.

If you're looking for something temporary to gain some experience out of college, or your unemployed and want to work in the mental health field, this is the job for you. To be fair, the work that Valley does is extremely important to the homeless community of SLC, and they work with vulnerable populations that really need the help. As a company, however, it is not worth your mental energy or time to be a part of something that seems to be falling apart at the seems everyday.


In my experience, the issue of advancement and fair wages is a significant concern within our organization. Despite consistent positive reviews and a strong performance record, it seems that the company is more inclined to alter job titles rather than offer corresponding pay raises that reflect the experience and contributions of its employees. This practice not only undervalues the hard work and dedication of its workforce but also fosters a sense of disillusionment among staff.

Management, unfortunately, appears to lack accountability toward their employees. Concerns are often met with stonewalling tactics disguised as "professionalism," making it difficult to address issues effectively. Moreover, policies and changes within the company are not communicated proactively, leaving employees in the dark and contributing to an environment of uncertainty and inconsistency. This lack of clear communication and streamlined processes exacerbates the stress and burnout that many employees face, particularly in a workplace with high turnover rates.

Effective workers are often burdened with an overwhelming workload, expected to compensate for the deficiencies of weaker team members without adequate support. This imbalance is particularly disheartening when it goes unacknowledged, with recognition for hard work being sparse, if given at all. The lack of support from upper management in these situations is a glaring issue that needs addressing.

Despite these challenges, the work itself remains purposeful. Seeing the growth and progress of clients is incredibly rewarding, and it's the main reason many of us continue in our roles. However, the company's struggles with recognizing and appropriately compensating its employees, coupled with the high level of stress, create an environment where even the most dedicated workers can feel undervalued and overworked.

Ultimately, while the job is fulfilling, the organization's inability to support its employees effectively undermines the overall work experience. There is a pressing need for management to take accountability, offer fair wages, streamline processes, and provide the necessary support to ensure that all employees, not just the most effective ones, can thrive.

Lots good, problems never change, are deeply rooted and habitual.

Good intentions. Well meaning. Positive industry. As a whole the company never faces the actual underlying problems and never gets its act together. This is a broken record. 

Continues to blame staff and have unproven, unachievable jobs for employees. Has a high esteem for itself and will not take an honest, humble look, in the mirror, for the fear of insulting this pride. Very focused on outward appearances over actual state. Upper management culture is good old boy, tribal, inbred, insulated, and insecure. Some more than others, but there is always that air or not questioning or speaking out of turn. Only they can have ideas, insights, intelligence. This concieted behavior loses confidence and respect with so many recurring infinite problems obvious to everyone, ignored. Put effort in these and see what happens.

It wouldn't take much to really be an A1 company, but you need to stop doing the same things and same style. Be more thorough. Finish things. make sure they work and have a clear path to success. Humility is necessary for this.

Go back and do this for everything currently in place that doesn't work and you keep trying to insist does by force. Complete your plans the right way, not hitting the ground running with no shoes and then blaming staff. Focus on the things that matter that have been ignored or treated as trivial. Try taking a different course and see what you have been neglecting, missing, and how it has been failing and affecting the things you do care so much about. How it ties together. Use the same lens on yourself. Be as accountable as you want others to be. Do the math first.

Look outside of Valley for examples. Listen to those you hire that have worked at A1 companies.

Let middle management use their strengths and stop micromanaging. Listen. Look around and consider being ignorant or wrong sometimes. You are not gods, or so highly intelligent or experienced beyond everyone else.

Staff is very invested and wants to cheer, but finallu gives up breaking through and looks elsewhere. 

I think I would probably give Valley behavioral health a better review than most therapists. For the most part it is pretty typical to most community mental health/nonprofits. The pay per hr is about a third of what therapists would make hourly at a private practice, clients are often high-needs with disabilities, and there is a lot of paperwork that seems arbitrary or unnecessary/repetitive. All these things make for a high stress job, and high stress decreases how fulfilling it is and how effective therapy feels at times. I do not see this as doable long-term for anyone. But I think it can be doable and fulfilling temporarily if you're able to have strong work-life boundaries and try to set aside aspects of the job that seem unnecessary and overwhelming to focus on clients and connect with coworkers.

I appreciate the immediate team I work with. I enjoy other therapists who work here as they are very supportive, often have good feedback, have a wide range of knowledge and are humble about it. Who your supervisor is matters and a lot of supervisiors/management on lower levels are very understanding, humble, and concerned about your needs.

Honestly, what I like best about this job is the flexibility. I think the hours at VBH are inherently more flexible than people would expect--we can essentially set our own schedule as long as we have the hours filled--but some of this may be due to the oversight and permission of my supervisor. It may not be to the degree if you were running your own practice or could take as much time off as you'd like but it is definitely way more flexibility than working any other 9-5. Some of that may be part of the privilege of the role of therapist, but it is appreciated. 

**I'm only writing a review so this would stop popping up as a task for me to do :)

I have a deep appreciation for Valley, as it stands as one of the most exceptional settings in which I have been employed, primarily due to the invaluable mentorship and unwavering support exhibited by fellow colleagues. My experiences at Valley enabled me to acquire extensive knowledge pertaining to substance use, while simultaneously fostering personal development in areas that required attention. Additionally, I was able to cultivate a sense of self-assurance in the realm of decision-making. The work place culture could benefit from improvement, as there is always room for it. The level of authenticity exhibited by management is not very high. However, it can be viewed as a suitable option for individuals who have limited alternatives. Those with a higher level of education may find another working environment more conducive to their growth and experience fewer instances of unexpected and unfavorable situations. The presence of favoritism and unprofessional conduct can be deemed bothersome and potentially have a contagious effect. There is ample discussion among individuals regarding one another, resembling an environment reminiscent of a high school. Nonetheless, this workplace can be enjoyable for a limited duration if an appreciation for work is emphasized, rather than perceiving it as a means to dominate or compete with others within the office. Overall I loved it here. 

this is a great job for someone who knows they want to go into child care, speech therapy, or social work as a whole. It prepares you for working with clients, tracking data, and behavior management skills. This is a difficult job, however, for those who  aren't certain in their career path and suffer from anxiety and or ADD like myself. This job will require good organizational skills, being able to complete tasks in a timely manner and multitask, and being able to remain calm and collected in a high stress environment. It is easy to feel worn out some days, this job will definitely test your endurance and patience. Also as an autism assistant you are responsible for riding the bus with clients in the mornings or afternoons - this is something Pingree takes seriously (for good reason- client safety) but I would recommend asking lots of questions about bus runs, the schedule can be little confusing if you aren't fully aware of your expectations and responsibilities. Overall working with the kids and seeing the difference you can make in a child's life is very rewarding and important. There are also some very kind staff at Pingreee.

The clients are more mentally sane than the “O” people, as in CEO, CNO, CMO. The clients also are more human and capable of distinguishing right from wrong much more effectively than the “O”s. The office politics will leave you bleeding. You should just go ahead and wear a bullseye on the back of your apparel, because you’re going to get stabbed in the back. Program directors also enjoy participating in this form of behavior, after all, it is the only form of comeraderie and recreation that exists and is not only encouraged by senior administrators, they exemplify it in the most expert fashion possible. After saying good-bye to your personal life and relationships, you can also kiss your mental health and self-esteem away as only one thing is for certain: you are certain to get a soul beating work over. When you’ve been completely been had by the whole lot of this crüe, your spirit will have been sucked out of you and vomited at your feet. If the career consisted of grappling with the difficult problems of the mentally ill, addicted and homeless, in comparison it would be quite the stroll in the park. However your true calling will be enduring being jacked around by the evil “O”s and their minions whose lips are tightly affixed to their nether haunches.

I have worked at Valley for over 6 years and in various positions. As with any place, there are pros and cons which are pretty subjective. This is my personal experience, take what you will from it.

This place has incredible potential, but it’s often stifled because of poor planning and execution. They often stretch staff members too thin for minimal compensation. When something doesn’t meet there matrix, they are confused but the answer is they ask too much for too little time. Management “acknowledges” there are issues in surveys, but there is no actual change.

There will always be another “pressing task” which requires resolution right away. There are no healthy boundaries between ELT leadership, Directors, Managers or staff. You will be contacted after hours or while on vacation because that just the way it is. 

They use Slack, which an unspoken rule is to always read and watch it. You are literally being trained to always be on your phone. It’s not healthy. 

Unless there are serious drastic changes to the overall leadership and environment, staff will continue to burn out and leave. It’s not just Covid, it really is something that leadership needs to take a deep hard look at. 

You know the phrase, “it’s not you, it’s me.” It really is You this time. 

Working at Valley has been an eye-opening, challenging at times, but rewarding experience. You will honestly be able to say you've made a difference in the community, specifically with vulnerable populations that are in desperate need of care and attention. The challenges that come with the company are directly associated with the need for more government/ local financial funding/reimbursement to be able to meet the caseload of those in need. There arent many companies that can treat the clients that Valley does, which can create a strain on the overall company, and maintaining staff at times.

With that said, this is a great place to gain experience, grow, make an impact, and gain connections with other employees and the community. By virtue of the challenges associated, you learn so much and rely on innovation to bring success. A good number of the leaders here and clinicians started within entry-level roles and progressed. They are also hyperfocused on diversity and inclusion for employees and clients alike. 



A typical day entails providing support, assistance and monitoring, advocating for clients in need that are struggling with a mental illness and who are trying to deal with their mental health symptoms and with their medical health conditions.  I have learned much empathy for our clients and know that in order to provide  a good service it takes much patience and a true desire and dedication to want to help others to maintain their Independence and  meet there day to day needs. There has been a great shift in work place culture over the years.  I believe the Valley Behavioral Health employees however remain  very dedicated  people  who provide a  much needed service to our clients and are dedicated to providing the best service possible. Hardest part of the job is at times, dealing with clients that are very difficult and are seriously mentally ill and to be able to assist, advocate and provide them the needed services so that they can maintain independence in the community.  Satisfaction in knowing that you have made a difference in a person's life and helped a person to be able to maintain there independence and meet their needs and meet there goals.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Therapist 21 salaries reported	$47.88 per hour
Case manager 11 salaries reported	$19.15 per hour
Customer care specialist 19 salaries reported	$18.29 per hour
Board certified behavior analyst 10 salaries reported	$90,095 per year
Van driver 10 salaries reported	$17.63 per hour

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