THE PRACTICE
Where you would be joining.
Forge & Form Therapy is a premium, direct-pay psychotherapy practice based in Arlington, Virginia, serving the broader Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We opened in 2025 with a clear and deliberate vision: to build a practice where exceptional clinical work is the standard, not the exception. In tandem with that, we work to ensure a practice in which clinicians have the infrastructure, support, and culture to do their best work.
We are a small practice with a long-term growth strategy. Our clients are individuals and relationships who arrive motivated and engaged. Our clinical culture is built on depth, directness, and genuine investment in the therapeutic relationship. We do not believe in one-size-fits-all therapy, and we do not practice that way.
This practice is being built with intention. Joining now means being part of shaping what it becomes.
THE ROLE
The Associate Clinician carries a therapy caseload within a supported, growth-oriented practice environment. The role is designed for a fully licensed clinician who is ready to practice with autonomy and is interested in facilitating group psychotherapy.
Core Responsibilities
- Carry and manage a caseload with a target of 25 sessions per week at full capacity
- Maintain all clinical documentation within the practice EHR system in compliance with state requirements and practice standards
- Participate in weekly 1:1 consultation with the practice owner
- Respond to all professional communications within one business day
- Maintain availability for some weekday evening hours to serve client scheduling needs
- Engage in ongoing professional development and bring that learning back into the practice
- Participate in group therapy facilitation as caseload and opportunity develop
- Contribute to the practice's visibility and reputation through occasional thought leadership, including blog writing, community engagement, or other forms of professional presence that reflect the Forge & Form voice
Clinical Expectations
We expect fluency across modalities, not allegiance to a single framework. Familiarity with a modality of choice is a baseline. Beyond that, we value clinicians who can move between approaches in response to what a client actually needs. We work with clients presenting with a broad range of concerns, and the caseload reflects that range.
Specialization in any of the following areas would be a meaningful asset to the practice, though none is required: children and adolescents, sex therapy, EMDR, or trauma and complex trauma (PTSD/C-PTSD).
Above all, we expect presence. The willingness to sit with a client in real discomfort (rather than rushing toward resolution) is not optional here. It is the work.
THE CANDIDATE
Who we are looking for.
Required
- Full licensure in Virginia (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent); other jurisdictions are encouraged
- Demonstrated competence in individual therapy across a range of presenting concerns
- Ability to maintain a caseload of at least 10 sessions per week after the first four months
- Comfort operating as an independent contractor with a high degree of professional autonomy
- Genuine investment in clinical excellence and ongoing professional growth
Strongly Preferred
- Two or more years of post-licensure clinical experience
- Experience or expressed interest in group therapy facilitation
- Specialization or advanced training in one of the following: children and adolescents, sex therapy, EMDR, PTSD/C-PTSD
Who Thrives Here
Beyond credentials, we hire for fit. The clinicians who do their best work at Forge & Form tend to share a particular orientation:
- They are confident in their clinical ability without being rigid about it
- They bring warmth and humor to their work without losing professionalism
- They ask questions rather than wait to be told what to do
- They hold themselves to a high standard and want to be held to one
- They want to grow, and want to do it inside a practice that is growing with them
- They understand that being part of something small and early-stage is an opportunity
We are not looking for someone to fill a seat. We are looking for someone who is particular about where they practice, because we are particular about who we bring in.
WHO YOU WOULD BE WORKING WITH
The practice owner and your clinical supervisor.
The Associate Clinician works alongside the practice owner, who serves as both clinical director and primary point of contact for all practice operations. Understanding what that working relationship looks like is a meaningful part of evaluating this opportunity.
The relationship here is warm and direct. Expect honest feedback, genuine investment in your growth, and an advocate who will go to bat for you inside and outside the practice. High standards are a given, and so is the commitment to walk alongside you as you meet them. This is not a sink-or-swim environment, but it is also not one that will do your thinking for you.
The working style that fits best here is to ask questions when you have them, bring your clinical instincts to the table, and be willing to be pushed. The expectation is not perfection; it is engagement. Clinicians who are curious, direct, and willing to do the work of growing find this relationship to be one of the most valuable parts of the role.
Weekly 1:1 meetings are structured but conversational: part supervision, part case consultation, part honest check-in on how things are going. The door is open between sessions for anything that cannot wait.
THE LOGISTICS
The practical details.
Position Type
Independent Contractor (1099)
Licensure Required
Full licensure in Virginia (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent)
Location
Arlington, Virginia (in-person with telehealth hybrid as an option)
Schedule
Clinician-set; some weekday evening availability required
Caseload Minimum
10 sessions/week after Month 4 (Year 1); 15/week in Year 2+
Target Full Caseload
25 sessions/week
Compensation
60% revenue share; $215/session rate for individuals; ~$89K Year 1, $154K+ at full caseload (2026 rates)
Performance Path
65% floor for strong performers after Year 1 (defined threshold)
Notice Required
Minimum one month upon departure
EHR System
Provided and supported by the practice
Complete compensation details, first-year earnings projections, and performance renegotiation terms are outlined in the accompanying Compensation & Structure document.
WHAT WE OFFER
What Forge & Form brings to the relationship.
- 5 clients transferred to the incoming clinician at launch (target, not guaranteed)
- Active paid advertising investment to build and maintain the referral pipeline
- PsychologyToday profile, supported by the practice
- Professional development funds
- Weekly 1:1 supervision and case consultation with the practice owner
- Full EHR access and administrative infrastructure
- A structured onboarding ramp; you will not be dropped in and left to figure it out
- A clinical brand built on values you can be proud to practice under
- A genuine path to increased compensation and expanded responsibility as the practice grows
Pay: $91,856.00 - $154,800.00 per year
Education:
License/Certification:
- license to practice mental health counseling (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
