Sunstone Therapies Staff Therapist Rockville, MD · Full time

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We exist to accelerate on-the-ground learning and operations necessary to approve and scale psychedelic therapies in the medical setting. The Sunstone team was brought together by shared compassion for those who suffer and a genuine wish to broaden their access to treatment. Our backgrounds in medicine, business, and design provide us with unique perspectives and skills necessary to define the standards of patient experience. Our values guide us in everything we do: Bring Forth Healing + Work with Rigor + Care for the Team + Learn and Grow + Innovate Boldly. In service to Sunstone’s vision of Whole Person Healing for All, all of our team members play a key role in Sunstone’s ability to deliver on its vision with Love and Rigor.

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: Full-time

Job Title: Staff Therapist

Location: Rockville, MD

Department: Therapy

Reports To: VP, Operations

Supervises: N/A

Hours: generally 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Daily start and end times may vary depending on study visits and operational needs, with typical hours falling between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Occasional Saturday availability may be required based on study schedules.

Context: Sunstone Therapies is the leader in the delivery of psychedelic therapy in the medical setting, focusing on the development and implementation of clinical trials today, and moving towards clinical delivery if and when therapies are approved. Right now, we have two sites with roughly 30 employees (not including trainee therapists) and we are looking to build our team and expand to 2 more sites in the next 2 years. At Sunstone, our culture centers on love and rigor, prioritizing whole-person healing for all.

To be successful in this role in this growth stage start-up, the candidate must be a detail-oriented self-starter and problem solver. They should be able to quickly shift projects and priorities to meet emerging needs, collaborate across departments, and align their approach with Sunstone’s values. Join us in making a profound impact in the realm of therapeutic research!

Job activities include, but are not limited to:

• Working as a psychedelic therapist, providing clinical care to patients throughout their psychedelic therapy treatment cycle, including preparation, treatment, and integration sessions.
• Providing clinical care in standard of care therapy settings such as talk therapy, ketamine therapy, and any other therapeutic interventions Sunstone offers.  
• Working as a research therapist, adhering strictly to study protocols, ensuring compliance with research timelines and requirements.
• Following Sunstone’s standard operating procedures, including clinical, documentation, and operational guidelines.
• Collaborating with Sunstone’s multidisciplinary team, including therapists and research staff.
• Mentoring and providing guidance to trainee therapists as needed.
• Attending essential training sessions and meetings related to the role.
• Participating in clinical supervision with experienced mentors and a peer community of therapists.
• Contributing to the development of best practices in psychedelic therapy, supporting Sunstone’s mission.
• Acting as a lead therapist on Sunstone clinical trials, liaising with the team and with research sponsors 

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience, and competencies:

Experience and Skills in Clinical Settings

• Completion of Sunstone psychedelic therapist trainee program (which can be provided to you) or equivalent clinical experience in psychedelic therapy.
• 5+ years of experience in licensed clinical mental health settings.
• 2+ years of experience working in clinical research (strongly preferred).
• 2+ years of experience providing supervision to trainee therapists (strongly preferred).
• Ability to develop strong therapeutic relationships with patients.
• Excellent therapeutic, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Outstanding ability to interact well with patients, their family members, colleagues, and staff.
• Relevant education, training, and experience, in mental health care, counseling, or psychological therapies.
• Knowledge of GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and GDP (Good Documentation Practice).

Professionalism and Ethical Standards

• High standards of integrity and ethics in clinical and teamwork.
• Approach to clinical care and teamwork with kindness, presence, adaptability, openness, and curiosity.
• Self-awareness, adaptability, and reflection to understand own limitations and biases.
• High levels of accountability and compliance with required procedures.
• Excellent attention to detail and record-keeping.

Work Environment and Collaboration

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and quickly changing environment.
• ​Flexibility and collaboration in both team and independent settings.
• Ability to problem solve, prioritize responsibilities, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Technological Proficiency and Learning

• Ability to quickly learn and independently use technology required for operational tasks.
• Adherence to HIPAA regulations and best practices for protecting patient confidentiality in digital and electronic formats.

Certification and/or Licensure

• Must be a licensed provider, must have and maintain one of the following: LCPC, LGPC, LCSW, PsyD, PhD or equivalent degree that allows you to legally provide psychotherapy and counseling in accordance with federal and local rules and regulations in the State of Maryland.

Physical Requirements 

• Visual acuity, speech recognition, speech clarity.
• ​Ability to lift, lower, push, pull, and retrieve objects weighing a minimum of 30 pounds including medical supplies and equipment and the transferring and repositioning of patients. Reasonable assistance may be requested when lifting, pushing, and/or pulling are undertaken which exceeds these minimum requirements.

Working Location 

• Staff Therapists are expected to work on-site the majority of the time, as most of their time will be spent seeing patients in person at the clinic. All treatment sessions and many of the preparation and integration sessions require therapists to be on-site. Therapists will come into the clinic for training or meetings as required. 
• Some preparation and integration sessions may be conducted remotely and some mandatory meetings for therapists may be attended remotely. Therapists may work from home on days when they have only remote visits/meetings, or may work from the Sunstone admin office; this will be discussed with your manager.

Physical Requirements

This position primarily involves sedentary work, including extended periods of sitting. The role requires the ability to remain in a seated position, communicate effectively, and use standard office equipment.

Sunstone is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Compensation and Benefits

Sunstone Therapies offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.