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Employment & Contracting with Real Life

Real Life Counseling (RLC) and our sister company, Real Life Community Behavioral Health (RLCBH), collaborate closely to offer flexible career pathways for mental health professionals and administrative staff. Sharing a hiring pool and a seamless career pipeline, we empower you to grow and thrive at every stage of your journey.

Together with RLCBH, we create a community dedicated to meaningful impact and lasting professional growth.

 
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A Real Life Community United by Purpose & Enriched by Diversity

 

Build a Career That Makes a Difference — and Lasts

RLCRLCBH FLowAt Real Life Counseling and Real Life Community Behavioral Health, we’re proud to offer a variety of enriching career paths for individuals passionate about mental health and community care.

Whether you're an intern, associate clinician, licensed provider or, an administrator, you’ll find more than just a job. you’ll find a place to grow, contribute meaningfully, and be part of a team that values your development.

We know that for some, Real Life is one stop on a larger professional journey and we’re honored to be part of that. But we’re also committed to being the endgame for those seeking a long-term career home. Retention matters to us. That’s why we invest in building a culture where people feel supported, seen, and excited to grow.

We offer flexible, purpose-driven career pathways that support a wide range of goals and have a pipeline to support you in your unique journey. 

As an intern, you have the opportunity to complete your internship through either RLC or RLCBH - and that’s just the beginning. Your journey can lead to becoming a W-2 clinician with RLCBH or for licensed clinicians, launching your own private practice with the support of RLC’s expert administrative services, or stepping into clinical leadership roles. 

As an administrator, you’re invited to join our team and culture in a vital support role, where you can learn, grow, and refine your leadership skills paving the way toward administrative leadership and beyond.


At Real Life, you don’t have to choose between meaningful work and meaningful support — you can have both.

A Career Pathway for Every Stage

At Real Life we believe every clinician—at any stage of their career—should have access to meaningful, sustainable, and fulfilling opportunities. Our flexible career pathway supports growth from intern to licensed professional and clinical supervisor, all within a culture that balances independence with collaboration. This approach extends to our administrative team as well, providing clear advancement and professional development opportunities because we’re committed to investing in every member of our community.
 
Our clinic was built by counselors, for counselors, with the goal of empowering professionals to grow their practice, expand their competencies, and receive invested training and ongoing support. 
 
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A Culture of Care & Collaboration

RLC is more than a workplace, it’s a community built on mutual respect, collaboration, and genuine care. We believe that clarity in roles, fair compensation, and a supportive environment are key to long-term satisfaction. Above all, our culture is grounded in shared values, including:

- Strengths-based communication

- Transparency in leadership and processes

- Encouraging individual strengths, passions, and voice

- Unconditional positive regard

- Humility-driven leadership and practice

We’ve intentionally fostered a culture where both clinicians and administrative staff feel seen, supported, and valued. Our goal is simple: to create a workplace you’re proud to be part of—and excited to grow in.

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Positions & Contracts

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Internships at Real Life

Are you a student looking for a site to complete your Internship or Practicum hours?  RLC and it's sister company RLCBH provide a supportive place with plenty of referrals to complete both your internship hour needs and get experience working in the mental health field.  Our Intern Director, Dr. Melinda Johnson, has established internship relationships with several schools in the greater Portland/Vancouver area and can support connecting you to our team of licensed supervisors.  As an intern clinician with us, you'll gain hands-on experience in a nurturing environment that values learning and growth. RLC also supports our host of intern clinicians with employment opportunities at graduation and can provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on whether RLC or RLCBH would be a good fit as your first step into starting your counseling career.  

AssociateLicensed

RLC Associate Licensed 

As an Associate Licensed 1099 Independent Contracted Clinician at RLC, you stand at the threshold of an impactful career and wonderful opportunity. Our vision for new graduates is to provide them a reliable and supportive place to grow in their practice toward becoming independent licensed, competent and confident counselors.  As counselors ourselves, we know what it's like to start out and have designed a contract that makes getting started easy.  We also seek to help each clinician in obtaining their license through contracted licensure supervision, accessible training and lots of clinical support.  Our systems are designed to meet state, HCA and insurance standards to help guide a new clinician in learning how to have a sustainable practice. 

Intern Supervisor

W2 Position with RLCBH 

The W-2 Clinician position at RLCBh is designed for current or former RLCBh interns who are ready to take the next step into clinical employment. This role offers a smooth transition from internship to professional practice within a familiar, supportive environment. As a licensed Behavioral Health Agency, RLCBh provides structured onboarding, access to licensure supervision hours, and the opportunity to serve clients in a community mental health setting that feels much like private practice. Clinicians in this position can often retain their internship caseload, allowing for continuity of care and a strong foundation as they begin their careers. This position is currently only available to individuals who have completed or are completing their internship with RLCBh.

 

Licensed 1099

RLC Licensed Clinician 

Join RLC as a Licensed 1099 Independent Contract Clinician and enjoy the freedom to contribute to mental health in a way that suits your professional & personal goals. As a 1099 Clinician, we seek to support all the administrative needs a clinical practice requires in order to provide quality mental health support.  From providing you referrals, scheduling intakes and getting you credentialed with our host of insurances, we make accessing a desired caseload easy.  We also complete your billing while providing you access to our reliable and organized EHR system that is structured and automated to align with state, federal, legal and ethical guidelines required to do this work, keep you organized and minimize headaches around billing barriers.  The goal for RLC is to set things up in a way that allows you to jump right into the work you love to do with the security that you'll also get paid for it. 


 

Clinical Supervisor

RLC Clinical Supervisor 

As a Contracted Clinical Supervisor with RLC,  your expertise and leadership are key to our mission of delivering exceptional mental health services that support newly graduated clinicians.  The vision of RLC is support new clinicians in their licensure process, providing them the support, contracted supervision, available training and experience that allows them to become independent, licensed, competent and confident clinicians that can take their own next step with us as a Licensed 1099 Clinician or be ready to branch out on their own with their own business.

RLC Intern Supervisor 

If you're a licensed clinician on our team and you have a heart or vision to expand your career into the training field, we have opportunity for you!  Take on the role of Intern Supervisor with us and shape the future of mental health care. In this vital position, you'll guide and support interns, imparting your knowledge and experience to help them grow into skilled professionals. At Real Life Counseling and Real Life Community Behavioral Health, we value the role of mentorship in our supportive environment, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of the next generation while enhancing your own leadership and supervisory skills. 

Admin

RLC Administrative Staff 

In the administrative team at Real Life Counseling and Real Life Community Behavioral Health, you are the backbone that supports our mission to improve mental health care. Your role is crucial in facilitating the smooth operation of our services, ensuring that both our team and the individuals we help can achieve their best outcomes.  RLC has a vision of providing a "foot in the door" opportunity to someone either new to the work force or new to working in mental health services.  We also seek to provide our admin team the opportunity to obtain new skills, explore and utilize individual passions/strengths & skill sets and then create a pathway of advancement within our company.  Our vision is to create individually customized career goals and trajectories, just like we do with our clinical team, so that all our administrative staff receive career enhancement training and opportunity that empowers them in their own career journey.  

The Next Steps in Your Career Journey Begin Here.

Open Positions & Contract Opportunities

Browse our open positions and contracts below and when you're ready, submit your application.

 

Want to Connect About Your Future with Real Life?

Not sure which role is the right fit or, curious about working or contracting with us?
We're always open to meeting passionate people who want to make a difference.
Tell us a bit about yourself — your interests, skills, and what you're hoping to find — and a member of our team will be in touch to explore where you might thrive within our community.
 
We’re looking forward to starting the conversation
 

 

Understanding the Career Pipeline at Real Life.

Below is the dynamic pipeline connecting RLC and RLCBH, both clinically and administratively. Forming a powerful partnership that drives innovation, collaboration, and growth.

 

While some may begin their journey at the very start of this pipeline, we also encourage individuals to enter at the point that best aligns with their unique career timeline and goals.

 

RLC or RLCBH Intern

Interns can begin their professional journey with either RLC or RLCBH, where they’ll receive compassionate support, consistent referrals, and expert guidance every step of the way. We offer access to a diverse team of experienced and skilled intern supervisors, committed to nurturing both clinical growth and professional confidence. With flexible scheduling options designed to accommodate your personal and academic needs, our internship experience empowers you to thrive both now and in the next stage of your career.

W2 Clinician with RLCBH 

For those fresh out of their internship, RLCBH offers a W-2 clinician position designed to provide hands-on support and a structured, employee-based relationship as you transition into full licensure. This role is ideal for new professionals seeking stability, mentorship, and continued growth in a collaborative environment. One of the key benefits of this position is the opportunity to retain your existing internship caseload, allowing for continuity in your clinical relationships and a smoother step forward in your career journey.

ITB 1099 Independent Contractor

The Incident-To-Billing (ITB) contract is designed for providers who are ready to take the next step toward building their private practice with RLC but are still in the process of completing licensure and need credentialing. Through this unique opportunity, you can begin seeing clients and billing under the supervision of fully licensed providers within our network. This model offers not only clinical oversight to ensure competency and ethical care, but also personalized support in navigating the licensure process, credentialing requirements, and business formation. It’s a powerful launchpad for those eager to step into private practice with guidance, structure, and community behind them.

Full 1099 Independent Contractor

The RLC 1099 Independent Contractor contract is ideal for fully licensed and credentialed providers ready to manage their own private practice with the freedom and autonomy they value without the administrative burden. As an independent contractor with RLC, you'll receive comprehensive back-end support, including intake scheduling, billing, referrals and credentialing services, so your primary focus can remain on client care. Additionally, our network of clinical consultants is available to provide guidance, second opinions, and support in navigating complex clinical situations or coverage concerns. It’s private practice, powered by a team behind you.

Intern or Clinical Supervisor

The Clinical and Intern Supervisor contract is designed for 1099 providers running their own private practice who are passionate about shaping the future of the mental health field. In addition to working with their own clients, supervisors have the opportunity to mentor and support emerging clinicians whether they’re interns through RLC or RLCBH, or ITB 1099 providers beginning their private practice journey. This role allows experienced professionals to give back, foster clinical excellence, and play a vital role in guiding the next generation of clinicians all while maintaining the independence of their own practice.

Admin Support 

At RLC, our administrative support team plays a vital role in our mission  and it often starts at the front desk. This entry point is more than just a support position; it’s a hands-on training ground where new team members learn the ins and outs of our systems, values, and the providers we serve. From day one, we’re invested in your success, offering a welcoming environment where you can grow, develop new skills, and explore your long-term career path. Your time in a support role also provides valuable exposure to our specialty departments (Referrals, Operations, Billing, Credentialing, Bookkeeping, Human Resources and Marketing),  helping you identify the direction that best aligns with your goals within the RLC team.

Admin Support Lead 

The Admin Support Lead position is the next step for administrative team members who are ready to take on greater responsibility and grow into leadership. In this role, you’ll help guide your department, support fellow team members, and contribute to process improvement and efficiency across RLC. It’s a hands-on opportunity to deepen your understanding of operations, develop valuable leadership and communication skills, and play an active role in shaping the success of your team—all while continuing to grow within a supportive and mission-driven environment.

Admin Lead

The Admin Lead position is a key leadership role for those ready to manage entire departments and the teams within them. Admin Leads are responsible for fostering a healthy, collaborative culture while ensuring their department operates efficiently and in alignment with RLC’s core values. This role offers the opportunity to be innovative and forward-thinking-  shaping policies, improving systems, and modeling the culture we strive to build across the organization. As an Admin Lead, you are not only a manager, but a mentor and culture-carrier, driving growth, accountability, and connection within your team.

Admin Manager 

The Admin Manager serves as a high-level leader, overseeing multiple departments and supporting both Admin Leads and their teams. In this role, Admin Managers work closely with RLC’s ownership team to cast vision, align operations with long-term goals, and ensure that our values—and our upside-down leadership approach—are consistently upheld across all areas. With a focus on mentorship, strategic guidance, and cross-department collaboration, Admin Managers play a vital role in cultivating a strong, values-driven culture while empowering leaders and teams to thrive.

 

Thank you for your interest in Real Life Counseling & Real Life Community Behavioral Health.

We are honored to be considered as a part of your next professional journey.