ADOLESCENT RESIDENTIAL THERAPIST - LICENSED

UHS•Bradenton, FL

About The Position

Palm Shores Behavioral Health Center provides mental health care and education services to adolescents ages 11–17 experiencing behavioral, emotional, educational, family, and social challenges. Its program promotes healthy behaviors and prepares patients to transition back home. The Adolescent Residential Therapist delivers therapeutic services, including individual, family, and group counseling. The therapist gathers psychological histories, assesses patients’ and families’ therapeutic needs, and develops tailored treatment goals and monthly progress summaries. The position serves as a primary point of contact and advocate for patients and families during their stay, and coordinates with external agencies, contacts, the treatment team, and families to facilitate discharge planning.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work or mental health counseling.
Current Florida license, such as LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT, or Florida Registered Intern Licensure in the field.
One year of direct clinical experience specific to family, individual, and group therapy with children and/or adolescents.
For specialized issues or treatment modalities, training must be specific to the applicable area, including abuse-reactive behavior, sexual offending, substance abuse, sexual trauma, vocational therapy, play therapy, art therapy, or relaxation therapy.
Knowledge of human development across the lifespan.
Ability to participate in physical restraint and seclusion of patients and complete Handle With Care training on a semiannual and annual basis.
Level 2 AHCA clearance.
Good verbal and written communication skills for documenting assessments, treatment planning, and interventions clearly and meaningfully.
Knowledge of individual, group, and family therapy dynamics and techniques in relation to cultural, social, economic, communication, and role expectations within family systems.
Clinical skills to accurately assess treatment dynamics and develop effective strategies within the overall treatment plan.
For employees assigned to children and adolescents, ability to obtain and interpret information in terms of child and adolescent needs, knowledge of growth and developmental stages, and understanding of the range of treatment needed by this age group.
Experienced in trauma-focused therapy and knowledgeable about neurodivergent disorders, PTSD, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, and ODD/comorbidities.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with members of the interdisciplinary treatment team, managed care representatives, adolescents, adults, and patient families.

Responsibilities

Provide individual, family, and group counseling.
Conduct interviews to gather psychological histories.
Assess the therapeutic needs of patients and their families.
Develop tailored treatment goals and monthly progress summaries.
Serve as the primary point of contact and advocate for patients and families throughout their stay.
Collaborate with external agencies and contacts to facilitate discharge planning in coordination with the treatment team and family.
Document assessments, treatment planning, and interventions.
Communicate with interdisciplinary treatment team members, managed care representatives, adolescents, adults, and patient families.