Lead School Based Therapist

InSite Health•Old Bridge, NJ

8d•$83,000 - $87,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead School-Based Therapist serves as a clinical leader within the school setting, providing direct mental health services, crisis intervention, consultation, and systems-level collaboration to support student well-being and academic success. This position plays a critical role in strengthening partnerships between behavioral health services and educational teams while promoting safe, supportive, and trauma-informed school environments. The Lead School-Based Therapist works closely with school administration, Child Study Team (CST) members, school social workers, counselors, and other student support personnel to ensure coordinated, effective, and responsive care for students experiencing emotional, behavioral, social, or mental health challenges. This role requires strong clinical judgment, exceptional collaboration skills, and the ability to lead and support school-based mental health initiatives across multidisciplinary teams.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related behavioral health field required.
Active New Jersey clinical licensure required (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent).
Experience working with children, adolescents, and families required.
Strong understanding of special education systems, school-based supports, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

New Jersey Social Work Certification (Preferred)
School-based or educational setting experience is strongly preferred.
Experience with crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, and threat assessment preferred.
Ability to build trust and collaborative relationships across school systems.
Strong clinical decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
Knowledge of trauma-informed care and evidence-based interventions.
Ability to manage high-risk and fast-paced situations effectively.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and student-centered practices.

Responsibilities

Provide individual, group, and family counseling services to students within the school setting.
Conduct mental health assessments, school clearances evaluations on-site at school, risk assessments, and safety planning as appropriate.
Support students experiencing emotional, behavioral, social, or crisis-related concerns.
Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation.
Coordinate referrals to community-based services and outside providers when needed.
Serve as a key clinical support during crisis situations and behavioral emergencies.
Participate in school-based crisis response planning and implementation.
Collaborate with administration and multidisciplinary teams during threat assessments and high-risk student situations.
Provide post-crisis support, debriefing, and re-entry planning for students and families.
Foster strong working relationships with school administration, school social workers, Child Study Team (CST) members, counselors, psychologists, and related service providers, and additional student support and mental health personnel.
Participate in student support meetings, IEP meetings, intervention planning meetings, and case consultations.
Support alignment between clinical recommendations and school-based interventions.
Promote effective communication and continuity of care across disciplines.
Provide clinical support and consultation to school-based staff regarding student mental health concerns.
Support implementation of trauma-informed and evidence-based practices within the school setting.
Assist in identifying school-wide behavioral health needs and intervention strategies.
Help strengthen systems and protocols related to student wellness, crisis response, and behavioral support.
Collaborate with families to support student progress and emotional well-being.
Maintain professional and compassionate communication with caregivers.
Connect families with community resources and support as appropriate.