Mental Health Specialist
About The Position
The Austen Riggs Center is seeking a Mental Health Specialist to join its multidisciplinary team providing psychodynamic residential treatment to adults with complex psychiatric conditions. The role is part of the 24/7 nursing department and involves active participation in the therapeutic milieu, collaborating with nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, substance use counselors, and patients. In the center’s open setting, the Mental Health Specialist builds supportive relationships grounded in respect for patient agency, collaboration on treatment goals, and modeling prosocial engagement within the community. Through sustained engagement, the specialist develops an understanding of each patient’s treatment journey and helps foster resilience, self-reflection, adaptive functioning, and interpersonal growth.
Requirements
- Experience in a hospital or related mental health setting.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Awareness of and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, identity, and ethnicity.
- Ability to maintain concentration despite interruptions.
- Ability to tolerate anxiety and remain reflective under stress.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and electronic health record systems.
- CPR, nonviolent crisis intervention, and defibrillator training required or provided as appropriate.
- Flexibility to work day and evening shifts, occasional night shifts, weekends, and extended shifts.
- Physical stamina to meet the demands of evening, night, extended-shift, and weekend work.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
Responsibilities
- Participate actively in the therapeutic milieu.
- Collaborate with nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, substance use counselors, and patients.
- Build supportive relationships that respect each patient’s agency.
- Collaborate with patients on treatment goals.
- Model prosocial engagement within the community.
- Engage with patients over time to understand their treatment journeys.
- Help foster patients’ resilience, self-reflection, adaptive functioning, and interpersonal growth.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Disability and life insurance
- Flexible Spending Account and Health Reimbursement Account
- Generous paid time off, an Extended Illness Bank, and 12 paid holidays
- 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer contribution
- Night and weekend shift differentials
- Tuition reimbursement
- On-site library
- Employee assistance program
- A workplace committed to zero tolerance for violence
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
