Therapist | Hope Therapeutic Day Academy - Springfield, IL

Hope•Springfield, IL

8d•$60,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Therapist provides an integrated mental health service model to children with significant emotional difficulties and behavioral needs. The role includes individual and group therapy, family and parent support, consultation with schools and community providers, behavior plan monitoring, and collection and analysis of student data. The therapist ensures intrusive interventions used in the program have undergone peer review and are supported by scientific evidence of effectiveness. The therapist works with students, families, school personnel, clinical staff, and community organizations to support students’ emotional, behavioral, and social development, including transitions to less restrictive settings. The position also involves maintaining records, participating in program planning and multidisciplinary reviews, guiding internship students, and pursuing ongoing professional development.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a human service or related field, such as Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work.
Understanding of children experiencing emotional and behavioral disturbances and treatment techniques that support age-appropriate adaptive behaviors.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with employees across professional and school roles.
Ability to work closely with parents and interact effectively on a multidisciplinary team.
Working toward licensure in the respective discipline.

Responsibilities

Provide individual therapy to students to reduce or replace symptoms associated with emotional, cognitive, or behavioral difficulties.
Facilitate group therapy addressing social skills, anger management, problem solving, moral decision-making, coping, team building, communication, and life skills.
Maintain contact with parents, provide support, initiate phone communication as needed, and conduct family therapy when appropriate.
Serve as a liaison with community organizations to help students and families obtain needed services.
Consult and communicate with school personnel, providers, and organizations, including weekly school consultation and participation in quarterly intra-agency core team meetings in applicable circumstances.
Monitor individualized behavior management plans, track target behaviors, compile behavioral data, and share outcome information with involved parties.
Track students’ target behaviors and physical and emotional symptoms daily, analyze trends, and report results to clinical staff, parents, school district personnel, and review committees.
Provide consultation to community schools and personnel on classroom behavior support strategies.
Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, review client progress and assessment results, and make recommendations about intervention and treatment techniques.
Support student transitions to less restrictive settings by planning with students, families, clinical staff, community organizations, and school personnel.
Develop policies and procedures and participate in program planning and development.
Provide direction and guidance to internship students working with the program.
Maintain student records, client notes, and assessment results.
Pursue ongoing professional development through continuing education, workshops, and conferences, and maintain compliance with active professional licensure requirements.
Establish professional growth goals, participate in problem solving, offer proactive recommendations, maintain respectful interactions, communicate effectively, and practice in accordance with APA ethical standards.
Consult with school personnel, families, and others who work directly with youth on appropriate behavioral and clinical techniques.
Participate in inter-agency staffings and internal reviews, including admission, discharge, IEP development, agency rounds, 90-day reviews of intrusive interventions, and quarterly student planning with schools and families.
Perform other duties reasonably within the scope of the position.