Unit Therapist

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Milwaukee County offers a wide variety of interesting jobs for people who want to make a difference in our community. Milwaukee County provides a competitive benefit package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If disability related accommodations are needed, please email fmla@milwaukeecountywi.gov. For submitted application inquiries please contact careers@milwaukeecountywi.gov. Please note: an online application must be submitted for consideration.

We are searching for Changemakers to come and join our team and discover our diverse and versatile community of independent spirits and unique talents, we are redefining the way you think about Milwaukee County!

• Closing Date: October 19th, 2026, or upon receipt of the first 50 applicant submissions
• Unit Therapist
• Children, Youth, and Family Services
• Annual Salary Range: $59,280 - $88,878.40

Job Summary: The Unit Therapist will provide intensive individual sessions and multi-family group therapy to justice-involved youth in a secure setting, utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) framework. This position is essential to the Milwaukee County Center for Youth serving as the primary clinician for an assigned caseload.

Position Duties

Serve as the primary therapist and deliver structured individual DBT. Apply the DBT target hierarchy, behavioral chain, solution analysis, and skills coaching to reduce high-risk, treatment-interfering, and quality-of-life interfering behavior.

Complete intake, diagnostic, risk, behavioral, trauma, substance-use, and other required assessments. Develop and evaluate individualized treatment and safety plans integrating strengths, responsivity needs, court requirements, family priorities, MCCY phase goals, etc.

Provide family therapy and caregiver engagement using DBT validation, behavior-change, communication, contingency-management, and skills-coaching strategies. Prepare youth and caregivers for home passes, aftercare, and community reintegration.

Provide in-the-moment DBT skills coaching, behavioral consultation, and clinical crisis response in the secure milieu. Assist staff to recognize vulnerability factors and prompting events, respond consistently to target behaviors, as well as reinforce skill use.

Lead or participate in multidisciplinary treatment reviews. Communicate clinical recommendations to youth, caregivers, MCCY staff, education and health providers, advocates, as well as ancillary team members.

Complete timely clinical records and reports for courts and authorized partners. Participate in weekly DBT consultation team, clinical supervision, case review, required training, fidelity and outcome monitoring. Use data and consultation to strengthen adherence.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Current Resident of Wisconsin

• Valid Wisconsin driver's License and access to a reliable insured vehicle; maintained throughout employment.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or in a closely related field is required.
• At least one (1) year of recent experience working with Youth providing counseling or therapy services.
• Able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 25lbs as needed.
• Must be available for evening and weekend shifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification as a Social Worker in the State of Wisconsin preferred
• ASPW, CSW, LCSW, LPC or LPC-IT
• Experience delivering Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of and skill in the application of ethics, theories, methods, practices, treatments and techniques of psychiatric social work and counseling; oral and written communication skills; knowledge of health services providing care to children and adolescents; knowledge of community resources in the area of health and social services and the ability to utilize them effectively; knowledge of mental disorders and diseases; knowledge of laws governing mental commitments; skill in interviewing patients and family members and accurately assessing their needs; ability to work as a member of a mental health or health care team; ability to work with people of all social, economic and educational levels; ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships; ability to work effectively and harmoniously with staff, patients, families, and agencies.

NOTE: This ORIGINAL APPLICATION is open to qualified residents of the State of Wisconsin at the time of application. Candidates need to submit a full account of their training and experience (i. e., by submitting an up-to-date resume or by fully completing the application) during the application process and may also be asked to take additional written or performance tests as part of the selection process.

Applicants Must Possess Minimum Qualifications at Time of Filing Application

Milwaukee County is committed to fostering an equitable working environment, free from discrimination and harassment, on the basis of any characteristic protected by law.

We prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, pregnancy related condition, national origin, age, disability, FMLA status, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, or any other category or status that is now or in the future protected by federal, state, and local law.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing, background checks and pre-employment physicals subject to job requirements. If special accommodations are needed, please contact 414-278-3936.