VitalCore Health Strategies logo
VitalCore Health Strategies
Parchman, Mississippi

Behavioral Health Technician

Counselor Top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling)Full-Time

Listed compensation

$20-$24/hr

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join the VitalCore Team in Mississippi! We're people who are fueled by passion, not by profit.

VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in correctional healthcare, has an opening for a Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist at Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi!

Looking for a rewarding career in the field of healthcare with competitive wages, annual incentive payment, and excellent benefits package?

At VitalCore we pride ourselves on retaining and acquiring compassionate, dedicated individuals who are committed to providing quality services. Join our team and experience first-hand how VitalCore Health Strategies promotes a positive work environment that is based on respect and appreciation of the hard work and dedication of our staff.

Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Benefits Package

  • Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Short Term/Long Term Disability
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
  • 401K & Plan Matching
  • PTO
  • Annual Incentive Bonus

Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Position Summary

To perform this job successfully, the Behavioral Health Recreational Therapist must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and provided routine care for behaviorally impaired and emotionally disturbed patients under the direction of licensed behavioral health staff and provide purposeful, goal-oriented activities that teach and facilitate skills in assertiveness, independent living, interpersonal and social skills, and promoting individualized interest and pursuits.

Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Minimum Requirements

  • Degree in therapeutic recreation or related field, Certified Therapeutic Specialist (CTRS) preferred.
  • Can be filled by CNA or CMA with patient experience
  • Subject to initial and ongoing security clearance requirements.

Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Essential Functions

  • Leads, instructs and encourages inmate patients in a program of individual and group activities of a physical, social, and cultural nature.
  • Work with the behavioral health team to plan treatment goals for specific patients.
  • Assist in coordinating recreation therapy with other therapeutic programs.
  • Observe patients’ reactions and progress.
  • Record clinical notes to be included in medical files and prepare reports.
  • Regular monitoring of inmates' program involvement.
  • Notify Behavioral Health/Clinical Director in a timely manner of inmate problems requiring attention.
  • Attends training and meetings as required.
  • Other duties, as assigned.

VitalCore Health Strategies is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

Keywords: Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Technician, Recreation Therapist #indmississippi

Key Responsibilities

The Behavioral Health Recreational Therapist provides goal-oriented activities to facilitate social and independent living skills for behaviorally impaired patients. They also collaborate with the clinical team to plan treatment goals, monitor progress, and maintain accurate clinical documentation.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a degree in therapeutic recreation or a related field, with a Certified Therapeutic Specialist (CTRS) credential preferred. Alternatively, the role can be filled by a CNA or CMA with relevant patient experience and the ability to pass security clearance.

Key Skills

Patient CareTreatment PlanningGroup FacilitationSocial Skills TrainingAssertiveness TrainingReporting

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Behavioral Health Technician at VitalCore Health Strategies a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,933 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 32% have no call, 76% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Mississippi is 87.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$46k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $53k in an average-cost state. 61.9% of Mississippi clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution33 jobs · 14 employers

6
<$75k
3
$75k-90k
4
$90k-105k
7
$105k-120k
13
$120k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks30 jobs · 14 employers

401k / retirement match
93% this job
Sign-on bonus
37%
CME allowance
37%
Loan repayment
13%
Relocation assistance
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

LifeStance Health · Madison, Wisconsin

$92k-$125k
#2

Remote Licensed Talk Therapist - Fee For Service

Thriveworks · Massachusetts

$124k
#3

Licensed Talk Therapist - Fee For Service

$124k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 7.2
Higher than about 8 in 10 of 7,933 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10. Shaded area = share of comparable listings scoring below this one.

VitalCore Health Strategies logo

About VitalCore Health Strategies

Hospitals and Health Care
Topeka, Kansas
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Holiday Pay
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Short Term/Long Term Disability
Identity Theft Protection
Pet Insurance