Certified Music Therapist (Full Time, Days)

CounselorFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Provides evaluations and establishes a treatment plan for therapy. Collects and analyzes data from the patient's responses to music. Specializes in working with a variety of patients to help manage pain, reduce stress, express emotion, enhance memory, improve communication, and promote physical rehabilitation.

Patients include those with developmental disorders, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, trauma, neonates, and other medical needs for children birth to 21 years of age.

Works independently or alongside peers in other therapeutic specialties, Multidisciplinary Clinics and collaborations, whilst providing professional services to establish individual goals to pursue, and then design music-based interventions to meet those goals within the inpatient and outpatient populations within the hospital setting.

Job Specific Duties

Assesses patient functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of sensorimotor, social/emotional, communicative, cognitive, and musical domains.

Develops a plan of care outlining area of deficit, activity restrictions, context and assistance needed, and ensures functional, realistic, and measurable treatment goals and/or status of ongoing goals.

Conducts music therapy sessions providing guided self-expression experiences to help patients recover from or cope with cognitive, communicative, emotional, or physical impairments.

Maintains active and supportive communication with the patient, caregiver(s), and others regarding progress, before, during, and after non-sedative medical procedures and/or surgeries using music therapy and music psychotherapy counseling techniques.

Follows Episodic Care Model and initiates, documents, and prepares the patient/family for discharge at the time of the evaluation based on maximum potential or when benefit of therapy is reached.

Participates in interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary meetings and other related meetings/rounding to communicate patient assessment findings & recommendations with multi- disciplinary team to improve patient outcomes and develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.

Records daily patient documentation, statistics, and charges accurately and in a timely manner as determined by meeting departmental standards.

Maintains and documents productivity standards set by leaders.

Responsible for addressing a variety of developmental and psychosocial needs of children and adolescents in the hospital environment.

Effectively engages with patients and families in both individual one-to-one bedside sessions and group music therapy sessions to build rapport and acknowledge their progress.

  • Maintains and ensures cleanliness and organization of work area, musical instruments, and other equipment.
  • Provides proof of at least 1 in-service specific to evidenced-based practices/literature review.
  • Provides proof of at least 1 peer review (case study presentation) incorporating evidenced-based practices into treatment plan.
  • Maintains ongoing CEUs to maintain professional licensure and clinical excellence.
  • Minimum Job Requirements
  • Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy from AMTA approved program
  • American Heart Association BLS - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment
  • CBMT - Certification Board for Music Therapists - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Membership and active participation within AMTA preferred.
  • Experience providing music therapy in pediatric setting preferred.
  • Bilingual preferred.
  • Basic knowledge in physiology and childhood development.
  • Knowledge of procedures, illnesses, injuries, and other related events on an inpatient unit.
  • Ability to play guitar, keyboard piano, ukulele, hand percussion instruments.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  • Able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
  • Analytical ability necessary to evaluate patient condition, to interpret and analyze data, assess patient progress, and determine appropriate follow-up.
  • Able to relate cooperatively and constructively with patients, families, and co-workers.
  • Demonstrate compassionate demeanor with patients and families.

Key Responsibilities

Assess pediatric patients and develop measurable music therapy plans and interventions to address their developmental, emotional, cognitive, communicative, and physical needs. Deliver and document individual and group sessions, communicate progress with families and multidisciplinary teams, and maintain professional standards, equipment, and continuing education.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Music Therapy from an AMTA-approved program, active CBMT certification, and current American Heart Association BLS are required. Pediatric music therapy experience, AMTA participation, and bilingual ability are preferred; candidates should have relevant musical instrument skills, communication and analytical abilities, and knowledge of physiology and child development.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Treatment PlanningPediatric CarePatient and Family CommunicationInterdisciplinary CollaborationClinical DocumentationEvidence-Based PracticeData Analysis

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 20% are remote, 38% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Florida is 103.4 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.1% of Florida clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Florida has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Counselor Jobs

42 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution38 jobs · 32 employers

12
<$65k
12
$65k-80k
10
$80k-95k
3
$95k-110k
1
$110k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs · 32 employers

401k / retirement match
88%
CME allowance
39% this job
Sign-on bonus
24%
Loan repayment
18%
PSLF eligible
15%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

LifeStance Health · Nyack, New York

$72k-$110k
#2

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, LMFT, LCSW)

LifeStance Health · Brookfield, Wisconsin

$82k-$109k
#3

PA Licensed Clinician - LCSW or LPC - Behavioral Health

$57k-$103k
#4

Military & Family Life Counselor - School

$60k-$100k
+ 40 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 5.1
Better work-life than 40% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,995 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Miami

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$619k
Typical market rent
$3,008/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital logo

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Hospitals and Health Care
Miami, FL
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Ongoing CEUs to maintain licensure
Professional development (in-service and peer review requirements)