First Responder Therapist

First Responder Therapist

• Provisionally Licensed or Independently Licensed
• Position Type: Full-time
• Compensation: $42.50 to $66.15 per hour, plus paid administrative time
• Supervision: Provided toward licensure
• Location: Bloomington, IL, with hybrid options

About Us

The Mental Wellness Center (TMWC) is an established, values-driven group practice rooted in evidence-based care, community, and clinical excellence. We are a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and we are growing into a new location so we can serve more of our community.

We believe clinicians do their best work when they are supported clinically and operationally. We have built strong systems so you can focus on your clients, and we take clinician sustainability seriously. We want you here for the long haul, not burned out in a year.

About the Role

We are hiring clinicians to provide general outpatient therapy and to help build our First Responder Program. This role is a great fit if you:

• Want strong supervision and real mentorship
• Prefer the stability of hourly pay, including paid admin time
• Are interested in working with first responders, including police, fire, EMS, dispatchers, and corrections staff, or want to learn
• Have experience with trauma work and stabilization, or want to build it
• Want to be part of a team during an exciting growth phase

The First Responder Program

• First responders carry things most people never see, and many of them have learned not to talk about it. We are building specialized, culturally competent care for first responders and their families, focused on:
• Trauma and PTSD
• Burnout, chronic stress, and cumulative critical incident exposure
• Relationship and family challenges, including the strain of shift work
• Sleep, anger, and substance use concerns

You do not need first responder experience to apply. If you are interested in this population, we will train and support you. Clinicians with first responder experience, or with a first responder in their own family, are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do

• Provide individual, couples, and family therapy within a general caseload and/or the First Responder Program
• Use evidence-based trauma treatment, with training and consultation provided
• Complete clinical documentation within 24 business hours of each session
• Participate in supervision, team meetings, and group consultation

Marketing Is Encouraged, Never Required

If you want to build your professional identity, we will back you. That might look like community outreach, developing a clinical niche, or creating content and workshops. If you would rather just do great clinical work, that is welcome here too.

Requirements

• Current Illinois license: LPC, LSW, or LAMFT (provisional), or LCPC, LCSW, or LMFT (full)
• Eligible for insurance credentialing (our team manages the process for you)
• Interest in trauma-informed care
• Organized, reliable, and client-centered
• Open to feedback, supervision, and collaboration

Preferred Qualifications

Training in an evidence-based trauma treatment such as EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), or Prolonged Exposure (PE)

Experience with first responders, military or veteran populations, or high-stress professions

Familiarity with first responder culture, including shift schedules, confidentiality concerns, and stigma around asking for help

What We Offer

• $42.50 to $66.15 per hour, plus paid administrative time
• Weekly group clinical supervision toward licensure
• Free monthly EMDR consultation toward certification
• Specialized training and support for the First Responder Program
• A steady referral stream, so you are not building a caseload from scratch
• Administrative support for scheduling, billing, credentialing, insurance, and intake
• Established systems and EHR
• Health insurance for full-time clinicians
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off ( paid at your regular rate)
• Team meetings, group consultation, lunch-and-learns, and growth development groups
• A clear pathway toward full licensure, specialization, and advancement within the practice

Schedule

We ask for two evenings a week until 7 p. m. or a weekend shift of your choosing. That matters even more in this program, since first responders often work rotating shifts. Beyond that, your schedule is yours.

Why Join Us?

• Consistent hourly pay with paid admin time, which is rare in private practice
• Experience in a specialty program serving people who rarely get care built for them
• A practice that prioritizes support, not just productivity
• The chance to help shape a new location and a new program from the ground up

How to Apply

Email your cover letter and resume. Tell us about your clinical interests, the populations you enjoy working with, and what draws you to this role. We’ll follow up within 3 business days.