Program Therapist

About Children’s Minnesota

Children’s Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood.

An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children’s Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites.

As The Kids Experts™ in our region, Children’s Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children’s hospital. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn.

Children’s Minnesota is proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2023’s Top Diversity Leaders. The national honor recognizes the top diverse healthcare executives and organizations influencing public policy, care delivery, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their organizations and the industry.

Program Therapist Opportunity

Join Children’s Minnesota as a Program Therapist supporting both the Lakeville Partial Hospitalization Program and the St. Paul Inpatient Mental Health Unit. This unique opportunity allows you to provide therapeutic care across two specialized settings while making a meaningful difference for children, adolescents, and their families.

Department Overview

The Mental Health Services program at Children's Minnesota includes our partial hospitalization programs in Lakeville and Roseville and the inpatient mental health unit in St. Paul. These programs provide short term, stabilization services for children and adolescents experiencing acute mental health concerns. These intensive services are designed to address mental health symptoms that pose a safety risk or significant impact to the child or adolescent's daily functioning.

The Lakeville Partial Hospitalization Program serves adolescents ages 11 to 18. This structured day program provides intensive mental health treatment in a supportive environment while allowing patients to return home at the end of each program day.

The St. Paul Inpatient Mental Health Unit provides 24/7 psychiatric care for children and adolescents ages 6 to 18 who are experiencing immediate or acute safety concerns. The 22-bed unit offers a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment focused on stabilization and continuity of care.

Position Summary

A Program Therapist is primarily responsible for conducting clinical assessments, therapeutic interventions, and care planning within our Mental Health Services departments and programs.

Provide individual, group, or family therapy services, crisis intervention services, resource mobilization, or triage of psychosocial, emotional, or behavioral concerns.

Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary care team members to develop treatment goals, assess performance towards goals, and complete discharge or transition planning as indicated.

Provide crisis intervention services, resource mobilization, or triage of psychosocial, emotional, or behavioral concerns.

Program Therapists are trained in using physical holds and restraints and may be in high-stress situations; depending on the patient and program's needs, they may be required to support or facilitate holds or restraints.

• Schedule:.8 FTE
• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Partial Hospitalization Lakeville
• Every other Saturday and Sunday, St. Paul Inpatient Mental Health
• Minimum Required Education/License
• Master's degree from an accredited counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy program
• BLS certification (Basic Life Support) Required

Program Therapist I

LGSW, LADC, LAMFT, LPC, LP or licensure eligibility to provide clinical mental health services under supervision in the State of Minnesota.

• OR-

Program Therapist II

LICSW, LMFT, or LPCC or licensure eligibility to provide clinical mental health services under supervision in the State of Minnesota.

Experience Preferred

One year of work experience as a program therapist or similar experience providing counseling in a health care or related pediatric setting (will consider clinical internship experience in lieu of formal work experience).

Work Experience in an acute mental health or programmatic care setting preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

*Curiosity and willingness to develop clinical skills toward the ability to exercise independent judgement and work autonomously.

*Ability to manage competing demands in a fast-paced clinic or hospital environment.

*Exhibits a high degree of professionalism, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively.

*Ability to assess and provide intervention services to children and adolescents in acute crisis / experiencing suicidal ideation.

*Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Physical Demands

Please click here to view the Physical Demands

All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of an occupational health assessment, drug screen, background investigation, and compliance with the U.S. Government Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

Children’s Minnesota is proud to be an equal opportunity employer whose staff is representative of its community and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.