We are seeking a passionate Experiential Therapist to join our team. In this role, you will work alongside an interdisciplinary team to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate therapeutic activities and special events that provide meaningful recreation and leisure opportunities for our residents. This position is a key part of our comprehensive treatment approach, allowing you to directly impact the social, emotional, and recreational development of the youth we serve.

We are a residential treatment program serving military-connected youth aged 11–17. Our beautiful Norfolk campus provides a safe and engaging environment where youth can grow, learn, and thrive. We are dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families through comprehensive, interdisciplinary care.

If you are passionate about working with youth and promoting healthy recreational and social experiences, we invite you to join our Experiential Therapy team!

Responsibilities:

Manage a caseload of residents, documenting progress toward treatment goals and positive recreational engagement.
Plan and facilitate purposeful recreational activities for both small and large groups, focusing on socio-emotional wellbeing and development.
Maintain thorough documentation of client progress and responses to interventions.
Collaborate with colleagues and participate in departmental and agency professional development opportunities.
Foster a fun, engaging, and therapeutic environment for residents.

About Our Experiential Therapy Team:

We prioritize building and maintaining positive rapport with residents through a systematic, intentional approach.
Daily Experiential Therapy groups are designed to develop skills that promote community involvement, social engagement, and overall wellbeing.
We leverage community partnerships to create opportunities for skill-building, anxiety reduction, and fostering independence.
Our team values creativity, enthusiasm, and a passion for working with youth.

Qualities for Success

We met with our residents to learn what characteristics and qualities they value most in staff. They shared that the most important quality is empathy. Residents also emphasized the importance of staff who remain level-headed and calm under pressure, as this helps them feel safe. The third quality they identified was professionalism and trustworthiness, which builds a strong foundation of respect and reliability. Finally, residents shared that having staff who are consistent and dedicated to supporting them makes a meaningful difference in their experience.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy, Music Therapy, or Expressive Arts required
Active professional certification or certification-eligible (CTRS, BC-MT, or equivalent).
Minimum 2 years’ experience working with children or adolescents preferred.
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Experience facilitating small group interventions, large-scale activities, and community integration/partnerships.
Experience in behavioral or mental health settings preferred.

Schedule: Both full-time and part-time schedules available:

Monday–Friday, 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM (may include schedule shifts based on program calendar/activities and additional rotating weekends). Part-Time option available: 24 hours/week, 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Benefits:

Full benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance
403(b) retirement plan with company contribution
Company paid life and long-term disability insurance
Generous paid annual leave (Vacation)
Paid sick leave
Paid Holidays
Tuition reimbursement, details below:
$3,000 per calendar year after 6 months of tenure
$5,000 per calendar year after 2 years of tenure
PLSF Eligible Nonprofit Organization (Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program)
Employee events and activities
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Annual performance reviews
Opportunities for advancement
And more!

The Barry Robinson Center offers a stable and supportive work environment rooted in more than 90 years of service to youth and families. Team members benefit from clear career pathways, ongoing professional development, and opportunities for internal advancement. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to grow into a leadership role, we’re committed to helping you thrive. Join a mission-driven organization where your contributions are valued and your growth is a priority.

The Barry Robinson Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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Experiential Therapist (Music, Art, Recreational)