What are the responsibilities and job description for the School-Based Therapist (Exempt) position at JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF ST LOUIS?
Supporting Families & Seniors. Alleviating Hunger. Improving Mental Health.
JOB POSTING
Position: School-Based Therapist
Organization: Jewish Family Services (JFS)
Location: 10950 Schuetz Road, St. Louis, MO 63146 (with placement at partner schools throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area)
Status: 10-Month Position (School-Year Schedule), Exempt
Schedule: Mostly during school hours, with occasional evenings for family or school-based meetings
Salary: $47,000 to $70,000; Commensurate with education, experience, and licensure status
Our Mission
Inspired by Jewish tradition to make the world a better place, JFS empowers and supports people in need to meet their challenges.
The Opportunity
Are you a licensed or provisionally licensed therapist passionate about supporting children's mental health? JFS seeks a School-Based Therapist to join our clinical team and provide direct, on-site counseling to students throughout the St. Louis area during the school year.
In this role, you will provide individual and group therapy to students facing a wide range of mental health concerns, incorporate trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, and deliver crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety planning when needed. You will work closely with teachers, administrators, school support staff, and caregivers to build treatment plans that support each student's success, and you'll help extend JFS's reach through classroom presentations and prevention programming.
Why JFS?
- Mission-Driven Impact: Work directly with students in the school setting, helping children build the skills and support they need to thrive academically and emotionally.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy paid Jewish and federal holidays, comprehensive insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k)/Roth plans, pet insurance, and more.
- Professional Growth: Access opportunities for training, clinical development, and career advancement within a learning-focused organization.
- Community Leadership: Be part of a team recognized as the region's only comprehensive provider of premium behavioral health and human services.
Your Role
- Clinical Provider: Deliver individual and group therapy to students in a school-based setting, addressing a wide range of mental health concerns while incorporating trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care.
- Collaborative Partner: Work closely with teachers, administrators, school support staff, and caregivers to develop and coordinate comprehensive treatment plans, participating in school-based consultations and meetings, including IEP meetings.
- Crisis Responder: Provide crisis intervention services, including risk assessment and safety planning, responding to emergency situations with sound clinical judgment.
- Diligent Documenter: Maintain accurate and confidential client records, complete case documentation and reports, and track outcomes data in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
- Prevention Advocate: Plan and facilitate outreach, classroom presentations, and group prevention programming that extends JFS's impact beyond individual therapy sessions.
Who You Are
Education & Experience
You hold a Master's degree in social work, counseling, or psychology, along with experience directly related to the delivery of psychotherapy and/or social services. Experience in a school-based or clinical mental health setting is a plus.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Clinical Expertise: Strong interviewing, psychosocial assessment, and diagnostic skills, with knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
- Adaptive Practitioner: Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic plans and make individual modifications as needed.
- Confident Presenter: Experience making classroom and community presentations to diverse audiences.
- Meticulous Documentation: Skilled in preparing and maintaining accurate, timely, and confidential case records, data, and reports.
- Cultural Responsiveness: Ability to provide inclusive, respectful care to students and families of diverse backgrounds.
- Trauma-Informed Approach: Working knowledge of trauma-informed care practices and community support services and resources.
- Ethical Grounding: Strong knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines related to providing mental health services in a school setting.
Licenses & Certifications
Provisional licensure as a clinical social worker, psychologist, or counselor is required. Full licensure preferred.
Physical Demands & Travel
This position requires prolonged sitting at a desk and computer work, with periods of standing for therapy sessions, presentations, and group facilitation. You must be able to lift up to 15 pounds. Some travel within the community is required for school-based placements, meetings, and outreach activities, so access to private, reliable transportation is necessary.
Why JFS Now?
Children's mental health needs continue to grow, and school-based support is often the most accessible path to care. JFS's school-based therapy program brings that support directly to students where they already are, in partnership with the schools and families who know them best.
We are seeking a compassionate, skilled clinician who shares our commitment to student wellbeing. At JFS, you'll join a collaborative clinical team, receive meaningful professional support, and see the direct impact of your work in the lives of the students you serve.
Apply Today
Help us support the mental health and success of students across St. Louis. To learn more about JFS and our impact, visit www.jfsstl.org.
Jewish Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind 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.
Salary : $47,000 - $70,000