Therapist

New Hope Treatment Centers embraces a trauma-informed, evidence-based, and individualized approach to the care and treatment of our residents. Therapists work as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team to support positive clinical outcomes for children and adolescents in residential care. The Therapist serves as the primary clinician for residents assigned to their caseload and is responsible for providing and coordinating individualized therapeutic services throughout the resident’s treatment.

Essential Functions

• Provides individual, group, and family therapy to assigned residents, maintaining an average caseload of 10 residents or fewer.
• Completes comprehensive clinical assessments within established organizational and regulatory timeframes.
• Develops, implements, and updates individualized treatment plans based on each resident’s clinical needs, strengths, goals, and progress.
• Completes all required clinical documentation accurately and within established New Hope Treatment Centers timeframes.
• Utilizes trauma-informed and evidence-based therapeutic interventions appropriate to the resident's diagnosis, developmental level, and individual needs.
• Maintains regular communication with families, legal guardians, referral agencies, and courts, as required.
• Provides timely updates regarding resident progress, treatment goals, barriers, and recommendations.
• Ensures residents, families, guardians, and appropriate referral representatives are actively included in the treatment-planning process.
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, clinical consultations, and other meetings related to resident care.
• Collaborates with Case Management, Utilization Review, Nursing, Residential Services, Education, and other members of the treatment team to promote continuity of care.
• Assesses and responds appropriately to behavioral health crises and safety concerns in accordance with New Hope policies and clinical best practices.
• Maintains professional, ethical, and therapeutic boundaries with residents and families.
• Adheres to confidentiality requirements, professional standards, licensing requirements, and all New Hope Treatment Centers policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support resident care and program operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a Human Services or behavioral health-related field from an accredited institution.
• Previous experience working within the mental health profession preferred.
• Experience working with children and/or adolescents with behavioral, emotional, or trauma-related needs preferred.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) experience is a plus.
• Must be licensed or license-eligible in the State of South Carolina, including applicable credentials such as:
• LSW
• LMSW
• LISW-CP
• LISW-AP
• LPC
• LPC-S
• LMFT
• LMFT-S

Core Competencies

Trauma-Informed Care

Demonstrates an understanding of trauma and its impact on behavior, emotional regulation, relationships, and treatment. Provides services in a manner that promotes safety, trust, empowerment, and respect.

Clinical Assessment & Treatment Planning

Effectively assesses resident needs and develops individualized, measurable treatment goals and interventions based on clinical presentation and identified needs.

Therapeutic Intervention

Demonstrates competency in providing individual, group, and family therapy utilizing evidence-based and developmentally appropriate treatment approaches.

Crisis Intervention & De-escalation

Maintains composure during challenging situations and uses sound clinical judgment, de-escalation techniques, and established safety procedures when responding to crises.

Clinical Documentation

Produces accurate, timely, professional, and clinically appropriate documentation that supports treatment objectives and meets organizational and regulatory requirements.

Communication & Family Engagement

Communicates effectively and professionally with residents, families, guardians, referral sources, courts, and other stakeholders while encouraging meaningful participation in treatment.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Works collaboratively with clinical, residential, nursing, educational, case management, and utilization review teams to support coordinated resident care.

Professional Judgment & Ethics

Demonstrates sound clinical judgment, confidentiality, professional boundaries, ethical decision-making, and adherence to applicable licensing and organizational standards.

Organization & Time Management

Effectively manages clinical responsibilities, documentation deadlines, treatment meetings, and resident needs while maintaining quality and accuracy.

Adaptability & Resilience

Demonstrates flexibility and emotional composure when working in a fast-paced residential behavioral health environment and responds appropriately to changing resident and program needs.