Play Therapist

Play Therapist |

Location: Indianapolis-Westside, Indiana

8355 Rockville Rd, Ste. 130 Indianapolis, IN 46234

Schedule: Part-time / Full-time Position type: Employee

Sweet Birch Child Counseling is a 5 star practice that is growing, and we are looking for therapists who believe in the child centered play therapy model. Sweet Birch Child Counseling specializes exclusively in the nondirective, Child Centered Play Therapy Model serving children between the ages of 4-12.

We are seeking a clinician who practices from a Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) lens or is committed to developing their skills in this approach through training. The therapist will primarily serve children ages 4–12 using a nondirective, relationship-based approach. Within safe therapeutic limits, children lead their play while the therapist supports emotional expression, self-understanding, confidence, and responsibility. The therapist will also partner with parents and caregivers through regular consultations, helping them understand the therapeutic process and build skills that support their child at home

Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a related clinical field.
• Active Indiana license appropriate to the position, such as LMHC, LMHCA, LMFT, LMFTA, LCSW, or LSW, with appropriate clinical supervision.
• Foundational knowledge of child development, attachment, and children’s emotional and behavioral needs.
• Training or experience in child-centered play therapy preferred; commitment to ongoing CCPT training and supervision required.
• Ability to follow a child’s lead without directing play, imposing interpretations, or moving prematurely into teaching or problem-solving.
• Ability to use tracking, reflective responses, encouragement, choice-giving, and therapeutic limit-setting.
• Capacity to remain calm, emotionally present, and accepting during intense feelings and challenging behavior.
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage caregivers with empathy, curiosity, and respect.
• Sound clinical judgment, professional boundaries, and attention to confidentiality.
• Strong organization, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Availability for some after-school and/or weekend appointments

Responsibilities

• Provide individual psychotherapy utilizing a child-centered play therapy model consistent with the clinician’s training, competence, and supervision.
• Establish a predictable, emotionally safe therapeutic relationship that communicates acceptance, understanding, and respect.
• Support children’s expression through play while allowing them to determine the content and pace of sessions.
• Use developmentally appropriate therapeutic limits to protect safety and support responsibility without shame or punishment.
• Complete progress notes, and other required documentation accurately and promptly.
• Monitor clinical progress through changes in functioning, caregiver observations, and the therapeutic process
• Conduct regular parent consultations to discuss concerns, explain the therapeutic model, review progress, and coach parenting strategies.
• Coach caregivers to develop reflective listening, encouragement, consistent limits, and realistic developmental expectations.
• Maintain the child’s therapeutic privacy while providing caregivers with information needed to support treatment.
• Collaborate with schools and other providers when clinically appropriate and authorized, while maintaining adherence to the CCPT model.
• Participate in clinical supervision, case consultation, and continuing education.
• Assess safety concerns and follow applicable reporting requirements and practice procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and developmentally appropriate playroom.
• Uphold practice policies, ethical standards, and applicable professional requirements.

Our Approach

At Sweet Birch Child Counseling, we honor each child’s unique feelings, perspectives, and strengths. We seek to understand emotional and behavioral challenges within the context of a child’s development and relationships. With parents as essential partners, we support children’s growth and strengthen the connections that help them thrive. Our vision is to help children and families find clarity, connection, and hope in a complicated world.

Compensation: $74-$117 per paid client session, based on training and experience in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT).

Expected Client Caseload: 20 – 25 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Continuing education credits
• Professional development assistance

Work Location:

• In person

Formal CCPT training and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credentials are welcome, but RPT status is not required. We would also welcome a therapist with a strong foundation in child development who is actively pursuing CCPT training.

Pay: $75.00 - $117.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Continuing education credits
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75 - $117