First Responder Therapist

The Refuge, A Healing Place; Ocklawaha (FL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life

401K with employer match

PTO and Sick Time

EAP program

Job summary

The Refuge – A Healing Place in Ocala National Forest, Florida, seeks therapists to support first responder clients through healing, offering individual, group, and family sessions in a trauma-informed program.

Candidates should have a Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work or related field, and licensing or intern status as described. The role emphasizes collaboration with a multidisciplinary team and compassionate, client-centered care for diverse first responders.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or other recognized therapeutic field required.
• Two or more years’ experience as a therapist with one or more years’ experience with the specific population of the facility required.
• State or national licensure for professional therapy providers required.

Responsibilities

• Apply psychotherapeutic techniques and interventions in the delivery of services to individuals and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed emotional and behavioral health disorders.
• Conduct psychosocial assessment and develop an initial discharge plan.
• Conduct individual, group or family sessions as appropriate for the treatment plan of the patient.
• Provide initial treatment planning for patient based on assessment and coordinate any additional services needed and revise as necessary.
• Maintain documentation of therapy services provided to each patient, according to facility and professional standards and revise as needed.
• Maintain a caseload as assigned.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and collaborate with other staff to facilitate services for the patient as appropriate to their treatment plan.
• May provide these services in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Provide case management, discharge planning or after-care planning according to treatment plan.
• May assist in educating and training staff on behavior management or therapeutic crisis intervention.
• May coordinate various clinical and psychosocial or educational activities with patient and their families.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or related field

Job description

Overview

Pay Rate: Starting at $28.00/Hr. for Intern candidates

Pay Rate: Starting at $70,000/annually for fully licensed therapists

*pay increases based on relevant work experience

Available schedules: Sunday - Thursday or Tuesday - Saturday

About Us

Located on 96 acres in Florida’s Ocala National Forest, The Refuge – A Healing Place offers the highest quality treatment for individuals struggling with mental health and addiction diagnoses. Our evidence based clinical program focuses on healing the whole person with a balance of process and psycho-educational groups along with wellness modalities. We believe trauma resides in the nervous system, and our nature-based approach helps clients process trauma and reduce maladaptive coping mechanisms. At The Refuge, we understand that every recovery journey is unique. Our team uses diverse, evidence-based methods to create individualized paths to healing.

Position Overview

We are looking for a Therapist to be responsible for the First Responder clients at The Refuge and this position will play a central role in supporting first responder clients through their healing journey. This position provides individual, group, and family therapy while collaborating closely with a team of clinicians, medical providers, and support staff. Ideal candidates are grounded, empathetic, clinically skilled, and passionate about trauma‑informed care. Previous experience working with first responders or in the first responder field is preferred to be most effective with clients.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or related field
• Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern or Registered Clinical Social Work Intern
• Fully licensed LCSW, LMFT, LMHC preferred
• Experience with trauma‑informed care, addiction treatment, or residential settings preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively
• Commitment to ethical, compassionate, client‑centered care

We are proud of our competitive benefits offering:

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance
• 401K with employer match
• PTO and Sick Time
• EAP program that includes employee and family counseling; financial assistance;life event preparation and more!

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Apply psychotherapeutic techniques and interventions in the delivery of services to individuals and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed emotional and behavioral health disorders.
• Conduct psychosocial assessment and develop an initial discharge plan.
• Conduct individual, group or family sessions as appropriate for the treatment plan of the patient.
• Provide initial treatment planning for patient based on assessment and coordinate any additional services needed and revise as necessary.
• Maintain documentation of therapy services provided to each patient, according to facility and professional standards and revise as needed.
• Maintain a caseload as assigned.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and collaborate with other staff to facilitate services for the patient as appropriate to their treatment plan.
• May provide these services in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
• Provide case management, discharge planning or after-care planning according to treatment plan.
• May assist in educating and training staff on behavior management or therapeutic crisis intervention.
• May coordinate various clinical and psychosocial or educational activities with patient and their families.

• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• State or national licensure for professional therapy providers required.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or other recognized therapeutic field required.
• Two or more years’ experience as a therapist with one or more years’ experience with the specific population of the facility required.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

This position requires a Level 2 Background Screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. In accordance with Florida law, employers must provide applicants with direct access to information about the state’s background screening requirements.

To learn more about disqualifying offenses, exemption procedures, and screening timelines, please visit the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Background Screening Education & Awareness webpage:

https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applicants are encouraged to review these requirements before applying.

We are committed to providingequalemploymentopportunitiestoall applicantsforemploymentregardlessofanindividual’scharacteristicsprotected byapplicable state,federalandlocallaws.