Intern - Recreational Therapist

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is seeking a Recreational Therapist Intern to join an interdisciplinary treatment team in Grand Rapids, MI. You will assess patient needs and implement individualized activities grounded in expressive arts, recreation therapies, and DBT-informed strategies.

The role emphasizes patient safety, treatment planning, and collaboration with clinical leaders to provide compassionate care aligned with our mission.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation or similar.
• Pursuing eligibility for the NCTRC Certification exam.
• Knowledge of DBT, expressive arts, and recreation therapies.

Responsibilities

• Assess patient care needs and develop/modify treatment plans with the interdisciplinary team.
• Plan milieu programming, teach skills, and run therapy groups.
• Establish therapeutic relationships and document progress per policies.
• Support safety, crisis intervention, and reporting of risks to patient safety.

Skills

Therapeutic Recreation

DBT knowledge

Expressive arts therapies

Recreation therapies

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation

Job description

Who Are We?

We at Pine Rest believe in the power of healing and that everyone in our community has the right to expert care for mental health and substance use disorders. We are much more than just the third largest non-profit behavioral health system in the country, our 220-acre main campus, and our network of clinical sites across Michigan. We are a tight-knit community of healers who witness the impact of our life-changing work each day.

Each day, we are closing the gaps in access to care. We are innovating through leading-edge research, testing, programs, and treatment modalities that others replicate across the country. Our services include a state-of-the-art psychiatric urgent care center and a soon-to-be-built pediatric behavioral health center, outpatient, inpatient, partial hospitalization (day programs), assessment and testing, residential, addiction treatment and specialty services such as crisis response, employee assistance programs, forensic psychiatry and psychology, and neuromodulation. On-the-job educational programs for nurses, psychologists, advanced practice providers, psychiatrists, and chaplains are equipping the next generation of care providers.

We are passionate about serving and are honored to be a part of this incredible work.

Cost Center

168 Activity Therapy

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

First Shift (United States of America)

What Will you Do?

As a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, the Recreational Therapist Intern utilizes clinical skills associated with current training in area of expertise, the expressive arts therapies, recreation therapies, and psycho-educational interventions to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services. Assess patients' capabilities, needs, interests and goals to design an individualized treatment program consistent with the interdisciplinary team's goals. The Recreational Therapist intern must demonstrate excellent customer service and have enthusiasm about the program and the Pine Rest organization.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Assesses patient care needs, develops/implements a treatment plan in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and continually reassesses treatment plan according to patient care needs.
• Plans and participates in milieu programming: teaching, skill building, and therapy groups.
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients.
• Provides input to the interdisciplinary treatment plan while functioning as a team member.
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting to manager and unit leaders any potential risk to patient safety that could lead to an adverse outcome.
• Utilizes processes to conserve financial resources.
• Responsible for documenting and reporting all necessary information according to established policies and procedures.
• Creates a patient friendly environment by following quality improvement standards and maintaining professionalism.
• Is responsible to actively participate in safety management, crisis intervention and prevention. This may include monitoring, assessment, verbal de-escalation, and emergency psychiatric and medical care.
• Works in various clinical settings with diverse patient populations.
• Serves on committees as needed.
• Promotes positive communication amongst all members of the treatment team.
• Collaborates in follow up with disciplinary action.
• May conduct individualized assessments with patients, within Recreational Therapy scope of practice, per doctor’s order.
• Collaborate with AT Clinical Services Manager and Recreational Therapy Leads regarding internships and other departmental activities.
• Responsible to role model the mission and values of the organization, presenting a professional image that is projected in appearance, attitudes and behaviors, time management and communication skills. Provides spiritual, emotional, social, mental and physical support to patients.
• Responsible to uphold the healing ministry of Christ through relationships that honor integrity, stewardship, empowerment, professional excellence, and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Must maintain annual training and demonstrate competency in the required programmatic training.
• Continuous exposure to potentially adverse physical environment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What Does the Role Require?

• Enrolled in an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree program for Therapeutic Recreation, or similar degree, which leads to ability to sit for the NCTRC Certification Exam.
• Exposure of relevant psychiatric/medical/clinical experience is helpful to plan and implement therapeutic, interactive education sessions and interventions, though not required.
• Knowledge of current therapy principles in area of expertise associated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychoeducational interventions, expressive arts, and recreation therapies to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services.
• On the job training or formal education in the application of therapy/counseling principles and practices for patients with various psychiatric/medical conditions.

Notice

Pine Rest 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.

All new employees are subject to a criminal background check and education verification which may include sending a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.

NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is also part of our background process.