Lead Therapist

Laurel Heights Hospital; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Laurel Heights Hospital in Atlanta, GA seeks a Lead Therapist to provide clinical leadership and advanced therapeutic services to children and adolescents in residential and acute care programs.

You will conduct psychosocial assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, supervise therapists, ensure regulatory compliance, and contribute to program development and discharge planning with families.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field; independent/licensure preferred.
• Experience with individual, group, and family therapy in pediatric behavioral health.
• Strong collaboration within a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, nurses, and educators.
• Proficiency in electronic health records and clinical documentation, with attention to regulatory standards.
• Excellent communication, de-escalation, and crisis intervention skills with youth and families.

Responsibilities

• Lead therapist provides clinical leadership and advanced therapies to children and adolescents in residential and acute care programs.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans.
• Supervise therapists and oversee clinical documentation; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Support treatment outcomes through ongoing evaluation and adjustment of interventions.
• Contribute to discharge planning, family engagement, case conferences, and program development.

Skills

Individual therapy

Group therapy

Family therapy

Psychosocial assessment

Clinical documentation

Crisis intervention

Leadership coaching

Education

Master's degree in Social Work / Counseling / Psychology

Tools

EHR software

Job description

Company Description

Laurel Heights Hospital is a private child and adolescent behavioral health facility located in Atlanta, Georgia, with residential programs accredited by The Joint Commission. The hospital specializes in treating children and adolescents with complex psychiatric and behavioral challenges, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and co-occurring neurodevelopmental disabilities. Services include multiple residential treatment units, a dedicated autism program, a specialty acute inpatient unit, and general psychiatric acute care for children ages 6–17. A multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, medical staff, clinicians, behavior analysts, psychologists, recreation therapists, educators, and allied health professionals collaborates with families to develop individualized treatment plans. The facility also provides structured activities that promote self-awareness, creativity, self-management, volunteerism, and healthy leisure skills.

Role Description

The Lead Therapist is responsible for providing clinical leadership and advanced therapeutic services to children and adolescents in residential and acute care programs at Laurel Heights Hospital. This is a full-time, on-site role located in Atlanta, GA, working closely with a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health care. Day-to-day tasks include conducting psychosocial assessments, developing and implementing individualized treatment plans, and providing individual, group, and family therapy. The Lead Therapist oversees clinical documentation, ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, and supports treatment outcomes through ongoing evaluation and adjustment of interventions. Additional responsibilities include mentoring and guiding other therapists, collaborating with families and community resources for discharge planning, participating in case conferences, and contributing to program development and quality improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated skills in individual, group, and family therapy with children and adolescents in behavioral health or psychiatric settings.


• Experience with treatment planning, psychosocial assessment, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions for complex behavioral and psychiatric conditions.


• Ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, nursing staff, behavior analysts, psychologists, educators, and allied health professionals.


• Strong skills in clinical documentation, risk assessment, and adherence to regulatory, ethical, and accreditation standards.


• Effective communication, de-escalation, and crisis intervention skills with youth and families from diverse backgrounds.


• Leadership capabilities for coaching, mentoring, and supporting other therapists and clinical staff.


• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field; independent or associate clinical licensure (e.g., LCSW, LPC, LMFT) preferred or eligible.


• Prior experience in inpatient, residential, or acute child and adolescent behavioral health settings strongly preferred; autism and neurodevelopmental disability experience is a plus.


• Proficiency in using electronic health records and basic computer applications to manage clinical information.