Mental Health Technician (MHT) - Adult Psych - Day Shift

Universal Health Services; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Compensation

Paid Time Off

Medical Plan

Dental Plan

Vision Plan

401(k) with employer match

Stock Plan Discount

SoFi student loan refinancing

Nursing education tuition savings

Career development opportunities

Pet Insurance

Benefits Website

Job summary

Universal Health Services in Virginia Beach seeks a Mental Health Technician to support adults in an acute inpatient behavioral health setting. You will help with daily activities, monitor patient safety, document behaviors, and assist the clinical team in care planning.

The role emphasizes compassionate, crisis-intervention skills, teamwork, and adherence to patient-centered care. Competitive benefits accompany a dynamic, coastal work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s level understanding in psychology, human services, sociology, counseling or related field.
• Experience working with adult psychiatric or chemical dependency clients.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in writing and speech.
• Eligible to work in a fast-paced inpatient setting.

Responsibilities

• Be a steady, supportive presence in patients’ daily lives, guiding meals, activities and programming.
• Maintain safety by anticipating challenges and calmly de-escalating situations.
• Build trust-based relationships through positive communication and encouragement.
• Support screenings and assessments with Clinical and Admissions teams.
• Assist with daily living tasks to promote independence and progress.

Skills

Communication skills

Written and verbal

Fast-paced environment

Education

Undergraduate degree in psychology/human services

Associate’s degree in related field

High School/GED with experience

Job description

Responsibilities

Mental Health Technician (MHT) Opportunity

Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center is a 100-bed acute care, inpatient behavioral health facility dedicated to serving adults with diverse and complex mental health needs. Our programs provide specialized care for older adults, individuals living with chronic mental illness, and those in need of substance abuse treatment and medical detoxification. Through a combination of evidence-based practices and compassionate, patient-centered care, we support individuals on their path to stabilization, recovery, and long-term wellness.

Housed in a modern, state-of-the‑art facility, Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center offers an exceptional work environment in the heart of the vibrant Virginia Beach community—just minutes from the ocean. Our location not only enhances the healing experience for patients but also provides staff with the unique opportunity to build a meaningful career in a setting that balances professional growth with coastal living.

Visit the site virtually and much more online at: vbpcweb.com

As a Mental Health Technician, you’ll play a hands‑on role in supporting patients through some of the most critical moments. You’ll provide attentive care and supervision, build meaningful, trust‑based relationships, and actively contribute to each patient’s treatment journey. From observing and documenting behaviors to stepping in with compassionate crisis intervention when needed, you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative team dedicated to safety, healing, and positive outcomes.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Be a steady, supportive presence in patients’ daily lives—guiding them through meals, activities, and programming while helping create a structured, engaging environment where they can thrive
• Stay one step ahead to keep everyone safe—using awareness, quick thinking, and sound judgement to anticipate challenges and calmy de‑escalate situations
• Build genuine, trust‑based relationships through positive communication, active listening, and consistent encouragement of healthy behaviors and boundaries
• Partner with Clinical and Admissions teams to support screenings and assessments, playing an important role in each patient’s care journey from the very start
• Champion patient dignity and independence by supporting daily living needs, empowering individuals to build confidence and take meaningful steps forward

Benefit & Rewards Highlights

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Competitive compensation & generous Paid Time Off
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
• 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
• SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
• Tuition saving to continue your nursing education with Chamberlain University
• Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!
• Pet Insurance
• More information is available on our Benefits Guest Website: uhsguest.com

About Universal Health Services

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) is one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services. Since our founding in 1979, UHS has grown steadily into a premier Fortune 500® corporation perennially recognized by multiple esteemed national rating entities. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates inpatient acute care facilities, inpatient behavioral health facilities, outpatient and other facilities, nationwide virtual behavioral health services, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services with physical locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Ireland and United Kingdom. www.uhs.com

From Fortune, ©2025, 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, Counseling or in a related behavioral science field
• Associate’s degree in Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, Counseling or in a related behavioral science field; one year of direct care experience working with adult psychiatric or chemical dependency clients
• High School/GED Diploma; three years of direct care experience working with adult psychiatric or chemical dependency clients
• Must be 21+ years of age
• Valid driver’s license required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to successfully perform in a fast-paced work environment

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams

We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.

At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.

If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.