MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN (MHT or CNA) – ADOLESCENT UNIT

Freedom-Behavioral-Hospital-of-Monro; West Monroe (LA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Freedom Behavioral Health is looking for Mental Health Technicians (MHTs) to join our Adolescent Unit, serving patients ages 12–17. As an MHT, you will provide direct support and supervision, help maintain a safe, structured environment, and work closely with nursing and clinical staff to monitor behavior and implement therapeutic activities.

You should stay calm under pressure, show patience and strong communication, respect boundaries and confidentiality, and be dependable as part of a

Qualifications

• Patience and calm under pressure are essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Respect for boundaries and confidentiality in adolescent care.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team of healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrated dependability and reliability in a clinical setting.
• Experience with behavioral health, adolescents, education, childcare, or healthcare is a plus.
• Commitment to providing a safe, therapeutic environment for youth.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support and supervision to adolescent patients.
• Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment.
• Monitor patient behavior and communicate observations to nursing and clinical staff.
• Establish appropriate, professional relationships with patients.
• Assist with daily activities, groups, recreation, and therapeutic programming.
• Help redirect inappropriate or unsafe behaviors using approved techniques.
• Participate in crisis prevention and de-escalation interventions as trained.
• Complete required documentation and safety checks.
• Assist nursing staff with patient needs within the scope of the MHT role.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Patience

Communication skills

Boundaries

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Dependable

Job description

Are you someone who can connect with teenagers while maintaining structure, safety, and professionalism?

Freedom Behavioral Health is looking for Mental Health Technicians (MHTs) to join our Adolescent Unit, serving patients ages 12–17.

Our MHTs play an incredibly important role. You are often one of the staff members spending the most time with our patients—and your ability to listen, encourage, redirect, observe, and maintain a safe environment can make a meaningful difference.

What You'll Do:

• Provide direct support and supervision to adolescent patients.
• Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment.
• Monitor patient behavior and communicate observations to nursing and clinical staff.
• Establish appropriate, professional relationships with patients.
• Assist with daily activities, groups, recreation, and therapeutic programming.
• Help redirect inappropriate or unsafe behaviors using approved techniques.
• Participate in crisis prevention and de-escalation interventions as trained.
• Complete required documentation and safety checks.
• Assist nursing staff with patient needs within the scope of the MHT role.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

What Makes a Great MHT?

• You genuinely care about helping young people.
• You can stay calm when situations become challenging.
• You have patience and strong communication skills.
• You understand the importance of boundaries and confidentiality.
• You can be supportive without trying to be a patient's friend.
• You are dependable and comfortable working as part of a team.
• Previous behavioral health, mental health, adolescent, education, childcare, or healthcare experience is a plus.

Why Join Freedom Behavioral Health?

• Make a difference in the lives of adolescents.
• Gain valuable behavioral-health experience.
• Work alongside nurses, therapists, physicians, and other professionals.
• Opportunities for additional shifts.
• Supportive team environment.
• Meaningful work where what you do every day matters.