Pregnant and Parenting Women Substance Abuse Therapist

The Ness Center; Mandeville (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ness Center in Mandeville, LA is seeking two full-time PPW Therapists to join our clinical team in the Pregnant and Parenting Women program. This day shift position focuses on delivering high-quality therapy to mothers and families in a recovery-oriented setting.

As PPW Therapists, you will lead individual and group therapy, document progress, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to support safe, resident-centered treatment and adherence to licensure requirements.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or another recognized mental health field.
• Licensure in Louisiana: LPC/PLPC/LMFT/LMSW/LCSW, per state requirements.
• AHA BLS and CPI de-escalation classes required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in clinical/psychiatric/substance use/behavioral health settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual therapy based on resident needs and treatment goals.
• Facilitate group therapy and implement clinically appropriate interventions.
• Contribute to treatment plans and monitor resident progress.
• Accurately document resident participation, progress, and response to treatment.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to support safety and treatment needs.
• Maintain professionalism and protect resident confidentiality.

Skills

Clinical judgment

Communication skills

Therapeutic abilities

Team collaboration

Professional boundaries

Patient safety

Education

Master’s degree in social work or counseling

Job description

The Ness Center is seeking to add two Full Time Therapists to our growing Pregnant and Parenting Women (PPW) program to join our clinical team. This is a Day Shift position.

About the PPW Program

The Ness Center’s Pregnant and Parenting Women (PPW) program is more than a substance use treatment program; it gives mothers the opportunity to work toward recovery while keeping their families together.

Through the program, children from birth through age 11 can remain with their mothers while their mothers receive treatment and supportive services. Participants have the opportunity to engage in substance use treatment, individual and group therapy, job skills training, parenting classes, and other services designed to help them build healthier, more stable lives.

As a PPW Therapist, you have the opportunity to be an important part of that journey. You will work alongside mothers as they face difficult challenges, recognize their strengths, learn new skills, and work toward a healthier future for themselves and their children. The therapeutic relationship you build can provide encouragement when recovery feels difficult, support when change feels overwhelming, and hope when a mother may not yet see what is possible.

This is an opportunity to do more than provide therapy. It is an opportunity to help mothers build a future in which they and their children can thrive together.

Position Summary

The PPW Therapist provides quality clinical and psychotherapeutic services to program participants and their families. The Therapist facilitates therapeutic groups, develops and implements clinically appropriate interventions, documents resident progress, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to support safe, effective, resident-centered treatment. The position requires strong clinical judgment, professional boundaries, effective communication, and a commitment to patient safety and recovery.

Essential Functions

• Provide individual and group therapy based on resident needs and treatment goals.
• Facilitate therapeutic groups and provide clinically appropriate interventions.
• Contribute to individualized treatment plans and monitor resident progress.
• Accurately document resident participation, progress, and response to treatment.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to support resident safety and treatment needs.
• Maintain professional boundaries and protect resident confidentiality.
• Identify and promptly report safety concerns, serious incidents, and other significant resident or program issues.
• Educate staff on appropriate therapeutic approaches and interactions based on individual resident needs.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and professional environment.
• Follow all applicable clinical, ethical, HIPAA, safety, infection control, security, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or another recognized mental health field.

Licensure/Certifications: Current Louisiana licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Candidates must practice within the scope of their license and applicable Louisiana Department of Health requirements. AHA BLS and CPI de-escalation classes are a required component of orientation.

Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in a clinical, psychiatric, substance use, or behavioral health setting.

Skills & Competencies: Strong clinical judgment, communication skills, therapeutic abilities, and the ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team. Must demonstrate professionalism, appropriate boundaries, sound judgment, and a commitment to patient safety, quality care, and recovery.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Ness Center is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or class.