RECREATION THERAPIST (LICENSED)

Meridell Achievement Center; Liberty Hill (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Growth opportunities

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

401k with company match

Paid Time Off

Education Assistance

Student Loan Repayment

Make a real difference

Job summary

Meridell Achievement Center is seeking a Recreation Therapist to lead group Recreational Therapy for multiple units, coordinating with the Therapy department to plan activities and events on campus. Role requires CTRS certification and strong interpersonal and clinical skills, with a collaborative approach to patient care.

The position runs Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am–5:00pm, on a 60-acre campus near Austin, focusing on therapeutic activities for youths aged 10 to 17.

Qualifications

• Current CTRS certification through NCTRC, obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
• Effective interpersonal skills and competent clinical skills.
• Collaborative, positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Preferred: ROPES/Challenge Course certified, Animals experience, Behavioral health experience, one year of group facilitation experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of 2 primary units, providing group Recreational Therapy and support to help them achieve their treatment goals.
• Plan and facilitate Recreation Therapy groups for 7 units on Saturdays.
• Collaborate with the Recreation Therapy department to plan and implement holiday activities and events.
• Document group notes and assessments in a timely and accurate manner.
• Participate in weekly treatment team staffings and team meetings to stay connected with your unit team members.
• Care for animals on campus with the Recreation Therapy department.

Skills

Group facilitation

Interpersonal skills

Clinical skills

Collaborative work ethic

Education

CTRS certification through NCTRC

ROPES/Challenge Course certified (preferred)

Job description

Meridell Achievement Center is a 132-bed, seclusion free, psychiatric residential treatment facility located northwest of Austin. Our 60-acre campus is complete with mature oaks, rolling hills, and plenty of walking paths and outdoor spaces. We have 7 unique living units separated by gender, age, and development needs with a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports court and playing fields. We provide 24-hour psychiatric care to girls and boys ages 10 to 17 years old with customized therapeutic approaches and intensive behavioral programs to teach young patients to moderate their behavior, manage emotions and improve social functioning.

Website: www.meridell.com

We are looking for an energetic Recreation Therapist who can work Tuesdays - Saturdays, 9:00am - 5:00pm.

Job Duties / Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of 2 primary units, providing group Recreational Therapy and support to help them achieve their treatment goals
• Plan and facilitate Recreation Therapy groups for 7 units on Saturdays
• Collaborate with the Recreation Therapy department to plan and implement holiday activities and events
• Document group notes and assessments in a timely and accurate manner
• Participate in weekly treatment team staffings and team meetings to stay connected with your unit team members
• Care for animals on campus with the Recreation Therapy department

About Universal Health Services

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500® corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion. In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies™ and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies.

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 101,500 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 40 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. For additional information visit www.uhs.com.

Requiremets

Qualifications

• Current CTRS certification through NCTRC, obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
• Effective interpersonal skills and competent clinical skills.
• Collaborative, positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Preferred Requirements:
  • ROPES/Challenge Course certified
  • Experience with Animals
  • Previous experience working in behavioral health
  • One year of group facilitation experience

Benefits For Our Therapists Include

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Collaborative and supportive work environment
• Growth and development opportunities within UHS and its subsidiaries
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plan
• 401k plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off and Extended Leave Hours
• Education Assistance Program
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Make a real difference in the lives of children and adolescents!

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.