School Based Therapist

Juvenile Protective Association (JPA); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

JPA is seeking full-time clinicians to provide relationship-oriented school-based therapy for children from Prekindergarten to eighth grade. Successful candidates will engage in trauma-informed therapy and collaborate with families and schools to support children's well-being.

Benefits

Generous PTO package

Excellent health benefits

Retirement plan with employer matching

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field and valid Illinois licensure required.
• Clinical approach is child-centered and trauma-informed.
• Experience working with children is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual therapy to Kindergarten-8th grade children.
• Conduct intake interviews and develop treatment plans.
• Engage with families and school staff for support.

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Adaptability

Assertiveness

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy

Valid licensure in Illinois as LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC, or LMFT

Job description

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JPA is a 124-year-old social impact agency whose mission is to improve the social and emotional well-being and functioning of children so they can reach their fullest potential at home, in school, and in our communities. JPA partners with schools and centers across the city with the hope of sharing its trauma informed, mental health, developmentally informed lens.

JPA is seeking to expand its team and hire full-time clinicians to provide relationship-oriented school-based therapy for children in Prekindergarten through eighth grade. School-based therapists provide trauma informed, talk and play-based therapy for individuals and small groups for children in elementary school.

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual therapy to Kindergarten-8th grade children in the school setting. Caseload will include 19 individual clients for the entirety of the school year. Caseload must meet program’s funding requirements and is subject to review by the Senior Director of Clinical Practices.
• Conduct intake interviews with children, family members and/or relevant school staff, providing an initial assessment and treatment plan that best reflects the needs of the client.
• Provide clinical support and guidance to clients’ parents/caregivers, as it relates to the well-being of the client.
• Provide guidance and advocacy on behalf of the child’s and family’s needs with key stakeholders in the community.
• Provide ongoing family therapy to students and their immediate family members as well as potential individual therapy to caregivers
• Engage in active outreach with school staff, parents/caregivers, and community resources.
• Regular collaboration and consultation with school staff, as it relates to caseload and social-emotional topics.
• Support clinical and logistical elements of maintaining on-going school partnerships, including but not limited to, attending regular meetings with school administration and other relevant stakeholders.
• As a leader within the therapeutic milieu, serve as a role model, particularly regarding treating oneself and others with respect and dignity, in a thriving learning community.
• Adhere to ethical, legal, and the organizational expectations of documentation of clinical services, record keeping, and data collection.
• Document all direct and indirect clinical services, and any other miscellaneous professional activities (such as school meetings), in a timely manner, including ongoing documentation for Medicaid.
• Attend all relevant organizational meetings, including but not limited to case consultation, clinical supervision, clinical team meetings, and program meetings.
• Commitment to on-going professional development regarding race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, other cultural components, and issues of social justice.
• Other duties may be assigned as the needs arise.

Updated 6/25/2025

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy and a valid licensure in Illinois as an LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC, or LMFT
• Clinical approach rooted in a trauma-informed, strength-based, child-centered practice. Applicants must demonstrate a solid understanding of significant developmental tasks for children; an appreciation for systems theory and its application within the child’s life; and a foundational competence regarding the therapeutic process for individual, group, and family modalities
• Must have experience working with children
• Must demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, assertiveness, an openness to learn, and self-initiation
• An understanding of urban, under-resourced educational environments is preferred but not required
• This position may require travel; therefore, one must own a car to be able to travel to multiple sites if necessary during the work day
• Excellent communication skills that can be applied to a variety of settings
• This position requires the ability to write treatment plans, mental health assessments, and case conceptualizations. Able to present information and respond to questions from key stakeholders . Knowledge and previous experience of Medicaid is preferred
• Weekly individual clinical supervision
• Opportunities for case consultation, which includes case presentation and analysis, with clinical team and clinical consultant
• Becoming part of a creative, innovative, energetic team
• Very generous PTO package (vacation, sick, and personal days)
• Excellent health benefits with substantial employer cost share
• Family leave, if applicable
• Retirement plan with employer matching

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Commensurate with experience

COVID-19 considerations:

Must be vaccinated to work in CPS schools or agree to weekly testing.

Our therapists will provide sessions, virtually, to students if schools return to remote learning. JPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Entry level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Health Care Provider

• Industries

  Individual and Family Services

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