Recreational Therapist - BIRCH Hospital - Military veterans preferred

As a Recreational Therapist, you’ll play a vital role in delivering holistic care through structured, therapeutic activities that support emotional regulation, resilience, and healthy expression. You will develop and lead recreational therapy sessions that foster positive peer interactions, build coping strategies, and promote overall well-being—all within a trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate framework.

• Develop and implement individual and group recreational therapy sessions using art, movement, games, and creative play.
• Assesses each child’s abilities, interests, and needs to tailor activities that support therapeutic goals.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, nurses, and case managers to ensure integrated treatment planning.
• Document progress and provide feedback on patients' participation and growth.
• Contribute to discharge planning with activity recommendations that support continued wellness.
• Maintain a safe, supportive, and engaging environment that reflects the mission and values of RiverValley.

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a related field.
• Experience working with children or adolescents in a behavioral health or healthcare setting preferred.
• Passion for working with youth in crisis and using creativity as a therapeutic tool.
• Ability to engage children and teens in a fun, structured, and emotionally supportive way.
• Excellent communication, organization, and teamwork skills.
• Trauma-informed care mindset and a commitment to dignity, inclusion, and safety.

Knowledge and Skills:

1. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to built rapport and credibility with employees at all levels of the organization.
2. Ability to analyze and synthesize data from a variety of sources and to apply reason, logic, and advanced problem-solving skills to resolve complex issues.
3. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to prioritize, organize and manage multiple priorities.
4. Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and the ability to quickly master new software applications.
5. Proficiency in electronic health records (HER) and other healthcare technologies.