Mental Health Technician in Allied Therapy

About the role

Shodair Children’s Hospital is seeking compassionate and active Mental Health Technicians (MHTs) to join the Allied Therapy team with a special focus on Recreational Therapy. The role uses play, outdoor adventure, group activities, and therapeutic recreation to support the emotional and behavioral growth of children and teens.

Responsibilities

• Support and engage patients (ages 3–18) in therapeutic recreational activities, ropes‑course challenges, and group games.
• Help implement care plans designed by licensed therapists to build coping, communication, and social skills.
• Monitor patient behavior and safety during activities and throughout the day.
• Participate in group facilitation, emotional coaching, and de‑escalation strategies.
• Serve as a positive role model, encouraging healthy decision‑making and peer interactions.
• Assist in maintaining a structured, safe, and fun therapeutic environment—indoors and out.
• Perform physical holds, movements, and carries, including blocking and redirecting patient movements against the patient’s weight.
• Provide physical interventions in response to aggressive and self‑injurious behavior.
• Move quickly and confidently to intervene with protective holds or movements when necessary.
• Physically able to pivot, perform knee squats, shuffle forward and backward, assist with carrying a person, assist a person to the floor, and stabilize people in standing, seated, prone, and supine positions.

Ideal Characteristics

• Compassionate & Energetic – loves working with youth and thrives in a physically active role.
• Emotionally Resilient – keeps calm under pressure and maintains boundaries.
• Physically Capable – can hike, play, lift, and keep up with busy kids.
• Recreation‑Minded – comfortable leading games, creative activities, or outdoor adventures.
• Safety‑Focused – maintains awareness and follows safety protocols.

Benefits

• Free medical and vision insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement & student loan assistance.
• 6% employer‑paid 403(b) retirement contribution.
• Generous paid time off.
• Ropes course & lifeguard training included.

Pay

Starting at $25 per hour after training.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, special education, or a related field; or four (4) years of progressively responsible work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with children or in a behavioral health or healthcare setting is strongly preferred.
• Must obtain and maintain CPR and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Advanced Physical Skills within two (2) months of hire.
• Additional certifications (e.g., ServSafe, Lifeguard, high ropes) may be required based on unit assignment.
• Certification in Behavioral Health is strongly preferred.