Recreational Therapist

About the role

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277-bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of August 2027.

Make an Impact as a Recreational Therapist! Join our behavioral health team and provide meaningful, recovery-focused care to adults ages 18–64 in a maximum-security unit. Our patients have varying diagnoses, including SMI and/or SUD, and legal involvement, creating an opportunity to develop valuable clinical and behavioral health experience.

A typical day includes morning briefing, treatment team participation, assessments and treatment planning, followed by therapeutic groups at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Therapists typically facilitate 2–3 groups per day, depending on assignments and coverage needs, with time afterward for documentation, planning, assessments, and professional development.

Responsibilities

This position is typically scheduled to work Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; however, work hours and schedule are subject to change based on operational needs and may include evening, weekend, and holiday coverage as required. This position is assigned to the Maximum Security Unit. However, unit assignments are based on operational needs and may change at any time.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's or master's degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, or a closely related field that meets the academic and internship requirements for national certification.
• Eligibility to obtain certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) at the time of hire.
• Incumbents must obtain CTRS certification within one (1) year of employment and maintain certification as a condition of continued employment.
• Valid Virginia driver's license

Qualifications

Knowledge of recreational therapy principles, psychiatric rehabilitation, and behavioral health treatment practices. Knowledge of recovery-oriented and trauma-informed models of care. Knowledge of group dynamics, therapeutic recreation interventions, and patient engagement strategies.

• Ability to conduct comprehensive clinical assessments and develop individualized treatment interventions.
• Ability to facilitate therapeutic groups and individual interventions for diverse patient populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, and community providers.
• Ability to recognize behavioral changes and respond appropriately during crisis situations.
• Ability to maintain accurate clinical documentation within an electronic health record.
• Ability to organize workload, prioritize responsibilities, and function effectively in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Skill in therapeutic communication, conflict resolution, and verbal de-escalation techniques.

Skills

Knowledge of recreational therapy principles, psychiatric rehabilitation, and behavioral health treatment practices. Knowledge of recovery-oriented and trauma-informed models of care. Knowledge of group dynamics, therapeutic recreation interventions, and patient engagement strategies.

Benefits

DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $54,555.00 - $75,287.00, Pay Band: 3.