Behavioral Health Activity Therapist
Lynchburg, Virginia
Centra Bh Jb Msa

Therapist - Behavioral Health

Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Employment Type: Travel
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

Seeking an Activity Therapist specializing in Behavioral Health to provide clinical services across Geriatric, Adult, and Child/Adolescent units in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

Work Schedule

• Shift: Monday - Sunday, either 9 AM - 5 PM or 10 AM - 7 PM
• Weekly Guaranteed Hours: 36
• Weekend Hours: 12 PM – 4 PM
• Call Requirements: None

Unit Profile

• Beds: 72
• Patient Population: Geriatric, Adult, Child/Adolescent
• Equipment: Adaptive therapeutic recreation materials, activity and cognitive therapy supplies, assistive devices, and standard clinical documentation technology (computer/EHR)
• Electronic Health Record (EHR) system used

Required Qualifications

• Valid Recreation/Recreational Therapist license in Virginia
• Recreation/Recreational Therapist experience within the last year (0 years of experience acceptable)
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Healthcare Worker Certification (HWC)
• Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, or a related field
• Experience in an inpatient setting

Preferred Qualifications

• NCTRC certification (CTRS) or eligibility to sit for the exam
• 1–2 years experience in inpatient psychiatric, acute care, or residential behavioral health settings
• Experience working with individuals under Temporary Detention Order (TDO) or involuntary commitment
• Experience with high-acuity populations (psychosis, mood disorders, co-occurring conditions)
• Familiarity with DBHDS standards, CMS Conditions of Participation, or Joint Commission requirements
• Experience in treatment planning, clinical outcome tracking, de-escalation, and behavioral interventions
• Crisis intervention training such as CPR, CPI/MANDT, or comparable
• Bilingual or culturally responsive service experience

Common Diagnoses/Treatment Areas

• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Co-occurring primary serious mental illness with dementia and others

Additional Information

• Float Requirements: Provide clinical services across Geriatric, Adult, and Child/Adolescent units
• Dress Code: Follow facility dress code (no specific scrub color required)

Prior Travel Experience

• Not explicitly required

This position offers an opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary behavioral health environment with a focus on therapeutic recreation and patient engagement across diverse age groups and acuity levels.