J-1 Visa Mental Health Therapy Jobs
Mental health therapy positions in the United States are available to international professionals through the J-1 visa under the Trainee or Research Scholar program categories, depending on your career stage. Securing sponsorship requires a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019 before you can begin working with a host employer.
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Cost Center
168 Activity Therapy
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Work Shift
First Shift (United States of America)
Shift & Status
Who Are We?
We at Pine Rest believe in the power of healing and that everyone in our community has the right to expert care for mental health and substance use disorders. We are much more than just the third largest non-profit behavioral health system in the country, our 220-acre main campus, and our network of clinical sites across Michigan. We are a tight-knit community of healers who witness the impact of our life-changing work each day.
Each day, we are closing the gaps in access to care. We are innovating through leading-edge research, testing, programs, and treatment modalities that others replicate across the country. Our services include a state-of-the-art psychiatric urgent care center and a soon-to-be-built pediatric behavioral health center, outpatient, inpatient, partial hospitalization (day programs), assessment and testing, residential, addiction treatment and specialty services such as crisis response, employee assistance programs, forensic psychiatry and psychology, and neuromodulation. On-the-job educational programs for nurses, psychologists, advanced practice providers, psychiatrists, and chaplains are equipping the next generation of care providers.
We are passionate about serving and are honored to be a part of this incredible work.
What Will you Do?
As a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, the Occupational Therapy Assistant Intern utilizes clinical skills associated with current training in area of expertise, the expressive arts therapies, occupational therapies, and psycho-educational interventions to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services. Screen patients' capabilities, needs, interests and goals to support an individualized treatment program consistent with the interdisciplinary team's goals. The Occupational Therapy Assistant intern must demonstrate excellent customer service and have enthusiasm for the program and the Pine Rest organization.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Screen patient care needs, supports/implements a treatment plan in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, and continually reassesses treatment plan according to patient care needs.
- Plans and participates in milieu programming: teaching, skill building, and therapy groups.
- Provides individual treatments as assigned and appropriate.
- Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients.
- Provides input to the interdisciplinary treatment plan while functioning as a team member.
- Responsible for monitoring and reporting to manager and unit leaders any potential risk to patient safety that could lead to an adverse outcome.
- Utilizes processes to conserve financial resources.
- Responsible for documenting and reporting all necessary information according to established policies and procedures.
- Creates a patient friendly environment by following quality improvement standards and maintaining professionalism.
- Is responsible to actively participate in safety management, crisis intervention and prevention. This may include monitoring, assessment, verbal de-escalation, and emergency psychiatric and medical care.
- Works in various clinical settings with diverse patient populations.
- Serves on committees as needed.
- Promotes positive communication amongst all members of the treatment team.
- Collaborates in follow up with disciplinary action.
- Collaborate with AT Clinical Services Manager and Recreational Therapy Leads regarding internships and other departmental activities.
- Responsible to role model the mission and values of the organization, presenting a professional image that is projected in appearance, attitudes and behaviors, time management and communication skills. Provides spiritual, emotional, social, mental and physical support to patients.
- Must maintain annual training and demonstrate competency in the required programmatic training.
- Continuous exposure to potentially adverse physical environment.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
What Does the Role Require?
- Enrolled in an accredited associate or bachelor’s degree program for Occupational Therapy Assistant, or similar degree, which leads to ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam.
- Exposure of relevant psychiatric/medical/clinical experience is helpful to plan and implement therapeutic, interactive education group sessions and interventions, though not required.
- Knowledge of current therapy principles in area of expertise associated with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychoeducational interventions, expressive arts, and occupational therapies to plan, organize and implement a program of ancillary services.
Notice:
Pine Rest provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
All new employees are subject to a criminal background check and education verification which may include sending a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts.
NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is also part of our background process.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Mental Health Therapy
Align your credentials with U.S. licensure requirements
State licensure boards vary widely on accepting foreign mental health degrees. Research the specific requirements in your target state before applying, since gaps in supervised clinical hours or credential recognition can delay your DS-2019 issuance significantly.
Target host employers with existing sponsor relationships
Community mental health centers, university counseling services, and VA-affiliated clinics regularly host J-1 Trainees and have existing agreements with designated sponsors. Prioritize these settings over private practices, which rarely navigate the DS-2019 process independently.
Build your training plan before contacting employers
Trainee category applications require a detailed training plan outlining specific skills you'll develop. Draft this document before reaching out to potential host employers so you can demonstrate program readiness and reduce back-and-forth during the offer stage.
Search Migrate Mate to identify J-1-aligned therapy roles
Filtering by visa type narrows your search to employers already familiar with hosting international mental health professionals. Use Migrate Mate to surface roles at organizations that have worked with J-1 exchange visitors in clinical or counseling settings.
Confirm the two-year home residency rule applies to you
Mental health therapy roles funded by government grants or tied to a home country's need often trigger the two-year home residency requirement. Check your DS-2019 and J-1 visa stamp for the 212(e) notation before accepting any offer, since it affects your future U.S. visa options.
Verify your host employer's supervision capacity at offer stage
Designated sponsors require documented proof that a licensed clinical supervisor will oversee your work throughout the exchange program. Confirm this before accepting an offer, since hosts who lack a credentialed supervisor on staff can disqualify your application mid-process.
Mental Health Therapy jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Mental Health Therapy JobsMental Health Therapy J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to mental health therapy professionals?
The Trainee category fits early-career mental health professionals who have completed their degree within the past year or have relevant work experience but want structured U.S. clinical training. The Research Scholar category applies if your role involves academic or applied research in mental health. Current students on a practicum or internship may use the Intern category instead.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa for a mental health therapy role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or IIE, not your host employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors compliance, and serves as your primary point of contact with the State Department. Your host employer, such as a clinic or counseling center, provides the placement and supervision but does not hold sponsoring authority.
Can I use Migrate Mate to find mental health therapy roles that support J-1 placement?
Yes. Migrate Mate lets you filter for employers who have experience hosting international professionals, which is particularly useful in mental health therapy where host familiarity with the DS-2019 process and supervision requirements matters. Searching by role type and visa category surfaces clinical settings that are already equipped to work with designated sponsors.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to mental health therapists on J-1 visas?
It often does. The 212(e) requirement applies when your exchange program is funded by a U.S. government agency or your home country's government, or when your home country lists your occupation as one in short supply. Many mental health professionals from countries with documented therapist shortages are subject to this requirement, which must be satisfied or waived before you can change to most other U.S. visa categories.
What documentation does a host employer need to support my J-1 Trainee application in mental health therapy?
Your host employer must provide a completed training plan that specifies the clinical skills you will develop, a designated licensed supervisor, and a letter confirming the placement terms. The designated sponsor reviews and approves this documentation before issuing the DS-2019. Without a credentialed supervisor on staff and a detailed skills-based training outline, most sponsors will not approve the application.
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