OPT Child Therapist Jobs
Child Therapist jobs on OPT are available at community mental health centers, school districts, pediatric hospitals, and private practices. Most roles require a master's degree in counseling, social work, or psychology. STEM OPT extension does not apply to this field, so you have a 12-month authorization window to secure H-1B visa or another long-term visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsEmployment Type:
Full time
Shift:
Evening Shift
Description:
At Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital / Saint Francis Hospital the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric unit provides inpatient care age-appropriate, compassionate, and effective care to patients aged 5 to 17 with acute and chronic psychiatric conditions. Behavioral Health and Mental Health disorders including (but not limited to): Anxiety, Depression, PTSD; Autism spectrum Disorder and AD/HD
What you will do
- Perform comprehensive mental health assessments and ongoing evaluations.
- Administer medications and monitor for therapeutic effects and side effects. Support de-escalation and crisis intervention using trauma-informed care principles.
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, social workers, therapists, and families to implement individualized care plans.
Minimum Qualifications
Required:
- Graduation from an accredited nursing school
- Valid RN license in Connecticut
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in Nursing
- The ideal candidate will have one or more years of Child/Adolescent Psych experience in an acute inpatient setting.
- BLS/CPR certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross)
Position Highlights:
- Full Time-40 Hour/Evenings/8 Hour Shift
- Every other Weekend/Holiday
Ministry/Facility Information
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services include a full range of mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for all ages. We have a dedicated, multidisciplinary team approach to developing an individualized plan of care for each patient. We strive to build trust, intimacy and a healing relationship. The focus is to draw out people's strengths and competencies to assist them with coping more effectively in times of significant challenge or difficulty in their lives.
Our Commitment
Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
Employment Type:
Full time
Shift:
Evening Shift
Description:
At Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital / Saint Francis Hospital the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric unit provides inpatient care age-appropriate, compassionate, and effective care to patients aged 5 to 17 with acute and chronic psychiatric conditions. Behavioral Health and Mental Health disorders including (but not limited to): Anxiety, Depression, PTSD; Autism spectrum Disorder and AD/HD
What you will do
- Perform comprehensive mental health assessments and ongoing evaluations.
- Administer medications and monitor for therapeutic effects and side effects. Support de-escalation and crisis intervention using trauma-informed care principles.
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, social workers, therapists, and families to implement individualized care plans.
Minimum Qualifications
Required:
- Graduation from an accredited nursing school
- Valid RN license in Connecticut
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in Nursing
- The ideal candidate will have one or more years of Child/Adolescent Psych experience in an acute inpatient setting.
- BLS/CPR certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross)
Position Highlights:
- Full Time-40 Hour/Evenings/8 Hour Shift
- Every other Weekend/Holiday
Ministry/Facility Information
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services include a full range of mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for all ages. We have a dedicated, multidisciplinary team approach to developing an individualized plan of care for each patient. We strive to build trust, intimacy and a healing relationship. The focus is to draw out people's strengths and competencies to assist them with coping more effectively in times of significant challenge or difficulty in their lives.
Our Commitment
Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
See all 255+ OPT Child Therapist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Child Therapist
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Large hospital systems, school districts, and nonprofit mental health organizations are more likely to have sponsored therapists before. Employers with established HR processes move faster and face fewer internal approvals when extending an offer to an OPT candidate.
Get licensed as early as possible
Most Child Therapist roles require state licensure, which takes time to obtain after graduation. Starting your supervised clinical hours early and applying for your provisional license before OPT begins gives employers fewer reasons to hesitate on sponsorship discussions.
Address OPT upfront with smaller employers
Smaller private practices often assume sponsorship is too complex or costly. Come prepared with a clear one-page explanation of what OPT work authorization requires from them and what H-1B visa filing involves, so uncertainty does not become a silent rejection reason.
Apply to federally funded mental health programs
Community Mental Health Centers and federally qualified health centers frequently hire therapists and have dedicated HR teams experienced with visa sponsorship. Federal funding also means more stable employment, which matters when planning a multi-year sponsorship timeline.
Align your clinical specialty with high-demand areas
Child therapists specializing in trauma, autism spectrum disorders, or bilingual therapy face significantly less competition for both jobs and sponsorship. Employers filling hard-to-hire specialties have stronger business motivation to support an OPT candidate through H-1B filing.
Start sponsorship conversations during the interview process
Do not wait until an offer is extended to ask about H-1B sponsorship. Raising it during a second-round interview signals you are planning ahead and gives the employer time to confirm HR capacity before either side invests further in the process.
Child Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Child Therapist on OPT without a full license?
Yes, in most states you can work under a provisional or associate license while completing supervised clinical hours. Many Child Therapist roles explicitly accommodate pre-licensed candidates. Confirm your state's requirements with the relevant licensing board, since the supervised hours you accumulate on OPT count toward full licensure.
Does Child Therapy qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
No. Child Therapy and counseling fields are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. This means your OPT authorization is limited to 12 months. Planning your H-1B sponsorship timeline early is essential, since the cap-subject H-1B lottery requires filing months before your OPT expires.
What visa options exist for Child Therapists after OPT ends?
The H-1B is the most common path, since Child Therapist roles qualify as specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Cap-exempt H-1B options are also available at nonprofit hospitals, universities, and certain government research entities. Some therapists also explore the O-1A for demonstrated achievement, though that standard is high in clinical fields.
Where can I find Child Therapist jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job seekers, so every listing on the platform is filtered for sponsorship willingness. Searching for Child Therapist roles on Migrate Mate surfaces employers who have already indicated openness to OPT candidates, saving you from applying to positions that will stall on authorization questions.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect Child Therapists on OPT?
USCIS opens H-1B registration in March each year for employment starting October 1. With a 12-month OPT window, you need to graduate and start OPT in time to be eligible for that March registration. If you miss the lottery or are not selected, a cap-gap extension may bridge your status while you wait for the next cycle, provided your employer files before OPT expires.