OPT Clinical Therapist Jobs
Clinical Therapist roles on OPT require a master's or doctoral degree in counseling, social work, or psychology, plus state licensure that varies by location. Most positions offer STEM OPT extension eligibility when employed through qualifying healthcare organizations, giving you up to three years of work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Franciscan Health Lafayette Central
1501 Hartford St Lafayette, Indiana 47904
The Clinical Therapist Physician Practice provides evaluation and treatment of patients in collaboration with a Physician or licensed Psychologist. This position assesses, diagnoses, and treats patients with behavioral health disorders and/or dual diagnoses. They provide information and counseling to patients and family members and utilize individual, group, and family therapy. The Clinical Therapist performs duties, creates treatment plans, and assesses patient progress, according to evidence-based practices.
WHO WE ARE
Franciscan Health is a leading healthcare organization dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and promoting health and wellness in our community. Our mission is to ensure that every patient receives the highest quality of care through innovation, compassion, and excellence. With 11 ministries and access points across Indiana, Franciscan Health is one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest. Franciscan Health takes pride in hiring coworkers who provide compassionate, comprehensive care for our patients and the communities we serve.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Lunch: One-hour lunch break
- Start Date: Candidate must be able to start in approximately three months due to credentialing requirements.
- Professional Development: Teaches, takes continuing education classes, and attends conferences or seminars to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.
- Patient Care Documentation: Documents patient care information and ensures timely and accurate completion of patient care records in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Patient Diagnosis: Analyzes and evaluates patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
- Administers Treatment: Directs, or administers psychotherapeutic treatments to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
- Treatment Plan Development: Collaborates with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to create and implement patient treatment plans.
- Collaboration: Collaborates with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
- Patient Assessment: Performs thorough patient psychosocial assessments to explore the physical, psychological and social aspects of the patient and their conditions. Obtains a history and elicits an accurate description of psychosocial needs in order to formulate the patient treatment plans, in collaboration with patients, their support systems and care team members.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Required Master's Degree Social Work or Counseling or Marriage and Family
- Required 2 years Social Services Required
- Required Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) - State Licensing Board
TRAVEL IS REQUIRED:
Never or Rarely
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of Franciscan Alliance to provide equal employment to its employees and qualified applicants for employment as otherwise required by an applicable local, state or Federal law.
Franciscan Alliance reserves a Right of Conscience objection in the event local, state or Federal ordinances that violate its values and the free exercise of its religious rights.
Franciscan Alliance is committed to equal employment opportunity.
Franciscan provides eligible employees with comprehensive benefit offerings. Find an overview on the benefit section of our career site, jobs.franciscanhealth.org.
INTRODUCTION
Franciscan Health Lafayette Central
1501 Hartford St Lafayette, Indiana 47904
The Clinical Therapist Physician Practice provides evaluation and treatment of patients in collaboration with a Physician or licensed Psychologist. This position assesses, diagnoses, and treats patients with behavioral health disorders and/or dual diagnoses. They provide information and counseling to patients and family members and utilize individual, group, and family therapy. The Clinical Therapist performs duties, creates treatment plans, and assesses patient progress, according to evidence-based practices.
WHO WE ARE
Franciscan Health is a leading healthcare organization dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and promoting health and wellness in our community. Our mission is to ensure that every patient receives the highest quality of care through innovation, compassion, and excellence. With 11 ministries and access points across Indiana, Franciscan Health is one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest. Franciscan Health takes pride in hiring coworkers who provide compassionate, comprehensive care for our patients and the communities we serve.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Lunch: One-hour lunch break
- Start Date: Candidate must be able to start in approximately three months due to credentialing requirements.
- Professional Development: Teaches, takes continuing education classes, and attends conferences or seminars to increase understanding of mental, emotional, or behavioral states or disorders.
- Patient Care Documentation: Documents patient care information and ensures timely and accurate completion of patient care records in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Patient Diagnosis: Analyzes and evaluates patient data or test findings to diagnose nature or extent of mental disorder.
- Administers Treatment: Directs, or administers psychotherapeutic treatments to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
- Treatment Plan Development: Collaborates with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to create and implement patient treatment plans.
- Collaboration: Collaborates with physicians, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, or other professionals to discuss treatment plans and progress.
- Patient Assessment: Performs thorough patient psychosocial assessments to explore the physical, psychological and social aspects of the patient and their conditions. Obtains a history and elicits an accurate description of psychosocial needs in order to formulate the patient treatment plans, in collaboration with patients, their support systems and care team members.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Required Master's Degree Social Work or Counseling or Marriage and Family
- Required 2 years Social Services Required
- Required Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) - State Licensing Board
TRAVEL IS REQUIRED:
Never or Rarely
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of Franciscan Alliance to provide equal employment to its employees and qualified applicants for employment as otherwise required by an applicable local, state or Federal law.
Franciscan Alliance reserves a Right of Conscience objection in the event local, state or Federal ordinances that violate its values and the free exercise of its religious rights.
Franciscan Alliance is committed to equal employment opportunity.
Franciscan provides eligible employees with comprehensive benefit offerings. Find an overview on the benefit section of our career site, jobs.franciscanhealth.org.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Therapist
Prioritize employers with existing OPT sponsorship history
Large hospital systems, community mental health centers, and university counseling services regularly hire international graduates. These organizations already have HR processes for OPT and understand the documentation requirements, making the onboarding process significantly smoother for F-1 students.
Clarify your licensure status upfront
Most clinical therapist roles require state licensure or eligibility for supervised licensure hours. Address your current licensure status and timeline in your cover letter so employers understand where you stand and can confirm the role qualifies under your OPT authorization.
Target roles that qualify for STEM OPT extension
Clinical therapist positions at research hospitals, behavioral health technology companies, or university-affiliated clinics may qualify for STEM OPT if your degree is in a STEM-designated field. Confirming this early gives you up to 24 additional months of work authorization.
Account for OPT start date and clinical hours requirements
Many licensure tracks require post-degree supervised hours that must begin within a specific window. Align your OPT start date with your supervised practice requirements so your clinical hours count toward licensure while you remain in valid work authorization status.
Frame your international background as a clinical asset
Fluency in languages beyond English and cross-cultural competency are genuinely valued in clinical settings serving diverse patient populations. Highlighting these skills in your application positions you as a stronger candidate, not a more complicated hire.
Understand the difference between authorization and sponsorship
OPT authorization comes from your school, not your employer. What employers do is confirm the role is full-time and related to your degree. Explaining this distinction clearly in interviews reduces friction and shows you understand how your work authorization actually functions.
Clinical Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Clinical Therapist on OPT without a state license?
Yes, but with restrictions. Many employers will hire pre-licensed therapists on OPT under a licensed supervisor, which also satisfies post-degree supervised hours required for licensure. The role must be full-time and directly related to your degree field. Confirm with your DSO that the position description aligns with your authorized field of study before accepting an offer.
Does a Clinical Therapist role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code. If your program, such as clinical mental health counseling or behavioral neuroscience, carries a STEM designation, and your employer is an E-Verify participant, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Clinical psychology and some counseling degrees have received STEM designation at certain institutions, so verify your specific program's CIP code with your DSO.
How do I find Clinical Therapist employers who are open to hiring OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the recommended place to search, as the platform filters jobs by visa sponsorship and OPT eligibility so you're not wasting time on roles that won't work for your status. Community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, and large healthcare systems tend to be the most receptive to international graduates compared to small private practices.
What happens to my OPT status if my clinical supervisor leaves or the practice closes?
If your employment ends, your OPT remains valid but you're subject to the 90-day unemployment limit. You must report any change in employer to your DSO within 10 days. For clinical therapist roles, losing a supervising employer can also affect your licensure hours, so finding a replacement position quickly matters for both your immigration status and your professional credentials.
Can a Clinical Therapist role lead to H-1B visa sponsorship?
Clinical therapist positions generally qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa because they require at minimum a master's degree in a specific clinical field. Employers in hospital systems, behavioral health networks, and government-funded mental health programs have a stronger track record of sponsoring H-1B petitions than private practices. If long-term sponsorship is your goal, prioritize larger organizations during your OPT job search.