OPT Licensed Therapist Jobs
Licensed Therapist jobs on OPT require employers to sponsor your work authorization before your OPT period ends. Most roles are in outpatient clinics, hospitals, and community mental health centers. Your state licensure status, STEM OPT eligibility, and the 90-day unemployment limit all affect your job search timeline.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Memorial, we are dedicated to improving the health, well-being and, most of all, quality of life for the people entrusted to our care. An unwavering commitment to our service vision is what makes the difference. It is the foundation of The Memorial Experience.
Summary
Provides clinical assessment, treatment planning, group, family, and individual counseling, and education services for patients.
Responsibilities
- Implements evidence based (i.e. Motivational Interviewing) patient & family counseling and education, case management & safe discharge planning.
- Responsible for comprehensive, individualized treatment planning on a timely basis including completing initial treatment plans with patients, treatment plan reviews and discharge planning.
- Conducts suicide risk screenings, suicide risk assessments and safety planning with patients following department policies and procedures.
- Provides primary care coordination to a caseload of patients including integrating treatment with multidisciplinary members of care team, conducting ongoing assessment of patients' response to treatment using validating tools, and providing behavioral health counseling services including individual, family and group therapy.
- Updates and discusses patient strengths and needs in Multidisciplinary treatment team meetings.
- Conducts evidence based group therapy to patients to address psychological, emotional or aftercare needs (i.e. Trauma, Co-occurring disorders, seeking safety, wrap) and completes clinical documentation within 24 hours of service delivery.
- Initiates Baker Acts as needed; communicates with patients and their caregivers to facilitate voluntary crisis stabilization admissions as needed.
- Ensures that all legal paperwork is obtained, processed and completed, and included in patient charts (i.e. guardianship, baker-act, firearm laws).
- Completes psychosocial evaluations to ascertain patient's psychological, emotional and aftercare needs.
- Identifies and refers patients to appropriate community resources for follow up care.
- Supervises interns and students as needed.
Competencies
- ACCOUNTABILITY
- ANALYSIS AND DECISION MAKING
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPY
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT PLANNING
- CLINICAL POLICIES AND STANDARDS - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- CUSTOMER SERVICE
- PATIENT AND FAMILY CENTERED CARE
- PATIENT ASSESSMENT - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- RESPONDING TO CHANGE
- STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR
Education And Certification Requirements
- Masters (Required)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (SW LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MT LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (ISW LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (RMFI LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHI LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
Additional Job Information
Complexity of Work: Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. Must be organized and be able to work independently. A strong focus on integrated health and behavioral health treatment and must be able to provide quality patient and family centered care.
Required Work Experience: One (1) year experience in behavioral health.
Other Information: Additional Education Info: Clinical Social Work or Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy. A Florida license in social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy; or a registered clinical social work, mental health counselling, or marriage and family therapy intern in the state of Florida—must be fully licensed within two (2) years of starting the position.
Working Conditions And Physical Requirements
- Bending and Stooping = 60%
- Climbing = 40%
- Keyboard Entry = 60%
- Kneeling = 40%
- Lifting/Carrying Patients 35 Pounds or Greater = 0%
- Lifting or Carrying 0 - 25 lbs Non-Patient = 60%
- Lifting or Carrying 25 - 75 lbs Non-Patient = 20%
- Lifting or Carrying > 75 lbs Non-Patient = 0%
- Pushing or Pulling 0 - 25 lbs Non-Patient = 60%
- Pushing or Pulling 26 - 75 lbs Non-Patient = 20%
- Pushing or Pulling > 75 lbs Non-Patient = 0%
- Reaching = 60%
- Repetitive Movement Foot/Leg = 0%
- Repetitive Movement Hand/Arm = 60%
- Running = 40%
- Sitting = 60%
- Squatting = 20%
- Standing = 60%
- Walking = 60%
- Audible Speech = 60%
- Hearing Acuity = 60%
- Smelling Acuity = 0%
- Taste Discrimination = 0%
- Depth Perception = 60%
- Distinguish Color = 60%
- Seeing - Far = 60%
- Seeing - Near = 60%
- Bio hazardous Waste = 40%
- Biological Hazards - Respiratory = 40%
- Biological Hazards - Skin or Ingestion = 40%
- Blood and/or Bodily Fluids = 40%
- Communicable Diseases and/or Pathogens = 40%
- Asbestos = 0%
- Cytotoxic Chemicals = 0%
- Dust = 40%
- Gas/Vapors/Fumes = 0%
- Hazardous Chemicals = 0%
- Hazardous Medication = 0%
- Latex = 40%
- Computer Monitor = 60%
- Domestic Animals = 40%
- Extreme Heat/Cold = 0%
- Fire Risk = 0%
- Hazardous Noise = 0%
- Heating Devices = 0%
- Hypoxia = 0%
- Laser/High Intensity Lights = 0%
- Magnetic Fields = 0%
- Moving Mechanical Parts = 0%
- Needles/Sharp Objects = 20%
- Potential Electric Shock = 0%
- Potential for Physical Assault = 40%
- Radiation = 0%
- Sudden Decompression During Flights = 0%
- Unprotected Heights = 0%
- Wet or Slippery Surfaces = 40%
Shift
Primarily for office workers - not eligible for shift differential
Disclaimer:
This job description is not intended, nor should it be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. Wages shown on independent job boards reflect market averages, not specific to any employer. We encourage candidates to talk to their Memorial Healthcare System recruiter to discuss actual pay rates, during the hiring process.
Memorial Healthcare System is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. Memorial Healthcare System recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any factor prohibited by law. We are proud to offer Veteran’s Preference to former military, reservists and military spouses (including widows and widowers). You must indicate your status on your application to take advantage of this program. Employment is subject to post offer, pre-placement assessment, including drug testing. If you need reasonable accommodation during the application process, please call 954-276-8340 (M-F, 8am-5pm) or email TalentAcquisitionCenter@mhs.net
At Memorial, we are dedicated to improving the health, well-being and, most of all, quality of life for the people entrusted to our care. An unwavering commitment to our service vision is what makes the difference. It is the foundation of The Memorial Experience.
Summary
Provides clinical assessment, treatment planning, group, family, and individual counseling, and education services for patients.
Responsibilities
- Implements evidence based (i.e. Motivational Interviewing) patient & family counseling and education, case management & safe discharge planning.
- Responsible for comprehensive, individualized treatment planning on a timely basis including completing initial treatment plans with patients, treatment plan reviews and discharge planning.
- Conducts suicide risk screenings, suicide risk assessments and safety planning with patients following department policies and procedures.
- Provides primary care coordination to a caseload of patients including integrating treatment with multidisciplinary members of care team, conducting ongoing assessment of patients' response to treatment using validating tools, and providing behavioral health counseling services including individual, family and group therapy.
- Updates and discusses patient strengths and needs in Multidisciplinary treatment team meetings.
- Conducts evidence based group therapy to patients to address psychological, emotional or aftercare needs (i.e. Trauma, Co-occurring disorders, seeking safety, wrap) and completes clinical documentation within 24 hours of service delivery.
- Initiates Baker Acts as needed; communicates with patients and their caregivers to facilitate voluntary crisis stabilization admissions as needed.
- Ensures that all legal paperwork is obtained, processed and completed, and included in patient charts (i.e. guardianship, baker-act, firearm laws).
- Completes psychosocial evaluations to ascertain patient's psychological, emotional and aftercare needs.
- Identifies and refers patients to appropriate community resources for follow up care.
- Supervises interns and students as needed.
Competencies
- ACCOUNTABILITY
- ANALYSIS AND DECISION MAKING
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPY
- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT PLANNING
- CLINICAL POLICIES AND STANDARDS - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- CUSTOMER SERVICE
- PATIENT AND FAMILY CENTERED CARE
- PATIENT ASSESSMENT - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
- RESPONDING TO CHANGE
- STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR
Education And Certification Requirements
- Masters (Required)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (SW LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MT LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (ISW LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (RMFI LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
- Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHI LICENSE) - State of Florida (FL)
Additional Job Information
Complexity of Work: Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision. Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action. Must be organized and be able to work independently. A strong focus on integrated health and behavioral health treatment and must be able to provide quality patient and family centered care.
Required Work Experience: One (1) year experience in behavioral health.
Other Information: Additional Education Info: Clinical Social Work or Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy. A Florida license in social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy; or a registered clinical social work, mental health counselling, or marriage and family therapy intern in the state of Florida—must be fully licensed within two (2) years of starting the position.
Working Conditions And Physical Requirements
- Bending and Stooping = 60%
- Climbing = 40%
- Keyboard Entry = 60%
- Kneeling = 40%
- Lifting/Carrying Patients 35 Pounds or Greater = 0%
- Lifting or Carrying 0 - 25 lbs Non-Patient = 60%
- Lifting or Carrying 25 - 75 lbs Non-Patient = 20%
- Lifting or Carrying > 75 lbs Non-Patient = 0%
- Pushing or Pulling 0 - 25 lbs Non-Patient = 60%
- Pushing or Pulling 26 - 75 lbs Non-Patient = 20%
- Pushing or Pulling > 75 lbs Non-Patient = 0%
- Reaching = 60%
- Repetitive Movement Foot/Leg = 0%
- Repetitive Movement Hand/Arm = 60%
- Running = 40%
- Sitting = 60%
- Squatting = 20%
- Standing = 60%
- Walking = 60%
- Audible Speech = 60%
- Hearing Acuity = 60%
- Smelling Acuity = 0%
- Taste Discrimination = 0%
- Depth Perception = 60%
- Distinguish Color = 60%
- Seeing - Far = 60%
- Seeing - Near = 60%
- Bio hazardous Waste = 40%
- Biological Hazards - Respiratory = 40%
- Biological Hazards - Skin or Ingestion = 40%
- Blood and/or Bodily Fluids = 40%
- Communicable Diseases and/or Pathogens = 40%
- Asbestos = 0%
- Cytotoxic Chemicals = 0%
- Dust = 40%
- Gas/Vapors/Fumes = 0%
- Hazardous Chemicals = 0%
- Hazardous Medication = 0%
- Latex = 40%
- Computer Monitor = 60%
- Domestic Animals = 40%
- Extreme Heat/Cold = 0%
- Fire Risk = 0%
- Hazardous Noise = 0%
- Heating Devices = 0%
- Hypoxia = 0%
- Laser/High Intensity Lights = 0%
- Magnetic Fields = 0%
- Moving Mechanical Parts = 0%
- Needles/Sharp Objects = 20%
- Potential Electric Shock = 0%
- Potential for Physical Assault = 40%
- Radiation = 0%
- Sudden Decompression During Flights = 0%
- Unprotected Heights = 0%
- Wet or Slippery Surfaces = 40%
Shift
Primarily for office workers - not eligible for shift differential
Disclaimer:
This job description is not intended, nor should it be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. Wages shown on independent job boards reflect market averages, not specific to any employer. We encourage candidates to talk to their Memorial Healthcare System recruiter to discuss actual pay rates, during the hiring process.
Memorial Healthcare System is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. Memorial Healthcare System recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any factor prohibited by law. We are proud to offer Veteran’s Preference to former military, reservists and military spouses (including widows and widowers). You must indicate your status on your application to take advantage of this program. Employment is subject to post offer, pre-placement assessment, including drug testing. If you need reasonable accommodation during the application process, please call 954-276-8340 (M-F, 8am-5pm) or email TalentAcquisitionCenter@mhs.net
See all 203+ OPT Licensed Therapist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Licensed Therapist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Licensed Therapist
Clarify your licensure status before applying
State licensure requirements vary. If you're still completing supervised hours toward full licensure, be upfront with employers. Many clinics hire pre-licensed therapists, but your OPT authorization must cover the supervised role you're actually performing.
Target employers familiar with work authorization
Large hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and national behavioral health organizations are more likely to have HR teams experienced with OPT paperwork. Smaller private practices often lack the infrastructure to support work authorization requirements.
Address the 90-day unemployment limit proactively
OPT students can only accumulate 90 days of unemployment. If licensure delays push back your start date, those weeks count. Start your job search early enough to account for credentialing, background checks, and licensing board processing timelines.
Understand how STEM OPT applies to therapy roles
Most Licensed Therapist positions are not in STEM-designated fields, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension typically does not apply. Confirm your degree's CIP code with your DSO to know exactly how much authorized work time you have.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship at the offer stage
OPT is temporary. Before accepting an offer, confirm whether the employer is willing to sponsor an H-1B visa before your OPT expires. Social work and counseling roles qualify as specialty occupations, but not every employer will commit to sponsorship.
Document your supervised hours carefully during OPT
If you're accumulating supervised clinical hours toward licensure while on OPT, maintain detailed records. Your DSO may need documentation showing your work aligns with your degree program, which is required to remain in valid OPT status.
Licensed Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Licensed Therapist on OPT without full state licensure?
Yes, if you're working under supervision toward licensure, your OPT can cover that role as long as it's directly related to your degree field. Your job title will typically be associate therapist, counselor intern, or similar. Confirm with your DSO that the position description aligns with your degree program before accepting the offer.
Does a Licensed Therapist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most therapy and counseling degrees, including social work, clinical psychology, and marriage and family therapy, are not classified under STEM CIP codes. That means the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available for most Licensed Therapist roles. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm your total authorized work period.
How do I find Licensed Therapist employers who are open to OPT sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship willingness, so you're not wasting applications on employers who won't work with your status. Large behavioral health networks, hospital systems, and community health centers tend to have more experience navigating work authorization than small private practices.
Does state licensure affect my OPT employment authorization?
Your OPT authorization comes from USCIS, not your state licensing board. However, you cannot legally practice therapy in most states without the appropriate license or supervised registration. If your license application is delayed, you may not be able to start work even with valid OPT, which can count against your 90-day unemployment limit.
Can a Licensed Therapist role be sponsored for an H-1B after OPT ends?
Yes. Licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, and licensed psychologist roles generally qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B criteria because they require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Your employer would need to file an H-1B petition before your OPT expires. Discuss this timeline with your employer well before your OPT end date.