Recreation Therapist - PRN

Recreation Therapist

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital provides inpatient treatment services to adolescents and adults at our 86-bed facility in Panama City, FL and outpatient services to adolescents and adults at our four outpatient centers located throughout the Florida Panhandle. Additionally, we offer specialized treatment for active duty military members through our Military Resiliency Program, specialized chemical dependency treatment and TMS therapy for chronic depression.

The Recreation Therapist provides successful expressive therapy interventions, including music, art and recreation, which increase self confidence, socialization and offer alternative therapeutic approaches. Teaches patients appropriate identification and release of emotions, problem-solving ability, physical exercise and coping skills that can be carried over after discharge.

Job Duties:

• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to provide evidence base treatment and service for inpatient psychiatric patients in a practice environment aimed at continuous evaluation and improvement.
• Plans, schedules and implements expressive therapy programs to meet needs, interests and capabilities of patient population.
• Implements program of therapeutic activities to assist participants in moving toward improved functioning and attainment of individual treatment goals.
• Teaches patients appropriate identification and release of emotions, problem-solving ability, physical exercise and coping skills that can be carried over after discharge.
• Engage maximum number of patients in art, recreation, painting, discussion groups, and movement therapy, and assist the Behavioral health staff to co-lead effectively.
• Resource additional expressive therapeutic interventions to engage nonparticipants.
• Addresses identified patients' needs and obstacles.
• Documents patients' abilities and needs in relationship to treatment goals and objectives.
• Documents patients' responses to these services in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Completes assessment with Mental Health patients to examine personal resources and deficits in coping and leisure skills.

Benefit Highlights:

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!

About Universal Health Services:

One of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion. In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World's Most Admired Companies and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America's Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 101,500 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 40 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

Qualifications Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a therapeutic recreation field required.
• Music Therapy, Recreation Administration or Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation CTRS certification through National Certified Therapeutic Recreation Council or Certified Music Therapist within 6 months of hire.
• One (1) year experience working in a behavioral setting preferred.
• Ability to work a varied schedule to include some weekends and evenings between the hours of 8am and 9pm.
• Ability to pass an ACHA Level II Background Screening.

Employment with Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital requires successful completion of a Level II background Screening.

EEO Statement:

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.