Behavioral Health Therapist

Job Description

Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist

Colonial | School-Based Health Centers

At Nemours Children's Health, we are redefining children's health through our Whole Child Health approach - caring for the physical, emotional, behavioral, and social well-being of every child. Backed by the long-standing strength and stability of the Nemours Foundation, Nemours Children's continues to invest in innovative programs, exceptional talent, and healthier futures for children.


We are seeking a compassionate, experienced Independently Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist to join our School-Based Health Center team serving Colonial Elementary Schools in New Castle, Delaware. This full-time, benefited position follows the Colonial School District teacher calendar, including 1-2 weeks before and after the school year, school holidays like fall, winter and spring breaks and summers off.

The ideal candidate will combine advanced clinical training and independent licensure, proven school-based experience, and expertise in youth mental health with the interpersonal qualities needed to foster trust, empathy, collaboration, and resilience. This individual will support elementary school students' emotional, behavioral, and academic growth while working closely within the school community and an integrated care model.

This opportunity is ideal for a therapist who values teamwork, evidence-based care, and meaningful community impact. You will collaborate with medical and educational teams to provide therapy, consultation, screening, referrals, and care coordination for children and families who need support most.

Essential Functions

• Provide integrated behavioral health services within the school-based health center team while partnering closely with the Division of Behavioral Health at Nemours Children's.
• Deliver evidence-based individual and group therapy for children and adolescents.
• Collaborate with educators, medical providers, families, and community partners to support student success.
• Conduct screenings, assessments, referrals, and crisis intervention as needed.
• Participate in consultation, professional development, and interdisciplinary care planning.
• Contribute to a culture of teaching, mentoring, and continuous learning that is encouraged and supported throughout the division.
• Support our commitment to health equity, diversity, inclusion, and workforce development.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by leadership.

Characteristics We Are Looking for in You!

Professional Credentials and Experience

• Master's degree from an accredited social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy program
• Requires Delaware independent licensure (LCSW, LPCMH, LMFT) prior to starting in the role (i.e., can be licensed in another state but, must obtain Delaware license before starting)
• Three to five years of relevant clinical experience preferred
• School-based experience, including familiarity with educational systems and multidisciplinary collaboration
• Experience supporting children, adolescents, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges

Clinical Skills and Approaches

• Experience delivering evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, or other youth-focused modalities
• Ability to assess risk and respond appropriately to crises within a school environment.
• Skilled in individual, family, and group counseling
• Ability to integrate mental health care with academic, behavioral, and social-emotional goals

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Strong active listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence
• Ability to build trusting relationships with students, families, educators, and colleagues
• Effective written and verbal communication skills across multidisciplinary teams

Adaptability and Cultural Competence

• Ability to adapt therapeutic approaches to varying developmental, cultural, and social needs
• Comfort working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment alongside guidance counselors, psychologists, educators, and medical professionals

Ethical and Safety Standards

• Commitment to confidentiality, ethical practice, and student safety
• Ability to navigate school policies, legal requirements, and sensitive situations with professionalism and sound judgment

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, and Vision - Four levels of medical coverage are available, including fertility care and prescription drugs for associates and their families.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) - PTO will accrue according to your role and length of service. There are six paid holidays annually, and one day of paid volunteer time off.
• Paid Parental Leave - New parents receive six weeks of paid leave at 100% of pay.
• Tuition Reimbursement - Reimbursement available on approved courses to maximum of $5,250.
• CEU Reimbursement - Generous annual Education (EDU) leave and Continuing Education (CEU) funding to support your ongoing professional development and growth.
• Retirement Savings Plan - There is a 403(b) plan with immediate participation and matching contributions. A 457(b) program is available for highly compensated associates.
• Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance - Basic Life Insurance is paid equal to one time your annual salary, up to a maximum of $500,000.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability - All associates are automatically covered by our short-term disability coverage with income protection for disabilities caused by illness, accident or injury that are not work-related, at 60% of your salary.

Living in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware carries a quiet magnificence that far too few people take the time to appreciate - and those who discover it rarely look back. As the state's largest city, Wilmington pulses with a remarkable energy, from the revitalized Riverfront district, where restaurants, art galleries, and walking paths invite you to linger, to the storied neighborhoods of Trolley Square and Little Italy, each brimming with character and community pride. Wilmington sits at the crossroads of the Northeast Corridor, granting residents easy access to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York City while still offering the warmth and affordability of a smaller urban setting. The city's rich history in banking and finance has shaped a skyline that speaks to ambition, and its growing arts scene - anchored by institutions like the Delaware Art Museum and the Grand Opera House - ensures that cultural life here is anything but stagnant. For those ready to plant roots in a city that continually rewards, Wilmington is waiting.

Living in New Castle, Delaware

New Castle, Delaware is a place where history does not simply exist in textbooks - it walks alongside residents on every cobblestone street, and that is precisely what makes it such an extraordinary place to call home. As one of the oldest towns in the Mid-Atlantic region, New Castle offers the rare and truly special experience of living within a remarkably preserved colonial landscape, where 18th-century architecture stands shoulder to shoulder with modern everyday life. The town's Green, its historic courthouse, and the sweeping views of the Delaware River create a backdrop that feels almost reverential, inspiring a deep sense of pride in those fortunate enough to call it home. Yet New Castle is far from a relic - it is a tight-knit community where neighbors gather at local festivals, celebrate their shared heritage with genuine enthusiasm, and welcome newcomers with open arms. For anyone who values a slower, more intentional way of living rooted in a profound sense of place, New Castle is nothing short of a hidden treasure worth discovering.

Why Join Us?

Join a nationally recognized, mission-driven pediatric health system backed by the long-standing stability of the Nemours Foundation. At Nemours Children's, you will work alongside collaborative professionals who are committed to Whole Child Health and making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.

We invest in our people and foster a culture where compassionate, purpose-driven associates can thrive.

Apply today.

About Us

Nemours Children's Health is an internationally recognized pediatric health system serving more than 1.7 million patient encounters each year. We deliver care across six states through two freestanding children's hospitals - Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware and Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida - along with a network of more than 80 primary, urgent, and specialty care practices and more than 40 hospital partnerships.

Backed by the Nemours Foundation and Alfred I. duPont Trust, our $1.7B nonprofit system is dedicated to improving children's health through clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention. Our Whole Child Health approach focuses equally on prevention and treatment, partnering with communities to help every child thrive.

Inclusion and belonging guide our strategy and growth. We are committed to culturally relevant care, reducing health disparities, and fostering an environment where every associate, patient, and family feels supported and valued.

Learn more at Nemours.org.