Experiential Therapist
The Carpenter Shed
Position Summary
The Experiential Therapist is responsible for designing and facilitating therapeutic experiences that promote emotional, relational, behavioral, and developmental growth in adolescent males participating in our treatment program. Through engaging, hands-on interventions, this role helps clients move beyond insight into meaningful change by creating opportunities to practice healthy coping, communication, problem-solving, accountability, and relationship skills in real-world settings.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the Experiential Therapist collaborates with licensed therapists, developmental counselors, case managers, and medical staff to ensure experiential programming aligns with each client's individualized treatment goals. This position is ideal for a creative, energetic, and relationship-oriented professional who believes healing happens through both meaningful experiences and strong therapeutic relationships.
What You'll Do
· Develop and facilitate therapeutic experiential programming for adolescents in a structured treatment environment.
· Lead individual and group experiential interventions that reinforce clinical treatment goals.
· Utilize modalities such as adventure-based therapy, team-building, recreation therapy, expressive arts, psychodrama, mindfulness, service projects, and other experiential activities.
· Create emotionally and physically safe environments where adolescents can challenge themselves, build confidence, and practice healthy behaviors.
· Facilitate therapeutic processing after activities, helping clients connect their experiences to emotions, relationships, and everyday life.
· Observe client behaviors, emotional responses, interpersonal dynamics, leadership, communication patterns, and coping strategies during activities.
· Document participation, progress, and clinically relevant observations in accordance with agency standards.
· Collaborate with primary therapists and the treatment team to integrate experiential observations into treatment planning.
· Adapt programming to meet varying developmental, emotional, physical, and clinical needs.
· Maintain safety protocols, conduct risk assessments, and ensure proper supervision during all experiential activities.
· Maintain equipment and materials used in experiential programming.
· Participate in treatment team meetings, staff development, and program planning initiatives.
· Model healthy communication, emotional regulation, leadership, and professionalism for clients.
· Oversee the implementation and use of experiential modalities within overall Carpenter Shed programming
What We're Looking For
The ideal candidate is passionate about helping adolescents grow through experience rather than conversation alone. They are comfortable leading groups, thinking creatively, building relationships, and helping young people translate difficult moments into opportunities for lasting change.
Successful candidates demonstrate:
· Strong group facilitation and leadership skills
· Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities
· Creativity and flexibility in program development
· Knowledge of adolescent development
· Trauma-informed approach to care
· Ability to manage group dynamics and behavioral challenges
· Strong observational and clinical documentation skills
· Crisis intervention and de-escalation abilities
· Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team
· High level of professionalism, organization, and emotional maturity
Preferred Qualifications
· Bachelor's or Master's degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Recreation Therapy, Outdoor Education, or a related behavioral health field.
· Experience working with adolescents in behavioral health, residential treatment, PHP, IOP, wilderness therapy, therapeutic recreation, or similar settings.
· CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain upon hire).
· Training in trauma-informed care, experiential therapy, or adventure-based programming preferred.
· Additional certifications in challenge course facilitation, expressive arts, recreation therapy, or equine-assisted therapy are a plus.
Why Join Our Team?
At The Carpenter Shed, we believe lasting transformation happens through relationships, challenge, and meaningful experiences. Our experiential programming is a vital part of helping young men develop confidence, resilience, emotional maturity, and purpose. As an Experiential Therapist, you'll have the opportunity to create memorable experiences that inspire growth, reinforce clinical progress, and help adolescents discover new ways of relating to themselves and others.
If you're passionate about making a difference through experiential learning and believe healing happens both inside and outside the therapy office, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Work Location: In person
