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Behavioral Specialist

Rogers Behavioral Health · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time an intervention you were running was not working. How did you know, and what did you change?

What they are checking: Whether they track progress with real data and adjust, rather than repeating a plan because it was the plan.

You work under a clinical leader who designs the treatment plan. What do you bring to supervision so the time is useful?

What they are checking: Whether they come prepared with observations and questions, which is how a supervised role stays safe and effective.

Describe a time you disagreed with a nurse or therapist on the team about how to handle a patient. What happened?

What they are checking: Whether they can raise a concern inside an interdisciplinary team without going around people or going quiet.

Exposure work is hard on patients. How do you stay steady when someone is very distressed and begging you to stop?

What they are checking: Whether they can tolerate a patient's distress without rescuing them out of the treatment that helps.

What would you do

A patient keeps leaving group whenever the topic turns to their compulsions. How would you work out what is driving that and what you would try first?

What they are checking: Whether they can form a hypothesis about avoidance and test it instead of treating it as defiance.

A parent tells you they let their child skip the exposure at home because the child was crying. How do you coach them without making them feel blamed?

What they are checking: Whether they can train support people warmly, since progress falls apart if the family accommodates the symptom at home.

How do you run a group when one patient dominates and two others have not said a word?

What they are checking: Basic group facilitation skill, which is a large share of the daily work in these programs.

About the work

When you say you assess the function of a behavior, what does that actually look like on a unit? Walk me through one you figured out.

What they are checking: Whether they think about what a behavior gets the patient, rather than just describing what it looks like.

Explain cognitive behavioral therapy to me the way you would explain it to a scared 14-year-old on their first day.

What they are checking: Whether they understand CBT well enough to make it plain and hopeful for someone who did not ask to be here.

What do you write in a progress note after a behavioral session, and what do you leave out?

What they are checking: Whether their documentation is objective and useful to the team, not vague or opinion-based.

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The full job description

As published by Rogers Behavioral Health.

Schedule: Full-time 40 hours/week (10am-6:30pm) Monday - Friday (no weekends, no holidays) The Behavior Specialist is responsible for supporting the delivery of high-quality Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions within Rogers Behavioral Health treatment programs. The Behavior Specialist is trained to assess the function of behavior, develop & implement individualized plans to address maladaptive behaviors, provide training and education to patients and support persons, collaborate within an interdisciplinary team, and monitor progress of behavior interventions making necessary changes and modifications to produce the best outcomes for patients. Behavior Specialists train and work with an assigned clinical leader to design and implement CBT-specific treatment plans to address presenting symptoms. Job Duties & Responsibilities: • Provide cognitive behavioral and other therapeutic services including groups, to patients, according to clinical standards of care and under the supervision of the Clinical leader to address patients’ specific needs and goals. • Participate in supervision sessions with the Clinical leader, communicate regularly on specific patient progress, and adjustments needed to care plan based on observations and response to interventions delivered. • Regularly monitor the effectiveness of interventions and make necessary adjustments. This involves administering outcome measures, reviewing the results, and modifying interventions as needed in consultation with Clinical leader. Behavior specialists will ensure that interventions are producing the desired outcomes. • Document mental health services according to applicable regulations and payer expectations. Assure acute and timely documentation of therapeutic treatment plans, outcome assessments, psychosocial information, and other patient care data is completed within the medical record. Additional documentation may be completed under close supervision of the Clinical leader within SUD programs. • Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and assist in development of the treatment plan. • Communicate treatment interventions and support needs for assigned caseload to applicable interdisciplinary team members and to support systems as needed. • Offer training support to other direct care team members less familiar with cognitive behavioral treatment interventions (MHT, nurses, clinic assistants, etc.). • Providing parent or support person training and education on how to support CBT interventions and behavioral treatment plans effectively. This may involve teaching positive reinforcement techniques, modeling appropriate behaviors, and providing strategies for managing challenging situations. • Provide for patient safety and the safety of the facility. • Support changes in staffing/scheduling assignment when program and patient care needs require. • Performs other duties as assigned. These may include but are not limited to: Maintaining a current knowledge base of department processes, protocols, and procedures, pursuing self-directed learning, and continuing education opportunities, and participating on committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management. Education & Experience: • Bachelor’s Degree required (human services, psychology, social work, or related field). • At minimum, must hold a valid Substance Abuse Counselor-in-Training credential (or state equivalent), if working in an Addiction Recovery program that requires this. • Relevant Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) experience (12 months preferred). Relevant experience may include clinical care, human services, or educational equivalent. • For Residential programs – Must hold a current and active driver's license and be in good standing (preferred for all levels of care). Required on-the-job Training: • Compliance with Residential Care Center (RCC) and Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) (Required for Residential Inpatient programs, preferred for all levels of care). • American Heart Association CPR certification within thirty (30) days of hire. Bi-annual re-certification is required. • Training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) within sixty (60) days of hire/transfer. Annual re-certification is required. • Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) trainings within ninety (90) days of hire. • Additional trainings may be required per unit – these must be completed within timeline established by leadership during onboarding. The System also includes Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation, which supports patient care, programs, and research; and Rogers InHealth, an initiative that works to eliminate the stigma of mental health challenges. https://rogersbhfoundation.org/ EOE/MFDV Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action – Rogers Behavioral Health (rogersbh.org) With a career at Rogers, you can look forward to a Total Rewards package of benefits, including: • Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage for you and your family • 401(k) retirement plan • Employee share program • Life/disability insurance • Flex spending accounts • Tuition reimbursement • Health and wellness program • Employee assistance program (EAP) Through UnitedHealthcare, UMR and HealthSCOPE Benefits creates and publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Rogers Behavioral Health. To link to the Machine-Readable Files, please visit Transparency in Coverage (uhc.com)

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