Occupational Therapist, Behavioral Health Unit - Full-Time
Posted Aug 6, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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 a patient refused to take part in therapy. What did you do, and what did you document?
What they are checking: Whether they respect patient choice, keep trying in a smart way, and record refusals clearly for the team and for billing.
How do you share what you see in therapy with nursing, psychiatry and social work so it actually changes the patient's care?
What they are checking: Whether they communicate with other disciplines in a way that adds value instead of just filing notes.
Tell me about a performance improvement or CQI project you were part of. What changed because of it?
What they are checking: Whether they have taken real part in quality work and can point to a measurable result, not just attendance.
How do you take care of yourself after a hard day with patients in crisis so it does not affect the next patient?
What they are checking: Whether they have healthy habits that keep them steady and effective in an emotionally heavy setting.
What would you do
How do you run a group session on a behavioral health unit when one patient is agitated and pulling the room off task?
What they are checking: Whether they can keep a group safe and productive while de-escalating one person without shaming them.
Patient stays on an inpatient psych unit can be short. How do you decide what to focus on when you may only see someone a few times?
What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize goals that will matter at discharge rather than building a plan they will never finish.
You will help orient and mentor new partners. How would you teach a new therapist to work safely and confidently on a psych unit?
What they are checking: Whether they can pass on practical judgment about safety and boundaries, not just paperwork steps.
About the work
This role is on an inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. What does occupational therapy look like for someone admitted in a mental health crisis, compared with a typical rehab patient?
What they are checking: Whether they understand that function on a psych unit means routines, coping and daily living skills, not just strength and range of motion.
Walk me through how you would evaluate a patient on the unit who has severe depression and barely gets out of bed.
What they are checking: Whether they can pick assessments that fit a mental health population and turn findings into a realistic treatment plan.
What safety precautions do you think about when you bring tools, utensils or craft materials onto a locked unit?
What they are checking: Whether they know ligature and sharps risks and treat environmental safety as part of the therapy plan.
The posting mentions coding and billing for services. How do you make sure your documentation supports the minutes and codes you bill?
What they are checking: Whether they connect clinical notes to accurate charges, which protects the hospital during audits.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Mercyhealth.