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School Based Mental Health Therapist

Children's Wisconsin · Madison, WI

Posted Oct 1, 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 you worked with a parent who was hard to reach or engage.

What they are checking: Whether they keep trying to involve families in creative and respectful ways.

What would you do

How is providing therapy in a school different from therapy in a clinic?

What they are checking: Whether they understand schedules, privacy and working with school staff.

A teacher asks you what a student said in therapy. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they protect confidentiality while still working well with school staff.

How do you build trust with a student who did not choose to come to therapy?

What they are checking: Whether they can engage reluctant kids with patience and respect.

How do you handle a mandated report about a student when you have a relationship with the family?

What they are checking: Whether they follow reporting duties while managing the therapeutic relationship.

How do you manage a caseload across a school year with breaks and changing schedules?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for summer and school breaks so students keep getting support.

About the work

A student tells you they have been thinking about hurting themselves. Walk me through your response.

What they are checking: Whether they can assess risk, create a safety plan and involve parents and the school.

What evidence-based approaches do you use with children and teens?

What they are checking: Whether they have practical tools like CBT or trauma-focused therapy for this age group.

Many students may have experienced trauma. How does that shape your approach?

What they are checking: Whether they use trauma-informed care in assessment and treatment.

What licensure do you hold, and what experience do you have with children and teens?

What they are checking: Whether they meet requirements and have relevant experience for school-based work.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Children's Wisconsin.

At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe kids deserve the best. Every child deserves a safe and loving home. When parents are unable to provide this on their own, intervention is needed to ensure these children are free of abuse and neglect. We provide child well-being services to help children live in a safe and nurturing environment. We provide services to parents needing education and guidance to improve their parenting skills so their children can remain with them. We also provide services to children who are placed with foster families until they can return home or become part of an adoptive family. Our experienced professionals provide the following services to families in Milwaukee County and at locations throughout Wisconsin. • Foster Care • Treatment Foster Care • Adoption • Respite Care • Child Advocacy Centers • Family Case Management • Family Finding We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and are seeking individuals dedicated to helping us achieve our vision of the healthiest kids in the country. If you want to work for an organization that makes a difference for children and families, and encourages you to be at your best every day, please apply today. Please follow this link for a closer look at what it’s like to work at Children’s Wisconsin: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatcw/ **We are hiring for school-based Mental Health Therapist positions in the Madison (middle school) Middleton-Cross Plains (elementary schools) Area School Districts.** Job Summary Works as a core member of a multi-disciplinary, integrated care team that includes school psychologists, school counselors, social workers, teachers and other identified school and community partners. Typical activities include mental health condition management, individual, family and group therapy and treatment planning, anticipatory guidance, and early intervention for common childhood MBH concerns in one or more school based clinic settings. Uses trauma-informed, evidence-based and inclusive practices. Additional duties include consultation, education, and outreach to colleagues, trainees, family, and community members. Essential Functions • Assesses, diagnoses and treats children with mental health/emotional challenges through individual, group, and/or family therapy modalities. • Engages the child, family and educational team in the creation of an integrated, individualized treatment plan and in the child’s ongoing care. Communicates and coordinates with this team regularly. • Introduces SBMH services to families referred to the program in a way that eliminates stigma and facilitates engagement and trust in MBH care. • Consults with families, educators and care team members on client progress, behaviors, support needs and interventions. Provides consultation, coaching and professional development to school-site educators and administrators on mental and behavioral health, social and emotional learning, evidenced-based behavioral approaches for classroom success, and other related topics, as requested. • May provide individual classroom consultation, speak at school assemblies or participate in project work that supports student wellness and success as well as teacher well-being and competency in MBH. • Collaborates with school partners to develop and maintain ongoing internal referral pathways, appropriate care triage and family and school team needs assessments. • Collects and provides multiple data points for reports, donors and funding sources and participates in other program specific projects and activities as requested. • Participates in school related events, community engagement and other activities that support Children's mission and MBH strategy. • May provide Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) to families. May supervise training of graduate students/interns. Education: • Master's Degree in Social Work or related field, plus 3000 hours post Master’s experience required Experience: • Experience working with children and families in a school or integrated health care setting. preferred • Will consider therapists in training who have relevant experience and are working on their 3,000 hours towards licensure preferred Licenses and Certifications: + one of the following: - N/A • License Social Worker Clinical (123) - State of Wisconsin • License MFT-Marriage Family Therapy (124) - State of Wisconsin • License LPC-Professional Counselor (125) - State of Wisconsin • License Psychologist (57) - State of Wisconsin • License LPC-IT - State of Wisconsin Our school-based Mental Health Therapists will work in Madison or Middleton-Cross Plains Area School Districts. Location will be determined through the interview process. We will consider candidates who are interested in full-time or part-time positions and who are Therapists in Training. Children's Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law.

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