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Child Therapist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Julie Valentine Center

Child Therapist

Greenville, SC · On-site

The Child Therapist provides therapeutic mental health services to child victims of abuse and/ or neglect, and their non- offending caregivers. Compensation and Benefits * This is a full-time ...

Ellie Mental Health

Child Therapist

Newtown, PA · On-site

$55 - $75/hr

Therapist to work with children and adolescents $1,000 sign on bonus for any fulltime clinician starting in May 2026 Ellie Mental Health is looking for passionate therapists to join our growing team!

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$34K

$69.8K

$156K

How much do child therapist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for child therapist in the United States is $69,850.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,000.00 and $72,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a child therapist?

A Child Therapist is a mental health professional who specializes in helping children and adolescents cope with emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges. They use therapeutic techniques such as play therapy, talk therapy, and family counseling to help young clients express their feelings, develop coping skills, and improve their well-being. Child Therapists work in various settings, including schools, private practices, and mental health clinics, collaborating with families and other professionals to support a child's overall development.

What is a child therapist?

A child therapist provides counseling for children to diagnose and treat behavioral, emotional, and mental health problems. As a child therapist, your job duties include interviewing patients and their families, performing diagnostic assessments of the patient’s mental health, developing effective counseling treatments, and referring them to a psychiatrist if medicine is needed. Common issues you may help patients work through include alcohol abuse, depression, and family issues like divorce or death of a loved one. You generally work in a clinical setting, often at a private practice, school, or mental health facility.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a child therapist?

To thrive as a Child Therapist, you need a solid background in psychology or social work, a relevant master's degree, and state licensure or certification. Familiarity with assessment tools, therapeutic modalities like CBT or play therapy, and electronic health record systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, patience, and empathy are vital soft skills for building trust with children and collaborating with families. These skills and qualifications enable therapists to effectively address children's emotional and behavioral needs, fostering positive outcomes in their development.

What are some common challenges faced by child therapists when working with young clients?

Child therapists often encounter challenges such as building trust with children who may be hesitant or unable to express their feelings verbally. They must also navigate complex family dynamics and ensure effective communication with parents or guardians. Additionally, adapting therapeutic techniques to suit various developmental stages and cultural backgrounds is crucial. Collaboration with teachers, social workers, and other healthcare professionals is frequently required to provide holistic care and support for the child.

What is the difference between Child Therapist vs Child Psychologist?

AspectChild TherapistChild Psychologist
Required CredentialsMaster's or Doctoral degree in counseling, social work, or related field; state licensureDoctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology; state licensure or certification
Work EnvironmentPrivate practice, schools, clinics, hospitalsPrivate practice, hospitals, research settings, schools
Industry UsageCommonly used in mental health services for childrenUsed in clinical diagnosis, assessment, and research involving children

Child Therapists and Child Psychologists both work with children to address mental health issues, but Child Psychologists typically have a doctoral degree and focus on assessment and diagnosis, while Child Therapists often hold a master's degree and focus on therapy and counseling. Both roles are vital in supporting children's mental well-being within various settings.

Is it hard to become a child therapist?

Becoming a child therapist typically requires earning a relevant master's degree in counseling, psychology, or social work, along with completing supervised clinical hours and obtaining licensure. The process can take several years and involves meeting specific state or regional licensing requirements, but it is a well-defined pathway for those committed to working with children. Strong interpersonal skills and patience are essential for success in this field.

What skills do you need to be a child therapist?

Child therapists need strong communication and active listening skills to effectively engage with children and their families. They should have empathy, patience, and the ability to develop trust, along with knowledge of child development and mental health interventions. Certification or licensure in counseling or psychology is typically required, and experience working with children is highly valued.
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Child Therapist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Child Therapist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $69,850 per year, or $33.6 per hour.

Child Therapist

Julie Valentine Center

Greenville, SC

Full-time

Medical, Dental, PTO

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

Job Title

Child Therapist

Reports to

Clinical Program Coordinator

Salary Range

Varies

Job Description:  The Child Therapist provides therapeutic mental health services to child victims of abuse and/ or neglect, and their non- offending caregivers.

 Compensation and Benefits         

  • This is a full-time salaried position allowing flexible scheduling.
  • Julie Valentine Center provides a comprehensive agency-paid insurance package for each employee, which includes health and dental coverage.
  • Julie Valentine Center values work-life balance and offers generous paid time off as well as extended paid holidays to support rest and renewal.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The following is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.  This list of essential duties and responsibilities is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed.  Incumbents may be required to perform other job- related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description.

Clinical/ Direct Service

  • Provide individual, family and group counseling using evidenced based treatment (TFCBT, PCIT, EMDR, etc.)
  • The Child Therapist may be asked to help plan, facilitate and lead a Child (HERO), Adolescent, or Caregiver Support Group a minimum of 3 times each year
  • Provide crisis intervention services as needed

Documentation/ Case Management

  • Maintain appropriate documentation to include client contact, clinical service notes, outcome measures, correspondence, and assessment tools (Documentation is to be maintained according to Center standards in both Collaborate Database and Docuware client files)
  • Provide follow up case management for children and families by coordinating services with referring agencies such as DSS, DMH, LE, Solicitor's Office, etc.

Administrative

  • Participate in agency staff meetings, fund raisers and other activities as assigned.
  • Maintain Professional License Credential by completing required training.
  • Enhance professional growth and development through activities such as professional affiliations, conferences, workshops, etc.
  • Assist with Center intern program by providing opportunities for interns to observe and/ or assist in treatment.
  • Perform other duties as assigned and/ or requested.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Education:  License and Masters Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or related field

Minimum Experience:  3 years preferred

Job Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Experience: Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills; Experience and training in working with abused and traumatized children; play therapy experience preferred; experience and training in evidence-based treatments preferred; extensive experience and training in child development, family dynamics, and parenting; public speaking and presentation skills; knowledge and understanding of child protective services and criminal justice system

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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