Recreational Therapist l Behavioral Health

About the job

Love + medicine is who we are, it's what we do, it's why people want to work here. If you’re looking for a job to love, apply today.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
36

Help patients rediscover joy, purpose, and connection. As a Recreational Therapist in our Behavioral Health team, you'll use therapeutic activities, creativity, and meaningful engagement to support patients on their journey toward healing and recovery. This unique role offers the opportunity to work across both our Inpatient Behavioral Health unit and newly opened EmPATH unit

At Emplify Health, we’re not just filling positions—we’re building careers. We invest in our teams so they can invest in the communities they serve. Discover how a little empathy changes everything.

What's Available:

• .9 FTE, 72 hours per week
• Monday through Friday. Hours between 7:30am - 5:30pm.
• Every 4th weekend and holiday

What You'll Do:

• Assess patients' recreational, social, emotional, and leisure needs to develop individualized treatment plans that support recovery and overall well-being.
• Plan and facilitate therapeutic recreation activities and groups for patients with behavioral health, substance use, and co-occurring medical and psychiatric diagnoses.
• Use evidence-based recreation interventions to help patients develop coping skills, build resilience, improve social interaction, and increase engagement in treatment.
• Foster a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment while maintaining patient safety and promoting recovery-focused care. Build meaningful therapeutic relationships with patients through compassionate engagement and person-centered ca
• Experience working with patients with Med-Psych diagnoses (i.e. substance abuse and withdrawal, behavioral health) . You will work in both our inpatient behavioral health unit and our newly opened EmPATH unit. Opportunities to support outpatient behavioral health can be available as well.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation
• Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist (CTRS) within 6 months of hire date
• Valid Driver's License (DL)
• 1 year previous experience in healthcare

What You'll Get:

• Starting pay of $24.36/hour + more for experience!
• Comprehensive & Generous Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Life Ins, HSA/FSA) ensuring your comfort and well-being as a valuable team member
• Substantial Retirement Contribution (401k & Base Contribution)
• Work/Life Balance: Paid Time Off (PTO) combines vacation, sick, and personal days into one balance to allow you the flexibility to use your time off as you need
• Support for your career growth through Professional Development Opportunities, our Tuition Reimbursement Program, and the Career Development Center
• Other benefits include a Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and AD&D, optional short-term and long-term disability coverage, an employee assistance program, identity theft protection, pet insurance, Inspire & Celebrate colleague recognition and rewards program, a discount program, and more

Emplify Health, a partnership of Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System, is a leading not-for-profit, patient-centered healthcare network based in Green Bay and La Crosse, Wisconsin. With 11 hospitals and over 100 clinics, we serve 67 cities across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and communities.

I f you need assistance with any portion of the application or have questions about the position, please contact HR-Recruitment@gundersenhealth.org or call 608-775-0267.

We inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our purpose. Together with our values — belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility — our pillars set our foundation and our future.

Equal Opportunity Employer