Therapeutic Mentor/Therapeutic Training & Support

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

Make a Difference Every Day—and Gain Skills You Can Use for Life

The Therapeutic Mentor/Therapeutic Training & Support (TM/TT&S) role provides community-based therapeutic support services to children, adolescents, and their families to promote emotional, behavioral, and relational well‑being. This position delivers skills‑based interventions, mentoring, and family support as part of a coordinated care approach designed to strengthen stabilization, safety, and overall functioning in home and community settings.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing individualized therapeutic support to youth and caregivers, focusing on building skills that enhance emotional regulation, social functioning, and positive family interactions.
• Collaborating with a clinical treatment team to help implement goals and strategies outlined in each youth’s therapeutic plan.
• Offering one‑to‑one mentoring and coaching, fostering skill development, confidence, and pro‑social engagement for children, adolescents, and transition‑age youth.
• Supporting families in strengthening their capacity to maintain safe, stable home environments, prevent out‑of‑home placements, and promote successful reunifications when needed.
• Delivering services in homes and community settings, adapting approaches to meet the unique needs, strengths, and cultures of the youth and families served.
• Providing guidance, modeling, and linkages to community resources to enhance long‑term stability and well‑being.

Essential Functions

• Provide community‑based support, skills coaching, and mentoring to youth and families in home, school, and community settings.
• Implement therapeutic goals and safety strategies in collaboration with clinical supervisors and treatment teams.
• Support youth in developing coping skills, emotional regulation, communication, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Assist caregivers in strengthening routines, behavior management, communication, and overall family stability.
• Facilitate coordination with providers, natural supports, and family members to ensure consistent, integrated care.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation, attend required meetings and supervision, and participate in ongoing training.
• Help connect families to resources and supports that promote safety, stability, and long‑term success.
• Additional duties as assigned

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to sit at workstation for prolonged periods of time, consistent with OSHA suggestions and requirements. reliable transportation required, including the ability to travel to community-based meetings and to transport clients and families to appointments, training, groups, and other program-related activities.  
• Must have the ability to access different community locations for meetings and sessions.
• Ability to be flexible and responsive to client and family scheduling needs and crises between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm
• Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to respond to and follow through with requests professionally. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to sit at workstation for prolonged periods of time, consistent with OSHA requirements. 

• Ability to lift, pull, or push up to 10 lbs.

Schedule:

• Monday-Friday, flexible and evening hours required between 8:00am-8:00pm
• Remote Capabilities: primarily an in-person tole, with some ability to perform some functions remotely at times.

Qualifications

Education and Certifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or related field.
• Must be able to obtain a certification as a community health care worker within 2 years of employment

Preferred:

• Certified as a community health worker

Experience

Required:

• 1+ years of experience working with children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance

Preferred:

• 1-3 years previous experience in a similar role

Required:

• Experience with strength-based assessment and development of treatment plans based on clear clinical formulations and knowledge of collateral systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team structure.
• Demonstrated creativity, cultural curiosity, and flexibility in responding to a variety of family, home, and community environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Other Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Successfully complete all background check suitability requirements
• Must have reliable transportation with ability to travel to different locations including the ability to travel to community-based meetings and to transport clients and families to appointments, trainings, groups, and other program-related activities.   
• Valid MA driver’s license
• Proof of auto insurance demonstrates coverage levels that meet the organization’s minimum requirements

• Must have the ability to access different community locations for meetings and sessions. 
• Ability to be flexible and responsive to client and family scheduling needs and crises between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm  
• Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously. 
• Ability to respond to and follow through with requests professionally.   
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  

• Bilingual capabilities are preferred, but not required

Supervision:

• Reports to: Team Leader/Clinical Supervisor or designee

Equal Opportunity Statement

Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.