School Based Therapist
NOW HIRING
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Student Wellness and Counseling Center · Part-Time · Grant-Funded · Independent Contractor
A Legacy Born from Courage
In 1946, a group of visionary Seventh-day Adventist leaders stood on 575 acres of land in Pennsylvania, once owned by abolitionist ironmaster Thomas Rutter — land that had sheltered freedom seekers through the Underground Railroad. Their mission: to create a school in the North where Black students could pursue excellence without the barriers of racial injustice.
That vision became Pine Forge Academy — a historically African American, co-educational, Christian boarding academy now serving students in grades 9–12 from across the United States and around the world. With a 98% college attendance rate , a campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and alumni who have served as U.S. Senate Chaplain, Navy researchers, IBM executives, and performing artists, Pine Forge is more than a school. It is a sacred trust.
That is why we are building the Student Wellness and Counseling (SWaC) Center — because the next generation of leaders needs to be well, not just academically prepared. We are now hiring two licensed therapists to help us make that promise real.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Pine Forge Academy is seeking two (2) compassionate, licensed mental health therapists to serve as independent contractors within our newly established SWaC Center. These grant-funded positions provide free, faith-informed counseling to our residential student community — removing barriers to care and strengthening the whole-student wellness mission at the heart of Pine Forge.
Position at a Glance
Position Type
Independent Contractor (1099) — not an employee position
Hours
Approximately 20 hours per week
Compensation
$46.87/hour · up to $937.40/week · paid bi-weekly
Duration
Annual contract, renewable based on grant funding
Start Date
August 3, 2026
Reports To
Head of Student Wellness and Counseling (SWaC)
Location
On-site · 361 Pine Forge Road · Boyertown, PA 19512
Schedule
Primarily afternoons/evenings, approx. 2:00–6:00 PM with some flexibility
Openings
Two (2) positions available
Important: Independent Contractor Notice
These are 1099 independent contractor positions. Contractors are responsible for their own taxes, professional liability/malpractice insurance, equipment, and business expenses. Contractors retain full clinical autonomy. This is not an employee position.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Your work will directly serve our residential student community — young people from across the globe who need steady, skilled, and spirit-led support.
◆     Provide individual counseling to referred students across a range of presenting concerns
◆     Facilitate a minimum of two (2) therapeutic or psychoeducational groups per semester
◆     Provide crisis support, consultation, and care coordination as needed
◆     Collaborate with Student Services staff, dorm parents, and families as clinically appropriate
◆     Maintain timely, accurate documentation and submit service data for grant reporting
◆     Participate in program planning meetings to support data-informed, evolving student wellness initiatives
◆     Support school-wide preventative wellness programming and campus culture initiatives
Required Qualifications
◆     Active, unrestricted licensure in Pennsylvania — LPC, LCSW, LMFT, PsyD, or equivalent
◆     Minimum 2 years of school-based experience OR 3–5 years of relevant clinical experience
◆     Experience working with adolescents; boarding/residential experience is a strong plus
◆     Demonstrated ability to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed care
◆     Christian faith — comfortable and skilled in providing faith-informed, student-centered support in an ethical, clinically sound manner
◆     Strong documentation skills and ability to meet grant reporting requirements
Preferred Qualifications
◆     Experience in boarding school, residential, or intensive outpatient settings
◆     Familiarity with FERPA and/or HIPAA in educational environments
◆     Experience with group facilitation and psychoeducational programming
◆     Understanding of Seventh-day Adventist values and boarding school culture
◆     Bilingual candidates are warmly encouraged to apply
All contractors working on the Pine Forge campus must complete the following prior to beginning services. These are required by Pennsylvania law and Academy policy:
Requirement
Details
Act 34 — PA State Police (PATCH)
PA Criminal History clearance — must be no more than 1 year old at start
Act 151 — Child Abuse History Clearance
PA Dept. of Human Services clearance — must be no more than 1 year old at start.
Act 114 — FBI Fingerprint Clearance
Federal criminal history via IdentoGo/PDE — must be no more than 1 year old at start.
Act 126 — Mandated Reporter Training
Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting training, required under PA law for school-based contractors
Active Professional Licensure
Must be current, unrestricted, and valid in Pennsylvania throughout the contract term
Malpractice / Liability Insurance
Contractor must maintain own professional liability coverage — proof required prior to start.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE INTERVIEW
Our interview is designed to understand your clinical approach, your comfort in a faith-informed residential environment, and your experience with the unique dynamics of boarding school life. You may be asked:
◆     How you support students navigating independence, community living, and high expectations simultaneously
◆     Your clinical approach to homesickness, separation from caregivers, and re-entry after breaks
◆     How you handle mental health crises when parents are not immediately present on campus
◆     How you collaborate with dorm parents and residential advisors who are not clinicians but are deeply invested in student life
◆     Your approach to mandated reporting and when it is triggered
◆     Strategies for supporting students experiencing peer conflict, social exclusion, or isolation within a contained residential environment
APPLY HERE: https://form.jotform.com/261816152006045
We welcome candidates who are called to this work, not just qualified for it. If Pine Forge's mission resonates with you, we invite you to apply.
Submit your application:
[Insert Application Portal Link Here]
Questions? Contact:
Traci Carroll · Head of Student Wellness and Counseling (SWaC)
tcarroll@mypineforgeacademy.org
Pine Forge Academy is an equal opportunity employer committed to a wellness team that reflects the richness and diversity of the students we serve.
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