Occupational Therapist (Full Time, The Retreat-Towson)

The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt consists of a 22 bed residential program nationally renowned for expert care. The Retreat is designed for patients seeking a comprehensive evaluation and intensive treatment experience in a psychotherapeutic milieu, unencumbered by the payment policies of third parties in order to give our residents a chance to make meaningful progress toward recovery.

The Retreat offers an elegantly appointed setting in a specially renovated space on Sheppard Pratt's main campus in Towson (Baltimore County).  Residents stay for an intermediate length of several weeks to several months.  The Retreat embodies a multi-disciplinary treatment approach to a variety of psychiatric conditions that can be treated safely and effectively in a voluntary, unlocked environment. These psychiatric conditions may include mood disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders including substance-use disorders.

Work requires current knowledge of occupational therapy theory and practice in the field of psychosocial dysfunction and basic computer usage skills obtained through academic and clinical internship requirements of a degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university.

*This position does require working on weekends.

As an Occupational Therapist you will:

• Work requires current knowledge of occupational therapy theory and practice in the field of psychosocial dysfunction and basic computer usage skills obtained through academic and clinical internship requirements of a degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university.


• Must possess current license to practice as an occupational therapist in the State of Maryland at the time of appointment and continuously throughout tenure in position.  Maintains professional knowledge and skills through attendance at professional meetings, workshops, courses, and in-service sessions. 


• For the Retreat program, position requires valid driver’s license and ability to operate a hospital vehicle at time of appointment and requires experience with neurodivergent/Autism Spectrum Disorder with ability to complete assessments and recommendations for individuals with that diagnosis.


• Work requires three to six months clinical experience supplemented with on-the-job orientation in order to learn assessment and documentation requirements and Sheppard Pratt/program policies and procedures.


• Work requires interpersonal and communication skills to relate effectively to psychiatric patients with a wide variety of problem behaviors, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds, demonstrate understanding of the O.T. role and the roles of others in multidisciplinary treatment/educational team meetings, and teach patients/students, interns, and volunteers (51-80% of work time).


• Work requires analytical ability to combine own observations of patients/students with those of others to determine functional abilities and deficits and their physical, neurological, developmental, or psychosocial origins and establish appropriate treatment plans.


• Working with emotionally disturbed and often unpredictable patients/students, meeting deadlines and other requirements for documentation, and exercising safety precautions frequently (21-50% of work time) produces a high level of mental/visual fatigue.