Milieu Therapist, 6A Withdrawal Management
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UPMC Mercy is hiring a full-time Milieu Therapist to join our 6A Withdrawal Management team!
Are you a behavioral health professional looking for a meaningful career in a supportive, fast-paced environment? UPMC Mercy’s 6A Withdrawal Management team may be a great fit for you. This role offers the opportunity to work with patients recovering from drug and alcohol addiction while being part of a world-renowned medical center dedicated to compassionate care.
The Milieu Therapist will primarily work daylight shifts, with the flexibility to work various shifts, including evenings, as needed. In this role, you will provide individual and group therapy to patients on the 6A Withdrawal Management unit, support the Discharge Planning Manager with follow-up phone calls, and assist nursing staff with tasks such as patient check-ins and gathering belongings.
This position plays an important role in managing the daily milieu on the unit. Responsibilities also include helping organize and maintain the group therapy schedule and coordinating with outside groups such as AA/NA, Pharmacy, and other supportive services.
UPMC offers a competitive benefits package and provides the opportunity to continue to grow professionally from both a technical and managerial standpoint. Candidates will be placed in the correct job title/salary grade based on education and experience.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain competency requirements. Learn and utilize up-to-date technology and practices in delivery of patient care. Attend a minimum of 1 unit based of Institute wide in-service yearly.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate psychoeducational and therapeutic activity groups effectively. Encourage or assist patients to perform activities of daily living. Accompany patients to out-of-building activities and appointments. Document in the Medical Record according to established policies. Manage crisis situations effectively using positive approaches. Demonstrate effective milieu management skills, which promote positive patient experiences. Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment. Provide clinical interventions assessed by client needs
- Coordinate patient groups and activities
- Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and other activities. Maintain on-going communication with appropriate staff. Perform assigned work in a timely and productive manner
- Completes 1:1 meetings with assigned patients to assess how they are currently doing
- Complete observations of patients as ordered, following all guidelines
- Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field such as Social Work, Psychology or Counseling from an accredited College or University required. Other fields of study may be considered with coursework of at least 12 credits in Human Services.
- Mental Health experience preferred.
- Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
- Relevant group/individuals experience with therapeutic and leisure-oriented activities is strongly preferred.
- Must be physically capable of providing direct total physical care to unpredictable behavioral health patients as necessary, including lifting, supporting, running towards or away from areas where problems are occurring and pushing and pulling equipment such as wheel chairs.
- May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored. No contact with medications is allowed. In the course of duties may be asked to distribute medications to the nurse at the bedside. Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
- Act 34
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
5 Questions You Should Ask During the Interview
Here are 5 questions we think you could ask during your interview. Use them as a guide to help you write your own questions.
Remember: Always have at least 5 questions prepared for the interview. If you do not, you run the risk of looking unprepared.
What does success look like in this role, and how is it measured?
Why ask this? You want to ensure you have a clear understanding of expectations before accepting the role. Knowing how success is measured helps you hit the ground running and avoid surprises about performance evaluations. It also signals to the employer that you're results-driven.
Can you describe the team dynamic and the company culture?
Why ask this? Skills and experience matter, but if the work environment isn’t a good fit, you won’t be happy or productive. This question helps you gauge whether the company values collaboration, how teams interact, and whether the culture aligns with your work style and values.
What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this role right now?
Why ask this? Every job has challenges, and it’s better to know them upfront. This helps you assess whether the role is a good fit for your strengths and whether the company is realistic about its expectations. If they hesitate to answer, it could be a red flag.
How does the company support work-life balance and employee well-being??
Why ask this? Burnout is real, and some companies expect employees to sacrifice personal time for the job. By asking this, you’ll get a sense of how they value work-life balance, flexibility, and well-being—things that are crucial for job satisfaction and long-term success.
These questions help you make an informed decision while also showing your professionalism and strategic thinking!
Location
Job Data
Company: UPMC - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posted: September 6, 2026
Category: Behavioral Health