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What does a therapist and program manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.

Therapy program managers are responsible for achieving excellent customer satisfaction for healthcare delivery and financial goals. Their duties include a leading conference with an enterprise software solution vendor, overseeing the rehabilitation department, and helping with coding and billing needed for reimbursement of insurance providers. Also, they train staff on state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations governing laws, as well as cooperate with therapy and nursing staff to enhance interaction and make certain positive feedback from facility residents. Additionally, they supervise inbound or outbound logistics projects, study CPT and ICD-9 codes for variance, and thoughtfully resolve sensitive issues.

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Therapist and program manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real therapist and program manager resumes:

  • Manage ventilator and BiPAP's and create or update care plans per patient needs.
  • Facilitate supportive group therapy and educational groups with patients receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment for psychiatric disorders and/or chemical dependency.
  • Work with a client base which consist of adults seeking detoxification and rehabilitation within a dual diagnosis therapeutic environment.
  • Maintain client files according to Medicaid an
  • Conduct DBT in a partial hospital setting, including both individual and group therapy.
  • Provide case/care management of Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and private paying clients.
  • Develop expertise in practice of CBT, solution-focuse, and DBT interventions with diverse populations, ages 14 and up.
  • Provide clinical case management, brain injury counseling, and liaison with physicians and other rehabilitation professionals.
  • Facilitate process orient therapy groups for adult patients focusing on emotional processing, mindfulness, and interpersonal dynamics.
  • Implement assessment and treatment plans for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, behavioral problems and other developmental disabilities.
  • Convene multidisciplinary team for ADHD assessments.
  • Perform psychological evaluations, including intelligence and personality testing, and ADHD assessments.
  • Contract therapist for Counsleing4Kids, submitting paperwork require for assessment, diagnosis and authorization for Medi-Cal clients.

Therapist and program manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 24% of Therapist And Program Managers are proficient in Social Work, Patients, and Crisis Intervention. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Emotional skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Therapist And Program Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Social Work, 24%

    Increased revenue by successful Census Development/Marketing Rehab services to physicians, social workers and discharge planners.

  • Patients, 15%

    Conducted short term Family and individual therapy sessions for patients requiring immediate attention pending permanent assignment to the returning therapist.

  • Crisis Intervention, 9%

    Provided individual and family therapy; crisis intervention; educational and career counseling to delinquent, emotionally and learning disabled youth.

  • Home Health, 5%

    Developed strong partnership with home health company, Interim to develop further caseload and increase out-patient referrals.

  • Eating Disorders, 4%

    Provided individual, group, couples, and family therapy for clients with eating disorders and other co-occurring disorders.

  • Compassion, 4%

    Demonstrated patience and compassion in an often stressful and difficult environment.

Common skills that a therapist and program manager uses to do their job include "social work," "patients," and "crisis intervention." You can find details on the most important therapist and program manager responsibilities below.

Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a therapist and program manager to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "clients talk to social workers about challenges in their lives." Therapist and program managers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "fostered communication between various staff and community agencies. "

Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for therapist and program managers to perform their duties. For an example of how therapist and program manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "social workers must analyze their clients’ complex situations and develop practical solutions." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a therapist and program manager: "provided psycho-education, cognitive behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, and crisis management services. ".

Organizational skills. therapist and program manager responsibilities often require "organizational skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social workers must help and manage multiple clients, often assisting with their paperwork or documenting their treatment." This resume example shows what therapist and program managers do with organizational skills on a typical day: "fostered supportive relationships with collateral contacts and inter-organizational care coordination. "

Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for therapist and program manager responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of therapist and program managers all the time, as "social workers must be able to work with different groups of people." An excerpt from a real therapist and program manager resume shows how this skill is central to what a therapist and program manager does: "facilitate daily life skills groups for clients- anger management, interpersonal skills, life skills, healthy families, and self-esteem. "

Most common therapist and program manager skills

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Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume
Therapist And Program Manager Resume

Compare different therapist and program managers

Therapist and program manager vs. Clinical social worker

A clinical social worker is an individual in social work, which provides help to individuals in need of improving their lives and their well-being. Clinical social workers must work with different individuals to help them address difficulties that they are trying to overcome. To perform counseling services, clinical social workers must take and pass the professional licensure examination. They also help disadvantaged individuals connect to resources and services that they may benefit from.

We looked at the average therapist and program manager salary and compared it with the wages of a clinical social worker. Generally speaking, clinical social workers are paid $6,906 higher than therapist and program managers per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between therapist and program managers and clinical social workers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like social work, patients, and crisis intervention.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between therapist and program managers and clinical social worker. For instance, therapist and program manager responsibilities require skills such as "chemical dependency," "therapy services," "medicaid," and "php." Whereas a clinical social worker is skilled in "behavioral health," "msw," "psychosocial assessments," and "family therapy." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Clinical social workers earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $62,929. On the other hand, therapist and program managers are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $54,467.On average, clinical social workers reach higher levels of education than therapist and program managers. Clinical social workers are 5.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Therapist and program manager vs. Addictions counselor

An Addictions Counselor helps patients overcome personal addiction problems, such as dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances. They evaluate the condition of their client through examining, asking questions, and recommending the proper treatment options.

On average, addictions counselors earn a $8,924 lower salary than therapist and program managers a year.A few skills overlap for therapist and program managers and addictions counselors. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "social work," "patients," and "crisis intervention. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real therapist and program manager resumes. While therapist and program manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "home health," "compassion," "therapeutic services," and "social services," addictions counselors use skills like "substance abuse treatment," "treatment services," "family therapy," and "treatment programs."

On average, addictions counselors earn a lower salary than therapist and program managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, addictions counselors earn the most pay in the non profits industry with an average salary of $47,326. Whereas therapist and program managers have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $54,467.addictions counselors earn lower levels of education than therapist and program managers in general. They're 21.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for therapist and program managers in the next 3-5 years?

Lesley Casarez Ph.D.Lesley Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, Angelo State University

Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.

Therapist and program manager vs. Mental health consultant

A mental health consultant is responsible for providing counseling and emotional support to manage a client's issue and control behaviors. Mental health consultants must have excellent communication and listening skills to understand and assess the client's situation and evaluate the level of their emotional and psychological distress. They also need to monitor progress on the client's state and use different psychotherapy methods and treatment plans. A mental health consultant should also reach out to other health professionals to ask assistance for any recovery options as needed.

An average mental health consultant eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of therapist and program managers. The difference in salaries amounts to mental health consultants earning a $5,144 lower average salary than therapist and program managers.By looking over several therapist and program managers and mental health consultants resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "social work," "patients," and "crisis intervention." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from therapist and program manager resumes include skills like "home health," "eating disorders," "compassion," and "therapeutic services," whereas a mental health consultant is more likely to list skills in "healthcare," "substance abuse," "autism," and "data analysis. "

Mental health consultants earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $66,424. Therapist and program managers earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $54,467.When it comes to education, mental health consultants tend to earn lower degree levels compared to therapist and program managers. In fact, they're 20.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Therapist and program manager vs. Mental health clinician

A Mental Health Clinician provides psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation services for patients with mental health problems. They manage the treatment of clients and help them to obtain stable physical health.

Mental health clinicians typically earn lower pay than therapist and program managers. On average, mental health clinicians earn a $1,791 lower salary per year.According to resumes from therapist and program managers and mental health clinicians, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "social work," "patients," and "crisis intervention. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A therapist and program manager uses "patient care," "chemical dependency," "therapy services," and "medicaid." Mental health clinicians are more likely to have duties that require skills in "treatment services," "clinical documentation," "dsm," and "support services. "The education industry tends to pay the highest salaries for mental health clinicians, with average annual pay of $57,456. Comparatively, the highest therapist and program manager annual salary comes from the health care industry.In general, mental health clinicians hold similar degree levels compared to therapist and program managers. Mental health clinicians are 0.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of therapist and program manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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