Helping children, youth, young adults, and their families find their path to healing and hope is at the core of our work. We can only achieve this by striving for excellence and providing an array of services that are needed and wanted by the community we serve. We are continuing to expand our programs and locations where we provide services with therapists in more schools and social service agencies. As we expand to serve more than 800 children, youth, and young adults each month – regardless of payer, gender identity, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, or place of origin – we do so with the intention that we would want our own families to use these services should they need them.  Read more about our services at www.ryther.org/services.

Ryther offers a vast array of services for neurodiverse children, youth, and young adults. These range from social skills activities groups, summer camps, virtual support groups, and individual outpatient therapy. Residential treatment and partial hospitalization programs for youth with severe neurodevelopmental challenges are opening in fall 2024.

Potential learning activities at the micro level:
-Provide individual support and behavior management as needed
-Teach and role model social skills
-Implement a variety activities for youth including creative arts, role playing games, rock climbing, tabletop games, robotics, and more.
-Provide individual, family and group outpatient therapy for neurodiverse youth with additional mental health needs (clinical master’s students only)
-Grow your knowledge through weekly individual and group supervision

For a full description of this practicum placement, go to: https://www.ryther.org/neurodiverse-learning-pathway

Potential learning activities at the mezzo level:
-Co-facilitate social skills and homework help groups for neurodiverse young people
-Participate in staff consults and program development meetings
-Collaborate at weekly team meetings, including multi-disciplinary case consults (“grand rounds”)
-Participate in agency committees related to equity and social justice

Potential learning activities at the macro level:
-Explore application of human rights, anti-oppression lenses, and research to clinical work via group supervision
-Apply macro theories to community mental health organization context as relevant to clinical work
-Provide psychoeducation and training to participants, families, and the community

No specific experience required but experience working with children and young people in some capacity is an asset.

Additional requirements include:
-Available for skills groups are generally offered Monday-Thursday 4:00-8:00pm and Saturday between 9:00am and 2:00pm. Interns must have sufficient available during these times to meet their internship hours requirements.
-Most group activities are offered in-person in Seattle, Redmond, and Kirkland. Some virtual groups are available. Hybrid placements are available, but some in-person work is required.
-Interns seeking a summer quarter placement should be available during summer camp hours, generally Monday-Thursday 9am-3pm.
-Can maintain practicum placement for no less than 6 months (2 quarters) with preference for those who can commit to 9 months or longer. Bachelor’s students will be considered for single quarter/semester placements.
-Travel potentially required depending on group assignments.

Read more about Ryther's practicum programming and apply at www.ryther.org/learning.