5 Benefits to Being a School-Based Therapist

5 Benefits to Being a School-Based Therapist

Often overlooked and widely underserved, the professions in school-based therapy provide some of the most beneficial work environments in any industry.  In recent years, school-based therapists have received a bit of negative attention, with therapists citing the obvious stresses associated with a diverse caseload.  What these same therapists failed to report were the numerous emotional, professional, and academic benefits gained through helping children on their journey to better themselves.

1. Job Availability

A benefit most industries fail to provide their employees is job security and job availability. Through reviewing therapy staffing websites, you can find a school-based therapist job from New Jersey to California. Many industries in recent history have become over-saturated with workers, whereas there is a continually growing need for more school-based therapists nationwide.

Just take a look at an occupational therapy recruiter website, and you’ll see numerous adolescent and pediatric occupational therapy jobs opening up across the U.S. Physical therapy, considered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, is expected to grow an astounding 34% by the year 2024. In recent years, school-based therapist jobs in physical therapy have become more available in schools, as school athletic programs have taken on a more serious initiative to maintain the health of their athletes.

2. Dynamic Work Environment

No one wants to be stuck doing the same droning task for the rest of their life. Inherently, we all seek excitement and diversity–not only in our personal lives but also in our careers. This is something that can be easily found in school-based speech and language therapy jobs, occupational therapy jobs, and physical therapy jobs.

Working in a school exposes school-based therapists to a melting pot of different personalities, cultures, personal backgrounds, and languages. The working environment is fundamentally dynamic and always leaves you open to new surprises and experiences. The dynamic nature of school-based therapy is something that few other industries offer and is one of the greatest benefits of the job.

3. Holidays!

One of the most overlooked aspects of participating in a school-based therapy job is vacation time. School-based therapists such as speech pathologists and occupational therapists enjoy close to 3 months of vacation throughout the year. When working in such a high-maintenance industry, no matter how rewarding it may be, it is always good to take some time for yourself. Having a school-based therapy job provides just that benefit.

4. You’re Always Learning

As noted earlier, school-based therapy jobs provide a dynamic work environment where you engage with students from all walks of life. Many of these children look to you for guidance on solving their problems. As any therapist knows, every individual has a unique host of problems to cope with.

As a therapist, you are always looking for new ways to help these children, and in the process, you are learning new ways to interact and solve problems.  Whether you have an SLP job and are helping a teen manage their language disability or you’re a physical therapist helping a child develop their basic motor skills, you will face a new challenge every day. In conquering these challenges, you have added a new facet to your skill set, which makes you an even more marketable employee in the future.

5. Fulfilling Work

Some say it’s a cliché while others call it a myth, but you generally don’t choose to become a therapist if you aren’t looking to help others. There is something intrinsically altruistic about the profession of therapy. That in itself can be rewarding, knowing that you chose to work in a profession to help others solve their problems. But it is fulfilling to know when someone asks you what a speech and language therapist does, you can reply with an answer you are proud of. Knowing that you have helped a child to learn how to speak and set him or her on a path to success is an inimitable feeling that you can find in the school-based therapy profession.

As you can see, the benefits of becoming a school-based therapist far outweigh the day-to-day stressors of the job. You are helping children create a better tomorrow for themselves in their most formative years. Whatever therapy you decide to pursue, whether special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy, you can be sure to find a fulfilling environment, personally and professionally. The great salary doesn’t hurt, either.

Looking for a school-based therapy job? Check out our current openings: https://jobs.txsource.com

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