Westside's Culture - Westside Children’s Therapy

What It’s Like Working at Westside Children’s Therapy

Join a Pediatric Therapy Organization With a People-First Culture

Westside Children’s Therapy operates 30 pediatric therapy centers across Chicagoland and is known for low-ego leadership, high staff engagement, collaborative teams, and leaders who invest in the people doing the work every day.

We’re always on the lookout for exceptional BCBAs, RBTs, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, and support staff who want to do work that matters, in a place that lets them thrive.

See Open Roles

WHO WE ARE

We Look for People Who Want More Than “Just a Job”

Our therapists have a wear-it-on-their-sleeves, see-it-on-their-face, burning passion for changing kids' lives.

Embrace Learning Attitudes

Nobody is expected to have it all figured out. We actively reward asking for help, and our leaders are the first ones to admit when they got it wrong.

Stay a student, check egos at the door, and welcome mistakes (they’re your best teacher!).

View Work as a Calling

The kids and families we work with are someone's whole world. We hire people who feel the weight of that, not people who are just putting in hours.

Do work you're proud of, go above and beyond, and forget that "our kids" aren't really "our kids."

Be a Team of Teams

We have 30 locations, but we do not act like 30 separate silos. Credit goes to the people doing the work, and when something goes wrong, we look inward before looking outward.

Assume positive intent, stay enthusiastic, and lead with collaboration over competition.

We hire people committed to personal leadership development. Our leaders model that every day by asking a simple question: Why would someone follow me? And then actually do the work to earn that confidence.

ABOUT WESTSIDE

What We Stand For: G.R.E.A.T.

Growth, Relationships, Efficiency, Attitude, and Teamwork are built into everything we do.

G

Growth

Growth Ego-free. Leaders eat last.

Say sorry, ask for help, own your mistakes. Walk up to leadership and tell them something isn’t working. The opinions closest to the issues are the most valuable. We evolve with feedback, but change together.

R

Relationships

Be kind. No a-hole rule. Build each other up.

Kids should sprint into our centers. More than just an hour of therapy. Help every family we reasonably can. Fill your cup. Inspire above and beyond.

E

Efficiency

Spend it like it’s yours. Work smart.

Be responsible: notes, coverage, showing up. We don’t exist to maximize profit, but we do what it takes. Use technology to save time for what matters.

A

Attitude

Bring your goofy quirks. Psychologically safe.

No misery-loves-company. We get through it together. Laugh—especially with the kids. Give space for personalities to shine. Let voices be heard.

T

Teamwork

Team of teams. No department is better than any other.

We each contribute in our own way, so appreciate what everyone brings. We can’t give a 10/10 experience unless we all work together. No silos. No hierarchy games. Just one team.

A Culture Built Around People

We really try to stay connected to our clinics, teams, and families instead of feeling like a company that sits behind a desk. Here’s how:

We show up in person

Our executive leaders make time to show up in person, not just in meetings. Every 2 months, our leadership visits all 30 clinic sites, bringing lunch, checking in with staff and listening to what people are experiencing day to day.

People know their voice matters here

Our 70-question engagement survey has a 75% response rate, which is nearly double the healthcare industry average of around 40%. We read the feedback, talk about it, and use it to make real changes.

We keep egos out of things

If you see the CEO or talk with any leader at Westside, share what’s on your mind, whether that’s ideas, concerns, or things you think could be better. Some of our most meaningful process changes come from feedback submitted by RBTs and front desk staff.

Bring Your Quirks to Work

We spend a lot of time together, and we work with kids, which means we get to have a lot of fun.

Our clinics have their own inside jokes, traditions, and running bits. The Golden Corn peer appreciation award, the March Madness Westside World Champion title, and a long history of Rick Rolls in company emails are all real things.

At Westside, different personalities aren’t just welcome; they’re the whole point.

Rick Rolls
Hiding Rick Roll videos in email chains is an old habit we can't kick.

World Champions
We crowned a "Westside World Champion of the Universe" for March Madness.

Chicken Suit
We once had a singing woman in a chicken suit interrupt a staff meeting. On purpose.

Golden Corn
Our currency for peer appreciation is golden statues of corn. No further explanation needed.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Growing Our Own, and Investing in Everyone Who Joins Us

Many of our best people started in entry level roles and built their careers here. We've created structured pathways and put real investment behind them to make sure that's possible for everyone, whether you're brand new or have been with us for years.

Career Pathways at Westside

We hire people for where they are and invest in where they’re going.

Whether you’re beginning your Clinical Fellowship, completing OT/PT fieldwork, pursuing counseling licensure, or starting as an RBT, we provide the supervision, mentorship, and hands-on experience needed to support long-term career growth. Many team members continue advancing into licensed clinical roles, leadership opportunities, and specialized career pathways within the organization.

Clinical Fellowship (CFY)

Licensed SLP,

with dedicated supervision and mentorship

OT/PT Fieldwork

Licensed OT or PT,

with fieldwork hours built into your role

Counseling

LCPC/LCSW,

with structured hours and clinical support

RBT

BCBA or Operational Roles,

with mentorship and clear growth pathways.

BCBA Cohort Program

Want a Master's degree that doubles your income? We'll pay for it.

We designed our BCBA Cohort program from the ground up to make grad school feel less overwhelming and more achievable. Here’s what’s included:

Full tuition paid by Westside.
BCBA position at Westside upon certification.
Complete your clinical hours right here while you work.
Free exam prep included.
Do it with a cohort of people you actually like, not alone in a library somewhere.
Alumni of the program stay involved and support new cohort members.

We’re accepting 30 graduates in the May 2026 cohort. You’ll need to be a Westside employee to participate.

Already on the team?
Apply directly for the cohort.

APPLY FOR COHORT

Not yet a Westside employee?
Start here.

SEE OPEN ROLES

A Place Where Your Work Doesn’t Go Unnoticed

It's easy for hard work to disappear in a big organization. We've tried hard to make sure that doesn't happen here. Here's how:

Our peer-to-peer recognition program lets colleagues shout each other out directly.

Every week, our CEO personally recognizes team members who are making a difference.

At every staff meeting, we give Westside Way awards to the people who live our values most.

Leaders make personal appreciation calls to recognize people doing great work.

In every clinic, families can write thank-you notes directly to their child’s clinician.

Ready to Become a Part of Something Bigger?

Our 10-Year Goal: 50,000 lives measurably improved through the Westside Way.

Westside’s 10-year goal is to improve 50,000 lives. That means every therapist, every RBT, every front desk coordinator, and every operations team member is working toward a number that is trackable, specific, and real. We share progress toward that goal with the whole team.

Explore Opportunities at Westside

Our culture isn't for everyone, and that's okay. But if you read this and feel like you've found your people, we'd love to meet you.

“Westside was built for everyone that can further our mission of changing kids’ lives, including the person reading this right now. We invite you (yes, you!) to be included on our journey.”