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Position Summary
The Ancillary Art Therapist provides structured therapeutic art sessions for clients receiving residential mental health services at Riverbend. Working as part of the interdisciplinary treatment environment, the Art Therapist uses evidence-informed art therapy interventions to support emotional expression, coping skills, self-awareness, social connection, and progress toward individualized treatment goals. This is a limited-hours ancillary position anticipated to provide approximately a couple of sessions per week, with opportunities for additional groups as program needs and programming expand.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Plan and facilitate individual and/or group art therapy sessions consistent with client needs and the residential treatment program.
- Use art-making and the therapeutic process to support emotional expression, insight, coping, communication, self-esteem, and recovery.
- Develop session activities that are clinically appropriate for the population and adaptable to varying levels of functioning and participation.
- Coordinate with clinical leadership and members of the interdisciplinary team to align ancillary programming with treatment goals.
- Observe client participation and behavior during sessions and communicate clinically relevant concerns to appropriate treatment team members.
- Complete required documentation accurately and within established timeframes, including attendance and session notes as applicable.
- Maintain a safe, organized therapeutic environment and appropriately manage art materials and supplies.
- Follow infection-control, safety, confidentiality, professional-boundary, and crisis-response expectations of the facility.
- Participate in treatment-team communication or consultation when requested and appropriate to the ancillary role.
- Perform other related duties consistent with the position and program needs.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in Art Therapy or a closely related field with graduate-level art therapy training from an appropriately accredited institution.
- Demonstrated education and supervised clinical experience in the practice of art therapy.
- Ability to provide therapeutic services within the individual's professional scope of practice and credentials.
- Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health conditions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Current ATR, ATR-BC, or other applicable professional art therapy credential.
- Experience in residential, inpatient, partial hospitalization, or other behavioral health treatment settings.
- Experience facilitating therapeutic groups for adults with complex or high-acuity mental health needs.
- Training or experience in trauma-informed care.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to engage adults with diverse clinical presentations in a respectful, recovery-oriented manner.
- Strong group facilitation, communication, interpersonal, and boundary-setting skills.
- Ability to adapt activities to participants' needs, abilities, interests, and treatment goals.
- Understanding of confidentiality, professional ethics, trauma-informed care, and interdisciplinary treatment.
- Reliable documentation, organization, and time-management skills.
Physical and Work Environment
Work is performed in a residential behavioral health setting and may include standing, sitting, walking, bending, and transporting light program materials or equipment. The employee must be able to respond appropriately to the needs of clients and the clinical environment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Additional Requirements
- Successful completion of all pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements applicable to the position.
- Maintain all licenses, certifications, credentials, and professional liability coverage required by Riverbend or applicable law, if applicable to the engagement.
- Comply with Riverbend policies, confidentiality requirements, safety procedures, and applicable federal and Pennsylvania requirements.
- This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. Responsibilities may be adjusted based on program and client needs.
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