Position Summary Transforming Lives Inc. is seeking qualified and compassionate Creative Arts Therapists to provide school-based therapeutic and mental health services to students within elementary, middle, and/or high school settings. The Creative Arts Therapist uses creative and expressive modalities - including art, music, movement, drama, play, writing, and other developmentally appropriate therapeutic activities - to help students express emotions, develop coping skills, improve emotional regulation, strengthen interpersonal skills, and address behavioral and mental health needs. Working as an integrated member of the school community, the Creative Arts Therapist collaborates with students, families, teachers, administrators, school counselors, special education staff, licensed clinicians, and other professionals to help students overcome emotional and behavioral barriers to academic, social, and personal success. This position requires a master's degree in Creative Arts Therapy or a closely related therapeutic discipline. The Creative Arts Therapist works within the scope of the position and receives clinical supervision and consultation from appropriately qualified clinical personnel as required by Transforming Lives Inc., applicable contracts, and governing regulations. Creative Arts Therapy and Student Mental Health Services

• Provide individual and group creative arts therapy services to students experiencing emotional, behavioral, social, family, or mental health concerns.
• Utilize creative and expressive modalities such as visual art, music, movement, drama, play, storytelling, creative writing, and other appropriate therapeutic activities.
• Select therapeutic approaches based on each student's developmental level, strengths, needs, interests, treatment goals, and presenting concerns.
• Establish supportive therapeutic relationships with students that promote trust, engagement, emotional expression, and progress toward identified goals.
• Provide trauma-informed, student-centered, and developmentally appropriate services.
• Use creative activities to help students identify and communicate thoughts, feelings, and experiences that may be difficult to express verbally.
• Help students develop emotional regulation, coping, problem-solving, communication, interpersonal, and self-awareness skills.
• Facilitate therapeutic groups addressing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, self-esteem, anger management, emotional regulation, social skills, peer relationships, and coping skills.
• Adapt therapeutic activities to accommodate individual learning styles, abilities, developmental needs, and cultural backgrounds.
• Coordinate services to minimize unnecessary disruption to students' educational programs.
• Seek clinical consultation when student needs exceed the scope of the Creative Arts Therapist's role. Assessment and Treatment Planning
• Participate in assessments to identify students' emotional, behavioral, mental health, and therapeutic needs.
• Assess students' ability to engage in and benefit from creative and expressive therapeutic interventions.
• Identify student strengths, interests, preferred forms of expression, and other factors that may inform therapeutic interventions.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans with measurable goals and objectives in accordance with program requirements and clinical supervision.
• Incorporate appropriate creative arts interventions into individualized treatment plans.
• Monitor student progress and response to therapeutic interventions.
• Review student progress and participate in updating treatment plans based on changing needs.
• Communicate significant changes, concerns, or treatment needs to the appropriate clinical supervisor.
• Identify students who may require additional or more intensive behavioral health services and assist with appropriate referrals. Individual and Group Therapeutic Services
• Plan and facilitate structured individual and group creative arts therapy sessions.
• Create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment that encourages appropriate self-expression and participation.
• Establish clear therapeutic goals for individual and group interventions.
• Adapt activities based on students' responses, abilities, behavioral needs, and therapeutic progress.
• Encourage appropriate peer interaction, communication, cooperation, and social-emotional development within group settings.
• Maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries during all individual and group activities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and modify approaches as appropriate in consultation with supervisory staff. Crisis Intervention and Student Safety
• Recognize and respond appropriately to students experiencing mental health crises, significant emotional distress, or behavioral escalation.
• Assist with crisis assessment and intervention consistent with training, organizational policies, and the scope of the position.
• Immediately consult with or refer to an appropriately licensed clinician, supervisor, school administrator, emergency service, or other qualified professional when circumstances require a higher level of clinical assessment or intervention.
• Assist with implementation of student safety plans and crisis response procedures.
• Provide supportive intervention and stabilization within the scope of the position.
• Follow all applicable laws, school procedures, mandated reporting requirements, and Transforming Lives Inc. policies regarding student safety. School Collaboration and Consultation
• Function as a collaborative member of the school's student support and mental health teams.
• Consult with teachers, administrators, school counselors, psychologists, nurses, special education personnel, licensed clinicians, and other staff while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Participate in student support, multidisciplinary, treatment team, and other school-based meetings when appropriate.
• Share relevant observations regarding students' emotional expression, engagement, coping abilities, social functioning, and therapeutic progress.
• Assist school personnel in identifying strategies for supporting students experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges.
• Help integrate appropriate creative and expressive strategies into broader student-support efforts when appropriate.
• Serve as a mental health and creative arts therapy resource for the school community within the scope of the position. Family and Caregiver Engagement
• Engage parents, guardians, and caregivers as appropriate in the treatment process.
• Communicate with families regarding student needs, progress, treatment goals, and available resources within appropriate confidentiality requirements.
• Help families understand how creative and expressive interventions may support their child's emotional and behavioral development.
• Provide families with appropriate strategies for reinforcing coping, communication, emotional expression, and self-regulation skills.
• Help families access community-based behavioral health, psychiatric, medical, social service, and other resources when needed. Documentation and Clinical Compliance
• Complete accurate and timely documentation for all services provided.
• Maintain treatment plans, assessments, progress notes, discharge documentation, crisis documentation, and other required records.
• Document therapeutic interventions, student participation, response to treatment, progress toward goals, and relevant clinical observations.
• Ensure documentation meets Transforming Lives Inc. standards and applicable contractual, regulatory, funding, and program requirements.
• Maintain student and family confidentiality in accordance with applicable privacy laws, ethical standards, and organizational policies.
• Participate in clinical supervision, case consultation, chart reviews, quality assurance activities, staff meetings, and professional development as required.

Required Qualifications - Education Candidates must possess a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Creative Arts Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Drama Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Counseling with substantial graduate-level training in creative or expressive therapeutic interventions, or another closely related behavioral health discipline appropriate to program requirements. Licensure Professional licensure is required for this position. Candidates working toward professional licensure, professional registration, board certification, or another discipline-specific credential may be considered, but such credentials are not required unless specifically mandated by an applicable contract, funding source, professional scope-of-practice requirement, or regulation. Employees must provide services within the scope of their education, training, professional competencies, assigned responsibilities, and applicable laws and regulations. Services requiring an independently licensed clinician must be referred to or completed under the direction of appropriately licensed personnel.

Pay:

$64,908.87 - $68,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Education:

Master's (Required)

Experience:

creative arts therapy: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

license as a counselor or related field (Required)

Work Location:

In person