Art Therapist

Art Therapist Signal Centers - 3.3 Chattanooga, TN Job Details 17 hours ago Qualifications Master's degree Classroom experience Classroom Teaching Crisis management Teaching Full Job Description Help teens express, create, and thrive—one brushstroke at a time! The Art Therapist and Arts for Youth Instructor will lead trauma-informed, strengths-based creative arts programming for Underserved youth ages 12-18 participating in summer arts classes. This role blends clinical art therapy practice with community-based arts education. The therapist/instructor facilitates individual and group sessions, develops thematic and appropriate curricula, and helps maintain a welcoming, low-barrier studio environment at the Hart Gallery and partner locations. The position supports Signal Centers' mission to expand creative opportunities, foster emotional expression, and build community connection through the arts.

Qualifications Required:

Master's degree in Fine Arts , Art Therapy , Expressive Arts Therapy , or a comparable field. Teaching experience with youth ages 12-18.

Preferred:

ATR-P, ATR, ATR-BC, or eligibility in progress. Demonstrated ability to build rapport with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and artistic backgrounds. Familiarity with trauma-informed care, youth development, and culturally responsive teaching.

Skills:

Strong group facilitation and classroom management. Ability to adapt lessons to diverse skill levels and lived experiences. Collaborative, flexible, and comfortable in nontraditional studio environments. Comfort working in a non-traditional, open-studio environment with fluctuating attendance and participant needs. Strong skills in group facilitation , crisis de-escalation , and collaborative teamwork . Ability to maintain professional boundaries while fostering a warm, supportive presence.

Key Responsibilities:

Arts for Youth Summer Classes Curriculum Development — Create and deliver age-appropriate lessons for underserved youth ages 12-18 using: Art Techniques & Materials Curriculum (fundamentals, process-based inquiry, creative thinking) Seasonal Curricul Artist-Based Curriculum (Masters, contemporary artists, art movements, artist studies) Instruction & Engagement — Facilitate hands-on art classes at the Hart Gallery and partner sites, ensuring accessibility for youth with diverse skill levels and backgrounds. Youth-Centered Approach — Foster creativity, confidence, and emotional expression through structured and exploratory art-making. Program Expansion — Support Signal Centers' goal of increasing youth participation and expanding offerings in the upcoming fiscal year. Crisis Response — Offer grounding, emotional regulation, and de-escalation support during moments of participant distress. Studio Environment — Maintain a safe, inclusive, low-barrier creative space during open studio days. Collaboration — Coordinate with H'ART gallery staff and teaching artists to support holistic participant goals. Community & Program Integration Support the Hart Gallery's mission by engaging with community members during open studio days, exhibitions, and public events. Encourage interaction between youth, adult artists, and the broader community in ways that promote dignity, creativity, and shared learning. Assist with setup, cleanup, and maintenance of art materials and studio spaces. Participate in program evaluation, documentation, and planning for future seasonal programming. Documentation & Compliance Behavioral Health Documentation — Maintain accurate session notes, attendance records, and outcome tracking. Uphold ethical standards of art therapy, confidentiality, and professional boundaries. Follow Signal Centers' policies and safety procedures across all program sites.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, bend over, lift, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Work Environment Seasonal summer position. Mix of indoor studio work, outdoor creative activities, and community events. May require occasional evening or weekend hours for exhibitions or special workshops. Must be able to frequently lift up to 25 lbs of art supplies and assist with studio setup. Signal Centers is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to affirm the dignity and worth of every person in all that we do. It is, therefore, the policy of the organization to practice and ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all employees and to promote the full realization of this policy through all employment practices.