Creative Arts Therapist

JFS is pleased to announce the Creative Arts Therapist position. The Creative Arts Therapist works closely with youth (ages 3+) and families who are recovering from grief and trauma, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Funded by a generous grant through Passaic County Department of Health Services, the Creative Arts Therapist position is responsible for the delivery of person-centered, trauma-informed/specific therapy services to clients with complex mental health needs including individuals, families and groups. The Creative Arts Therapist will also work alongside case managers to ensure youth and families gain access to critical resources. The Creative Arts Therapist also tracks program data, develops agency-to-agency partnerships, designs research initiatives and may supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students or interns.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Design therapy sessions (music, drama, dance, fine art, sand tray, etc.) in consultation with clients and supervisor to meet client's goals and objectives. 
• Gather client information from sources such as case documentation, client observation, or interviews of client or family members.
• Assess client and synthesize data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy. 

• Develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate therapy or counseling techniques. 
• Customize therapy programs for specific client populations such as those in schools, nursing homes, wellness centers, prisons, shelters, or hospitals.
• Prepare artistic media or related equipment or devices to accomplish therapy session objectives.
• Provide guided self-expression experiences to help clients recover from or cope with cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments. 
• Build rapport with clients while conducting therapy. 
• Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to the artistic process.
• Confer with other professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
• Write treatment plans, case summaries or other reports related to individual clients or client groups. 
• Review research or literature in creative art therapy, psychology, or related disciplines. 
• Teach therapy techniques or processes to artists, interns, volunteers, or others. 
• Conduct information sharing sessions such as in-service workshops for other professionals, potential client groups, or the general community.
• Participate in occasional community events such as fundraisers, or events to celebrate the important work of clients.
• Participate in weekly team meetings and supervision sessions.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy or Board Certification in candidate’s respective creative arts modality (studio art, drama, dance, music, etc.). 
• Experience with children and domestic violence preferred.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Excellent emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and sense of humor
• Proven ability to work well with others, including community leaders, elected officials, a diverse collection of team members, and people experiencing extreme poverty
• Proficient with Microsoft Outlook and Word
• Bilingual Spanish-English