Creative/Expressive Arts Therapist

Class Concept

Work in this class involves providing skilled habilitative/rehabilitative services to clients (patients or residents) who have mental, social, physical, and/or emotional disability through the use of creative/expressive arts therapy in psychiatric hospitals, and intellectual disability centers. The mediums which may be used include arts, music, drama, or dance therapy. Work involves evaluation of clients through the use of behavioral observations, interactions, variety of tests, and analysis of medical records. Treatment plans are designed to intervene in specific Problem areas and to effect particular cognitive, affective, and/or psychomotor behaviors specifically for each patient. By nature of their clinical responsibilities, employees may coordinate, supervise and train other staff and interns. Employees may report to a Creative/Expressive Arts Supervisor. Employees may report to a Creative/Expressive Arts Supervisor.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of the physiological, sociological, and psychological implications for the disease processes experienced by the population being served.
• Considerable knowledge of the therapeutic creative/expressive arts principles, techniques, and methods and their application to the population being served.
• Ability to integrate a philosophy of creative/expressive arts which is therapeutic in nature into a clinical program.
• Ability to select and administer a variety of appropriate testing methods and use the results to plan individualized therapeutic programs.
• Ability to instruct and supervise student interns, subordinate staff members, and other medical and para-professional personnel in creative/expressive arts therapy methods and techniques.
• Ability to evaluate client progress and to present evaluative reports in interdisciplinary team meetings. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, a variety of professional disciplines, and the general public.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in music therapy which includes a six month internship from an appropriately accredited institution; or Bachelor's degree in music or music education with an equivalency in music therapy which includes a six month internship from an appropriately accredited institution; or Bachelor's degree in one of the creative/expressive arts areas (art, dance, drama, music) from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in all phases of therapeutic programming; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Administering the class: if the creative/expressive arts degree program has a therapeutic equivalency or emphasis, the experience requirements will be waived.