Art Therapist/Counselor

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:  

• Hiring Range
• Benefits
• PTO Overview  
• Job Classification: Full Time Salaried Staff
• Grade Level: 7

BASIC FUNCTION:

Serves as an art therapist and counselor for undergraduate and graduate students; advises faculty and staff as to the mental health needs of students; offers programs/workshops to students and staff on topics of interest (e.g. drug abuse, sexual assault); available for consultation with faculty and staff, particularly around crises that occur on campus, including after-hours crises.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs intake assessments to determine treatment needs and recommendations for students presenting to Counseling Services.
• Conducts individual and couples brief art therapy, counseling and psychotherapy.
• Provides crisis intervention and emergency coverage to students who are experiencing emotional distress, are a danger to self or others, or are in need of immediate hospitalization either directly or through community mental health agencies.
• Available for consultation with faculty and staff, particularly around crises that occur on campus, including after-hours crises
• Provides consultation back-up to faculty and staff when Director is unavailable.
• Conducts outreach programming focused on the developmental needs of the students, that maximizes their potential to benefit from the academic experience at SAIC, and that is informed by the practice of art therapy.  
• Provides consultation regarding individual students to faculty, staff, family members, and other mental health professionals as needed within the bounds of the confidential art therapy/counseling/psychotherapy relationship.
• With the Counseling Services leadership, develops and implements philosophy, policies, and procedures of counseling service operations.
• Attends regular counseling services and OSA staff meetings.
• Tabulates record of clinical activity each semester/year.

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Master’s Degree in Art Therapy required.
• Must be licensed or license-eligible within professional field. Must be fully licensed within 6 months of hire.
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience working with emerging adult and college aged populations. Higher education experience highly preferred.
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in crisis management, crisis counseling, intervention and evening on-call coverage experience required.
• Experience working cross departmentally, multidisciplinary highly desired.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in general and specific to mental health care and consultation 
• Ability to develop strong working relationships, positively represent the Counseling Services across diverse communities, and interact effectively with both health/mental health professionals and non-professionals regarding mental health concerns.

UNION: This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31. 

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe in a staff culture that benefits from a wide range of experience, backgrounds, and career paths, and we encourage nontraditional candidates to apply.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.