Expressive Therapist

Expressive Therapist- PRTF (Full-Time)

Full Time

St. Louis, MO, US

Join Us to Build Healing and Hope Together!

As leaders in children’s mental health and wellness, St. Louis Children’s and KVC Health Systems Youth Mental Health Care have partnered to create one of the nation’s most innovative and transformative youth mental health and wellness campuses. The partnership includes a 77-bed acute care hospital and outpatient programs. Located on the KVC Missouri Children’s Mental Wellness Campus conveniently located in Webster Groves, Missouri, the peaceful environment and broad continuum of care allow children and families to access the appropriate level of treatment throughout their healing experience. The new campus is slated to open in late 2026. Learn more at stlouischildrenskvc.org. Join us and be a part of this journey of healing and hope for thousands of children and teens.  

Job Summary
 Expressive Therapist responsible for leading trauma-informed creative and recreational activities to support the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children and youth in residential care. Collaborates closely with the treatment team to support client outcomes.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: Completed Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy or Art Therapy. 

Licensure/Certification: Credentialed as an Art Therapist - Registered (ATR) or Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATRBC). Valid driver’s license and auto insurance are also required. 

Experience: Six months’ experience working with children and families in a behavioral health or trauma recovery setting. Supervised post-graduate dance therapy or art therapy experience if applicable. 

Preferred Experience/Skills: Requires Intermediate computer skills in typing/keyboarding, Microsoft Word and Excel programs as well as Outlook email 

Key Responsibilities

• Therapeutic Planning & Implementation
  • Develop and lead individualized therapy plans using art, music, dance/movement, or recreation
  • Conduct client assessments and establish treatment goals
  • Facilitate group and individual therapy sessions
• Documentation & Reporting
  • Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation and treatment records
  • Track client progress and prepare reports for team review
• Team Collaboration
  • Work closely with multidisciplinary teams (therapists, social workers, healthcare providers)
  • Participate in case reviews and contribute to treatment planning
  • Collaborate with talk therapists to enhance client outcomes
• Client & Family Support
  • Educate clients and families on therapeutic approaches and benefits
  • Encourage continued engagement outside of sessions
  • Promote community integration
• Program Development
  • Design and adapt therapy programs to meet client and community needs
  • Evaluate effectiveness and adjust based on outcomes and feedback
• Professional Standards & Compliance
  • Maintain licensure/certification and stay current with best practices
  • Ensure compliance with agency policies and regulatory requirements
  • Manage therapy supplies and equipment responsibly
• Behavioral & Professional Expectations
  • Demonstrate empathy, compassion, and cultural sensitivity
  • Communicate effectively with clients, families, and team members
  • Uphold ethical standards, confidentiality, and integrity
  • Show flexibility, creativity, and teamwork in a dynamic environment
  • Foster an inclusive, respectful environment for all individuals

Additional duties may be assigned based on organizational needs and staff qualifications.

Physical & Work Environment
This role involves a mix of standing, walking, and occasional lifting, along with regular use of office equipment. You’ll work in a professional office setting with moderate noise levels and occasional exposure to outdoor conditions.

If you’re ready to take ownership of a critical role that keeps operations running smoothly while making a meaningful impact on people’s lives, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits & More

Employee benefits and culture fall under the KVC Health Systems umbrella. KVC is a family of private, nonprofit organizations that strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and help people achieve mental health wellness. Through our broad continuum of care, we are proud to be a national leader in mental health, child welfare, and health and human services transformation. 

At KVC, we offer a positive, supportive workplace where each person can do work they love. In fact, we’re so proud of our culture that we see it as our top competitive advantage in the health and human services field. Based on the voice of our employees, KVC has an incredible 83 Work Wellbeing score on Indeed, a rating so high and rare that it places KVC among the top 1% of employers nationally. KVC was also named #15 on Glassdoor’s Best-Led Companies 2025 list, a recognition achieved entirely based on anonymous employee reviews. In addition to being mission-driven, we offer employees an unparalleled level of flexibility, wellbeing, learning, inclusion, recognition, and rewards.