Art Therapist - Adolescent Behavioral Health

Description

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary

Seeking a compassionate, creative, and clinically skilled Art Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team on the Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. This position involves providing therapeutic art interventions to adolescents (ages 12–17) experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms, including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and behavioral challenges. The Art Therapist will utilize creative expression to support emotional regulation, insight, communication, and recovery in a structured, trauma-informed hospital environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, facilitate, and document individual and group art therapy sessions tailored to the needs of adolescent patients.
• Collaborate closely with psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other therapists to contribute to comprehensive treatment planning.
• Integrate trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally sensitive practices into all interventions.
• Monitor and assess patients’ emotional and behavioral responses to therapy and report progress in clinical team meetings.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in accordance with hospital and regulatory standards.
• Provide crisis intervention support and contribute to milieu management as needed.
• Educate staff and families (when appropriate) on the role and benefits of art therapy in psychiatric care.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and adherence to ethical standards of the profession.
  
  

Qualifications

Other information:

Required

• Master’s degree in Art Therapy or a closely related field from an accredited program.
• Registration (ATR) or eligibility for ATR through the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure in North Carolina (e.g., LPC, LCAT, LMHC, or equivalent).
• Experience working with adolescents in psychiatric or behavioral health settings.
  
  

Preferred

• Board Certification (ATR-BC).
• Familiarity with DBT, CBT, or other evidence-based practices.
• Prior hospital or acute care experience.
• Bilingual skills a plus.
  
  

Key Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage group dynamics and behavioral challenges effectively.
• Empathy, patience, and a calm demeanor in high-stress environments.
• Creativity, adaptability, and a collaborative spirit.
• Commitment to ethical and culturally competent care.
  
  

Work Environment

• Inpatient psychiatric hospital unit; secure and structured setting.
• Close collaboration with interdisciplinary clinical teams.
• May involve exposure to emotionally charged situations and aggressive behaviors.
• PPE and safety training provided.
  
  

Job Details

Legal Employer: Pardee - HCHC

Entity: Pardee UNC Health Care

Organization Unit: Pardee Adolescent Behavior Health Unit Admin

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: PARDEEHOSP

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No