Art Therapist

POSITION SUMMARY

Delivers art therapy & counseling services to support the psychosocial wellness needs of the community, including Independent Living creative arts, Creating My Possibilities creative strengths-based dementia care, and creative support for resident and community needs. Supports wellbeing via therapeutic interventions addressing autonomy, achievement, and affiliation within individuals and the community system. Implements Culture of Creativity within Life Center, ensuring that “residents are creators, not just consumers of culture – participants in the human experience, not just recipients of care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Facilitates creative arts programs across the continuum, utilizing person-centered, strengths-based counseling techniques and high-quality interactions with diverse materials and media. Fosters creative engagement through multi-modal approach incorporating open studio model, storytelling, inquiry-based art-viewing, creative writing, improv, music, movement, and intergenerational experiences.
• Utilizes art therapy and counseling techniques to address key areas of focus including physical and cognitive impairments, legacy/end-of-life care, life transitions, support of resident mental health.
• Identifies teaching artists/other creative modalities as independent contractors across the continuum.
• Adheres to art therapy/counseling/engagement documentation protocols and clinical processes: including referrals, assessments, care plans, progress notes, consent forms, and policies.
• Fosters high levels of resident engagement: via programs that inspire genuine curiosity and peer inspiration, encourage community discourse, highlight resident experience and creativity, and inspire the socioemotional safety needed for residents to try new things and connect authentically. Facilitates opportunities for intergenerational and civic engagement. Supports family and employee connection with residents.
• Provides clinical supervision for graduate counseling interns. Maintains relationships with art therapy/counseling graduate program partners to maintain internship program.
• Participates in community Creating My Possibilities (CMP) Champions Team and Implements CMP programs: Co-leads CMP workshops for employees, residents, and families, oversees delivery of CMP signature programs in memory support settings and in any venue in which residents living with dementia may seek engagement. Supports creative engagement and psychoeducation for residents/caregivers/family members impacted by dementia across the continuum.
• Supports Culture of Creativity in Life Center via collaboration with engagement team and support of program development. Provides therapeutic input, modeling of therapeutic techniques, and strategic program co-design to Life Center engagement team to support best practices for group and 1:1 engagement and calendar flow.
• Maintains safe and inviting art studios, programs, and exhibition spaces, maintains work areas and amenity spaces in line with Mather standards for presentation and safety. Maintains cleanliness, supplies, and welcoming atmosphere of community art studio, independent artist studio, and gallery spaces. Supports therapeutic environment in Life Center.
• Assists with development of multi-media event(s) and art exhibits that support resident and community wellness, family/employee engagement, positioning the Senior Living setting as places of creative encounter and inspiration.
• Maintain on site an adequate supply of art supplies for planned art therapy experiences within approved budget.
• Assists Repriorment Director and Repriorment Services Manager in developing and utilizing key external partnerships that support resident engagement, with an emphasis on creative intergenerational engagement, inquiry-based museum experiences, arts & culture organizations, etc.
• Supports resident-led creative initiatives as possible, including attending Art Committee meetings, assisting with resident-led art exhibits and events, etc.
• Collaborates with Repriorment colleagues to deliver resident volunteer program.
• Creates relationships based on respect, using a customer-focused approach to problem solving, maintaining a courteous and professional manner through interactions with others. Communicates with key staff, residents and families in a timely manner.
• Supports family engagement opportunities.
• Supports employee wellbeing as directed through creative opportunities, creative team-building, and in-service opportunities.
• Attends in-services, care plan/transition meetings and committees as needed.
• Complies with Mather Code of Conduct, Policies, Compliance Program, and all applicable laws and regulations in performance of one’s job duties; reports all known and suspected violations to his/her supervisor or manager, Mather Compliance officer, a Human Resources representative, or the confidential employee helpline.
• Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to the company Mission, Core Values, and EMI philosophy.
• Uses discretion in handling confidential information, incorporating all Federal, State and local privacy and confidentiality requirements. Ensures Mather consent protocols are followed across continuum for resident content.
• Follows established safety and infection control policies and procedures and participates in all required in-service training including life safety, disaster preparedness, infection control and safety regulations in accordance with IDPH regulations.
• Maintains work areas in a sanitary and safe manner.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required:

• Masters Degree in Art Therapy, working towards or holds LPC or LCPC and ATR-BC
• Masters fieldwork experience with older adults
• Exhibits extensive knowledge of diverse art materials and their applications with older adults
• Comfortable with diverse forms of expression, including visual art, creative writing/poetry, music, movement, and improv
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self-initiator requiring minimum supervision
• Ability to use or learn a variety of tech-based services and platforms; i.e. Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, YouTube, resident facing portals, and A/V set-ups

Preferred:

• 1+ years of experience working with individuals living with dementia, long term care setting experience, demonstration of extensive knowledge of person-centered care, knowledge of state and federal regulations pertaining to Medicare/LTC
• Experience with care plan and MDS documentation relating to resident activity program requirements
• Experience and skills related to Health and Wellness, Lifelong Learning, and Arts and Culture, comfortable utilizing and facilitating diverse forms of expression

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