Art Therapist job description.
An art therapist uses creative processes such as drawing, painting, and sculpture to help clients explore emotions, improve mental health, and process trauma. They design and lead therapeutic art sessions for individuals or groups in clinical, educational, or community settings, working alongside other healthcare or counseling professionals.
The Art Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Art Therapist Reports to: Clinical Director or Program Director
An art therapist uses creative processes such as drawing, painting, and sculpture to help clients explore emotions, improve mental health, and process trauma. They design and lead therapeutic art sessions for individuals or groups in clinical, educational, or community settings, working alongside other healthcare or counseling professionals.
- Assess client needs and develop individualized art therapy treatment plans
- Lead individual and group art therapy sessions
- Document client progress and treatment outcomes in clinical records
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Director or Program Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Assess client needs and develop individualized art therapy treatment plans
- Lead individual and group art therapy sessions
- Document client progress and treatment outcomes in clinical records
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, counselors, and case managers on care plans
- Select and prepare art materials and activities suited to client goals
- Maintain a safe, supportive therapeutic environment
- Communicate with families or caregivers as appropriate
- Stay current with evidence-based art therapy practices
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Master's degree in art therapy or counseling with art therapy specialization
- Current licensure/certification as required by state and employer
- Experience working with the target client population (children, trauma survivors, etc.)
- Strong clinical documentation and assessment skills
- Board certification (ATR-BC) from the Art Therapy Credentials Board
- Bilingual ability
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Art Therapist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Art Therapist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinical Director or Program Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What licensure does an art therapist need?
- Requirements vary by state; candidates should hold current licensure or certification as required by state and employer, often alongside board certification such as ATR-BC.
- Where do art therapists typically work?
- Common settings include hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, rehabilitation centers, and community organizations.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Mental Health Counselor
A Mental Health Counselor provides individual, group, or family counseling to help clients manage emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns.
Music Therapist
A Music Therapist uses music-based interventions to support clients' emotional, cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing.
Social Worker
A Social Worker helps individuals and families navigate personal, social, or health-related challenges by connecting them to resources and support services.
This Art Therapist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.