Creative Arts Therapist (Art)

Summary The Creative Art Therapist position at the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System is part of the Clinical Support Service. This is a direct patient care role in which the incumbent is responsible for a variety of duties and responsibilities. The incumbent demonstrates advanced competency, qualifying them to perform patient evaluations and treatment procedures independently on patients with a variety of complex diagnoses and disabilities. Responsibilities The incumbent is responsible for developing, organizing and administering art therapy programs to provide therapeutic interventions to patients within various programs throughout the medical facility. Duties of this position include but are not limited to: Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data across functional domains, such as behavioral, cognitive, communicative, emotional/affective, physical, sensory, and social, as well as evaluate art knowledge, skills, and abilities. Develop and implement individualized art therapy treatment plans, including scope, duration, and frequency of treatment. Develop art therapy programs, interventions, and instructional programs; select typical and atypical materials and resources appropriate to patient needs, skills, and aptitudes. Plan, organize, implement, and evaluate public relations efforts to inform and educate others about the art therapy program. Review recreation therapy consults and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives, including scope, duration, and treatment. Recommend adaptations, modifications, and/or assistive technology to meet assessed needs and preferences in recreation therapy. Exercise resourcefulness in providing individualized, unique, and effective methods and procedures when implementing therapeutic interventions. These may include, but are not limited to, assistive technology, cognitive behavioral skills, aquatic therapy, fitness and wellness, adapted sports and leisure development, and community accessibility/reintegration/transition. Evaluate patient needs for additional, alternative, or termination of services; monitor the effectiveness of intervention plans; and make modifications as needed. Determine the effectiveness of protocols, modalities, and programs for targeted groups through quantitative analysis; identify potential risks; and assess the need for adaptive interventions to facilitate improved bio-psychosocial well-being. Participate in co-treatment opportunities, including but not limited to neurological rehabilitation, mental health recovery programs, and palliative care related to the symptoms of terminal illnesses. Conduct discharge analyses to assess community needs. Must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems with customers constructively an appropriately. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Sunday-Thursday 11:30 AM - 7:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD26473F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education.The following education requirements apply to the creative arts therapist (art): A master's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy approved by the American Art Therapy Association on or before 3 June 30, 2016. If the degree is received after June 30, 2016, a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy, must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Art Therapy Education: a committee of the Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Program. OR, A master's degree in a related field, plus graduate coursework and supervised field experience in art therapy. Acceptable related fields include: Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, and Psychiatry, AND must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. If hired under this education, the registration cannot be waived Registration: Creative Arts Therapy (Art): Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration with the ATR. If hired under paragraph 4b(2)(b), registration cannot be waived May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Creative Arts Therapist (Art), GS-11: Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. This experience includes knowledge of my respective discipline and involves working under direct supervision and guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff. Establishing treatment procedures that are substantially adapted and applied for patients who are acutely ill. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to identify current art resources in the community at the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes. Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety. Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy. Knowledge of the creative process and art media and their effect on the patients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical states. Ability to demonstrate and educate stakeholders on the value of the creative process as a therapeutic tool. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction. Skill in collaborating and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educating the treatme Preferred Experience: 1-3 years experience as a licensed art therapist working in health care setting. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping and stretching to set up and take apart equipment; lifting and repositioning veterans; pushing or pulling heaving objects; good dexterity to perform intricate therapy procedures. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.