Art Therapist

Counselor / TherapistNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$60k-$68k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 25m ago · Verified live

Job Description

The art therapist will provide individual, small group, and community music therapy while participating in interdisciplinary treatment planning. The art therapist will generate art therapy treatment plans in collaboration with school administrators and students’ treatment teams.

Group/individual supervision, clinical observation, professional development, and responsibilities held in conjunction with special events and agency-wide processes are integrated within the position.

Position may be part or full-time and applicants will be invited to share more about their preference/availability during the interview process.

Responsibilities

  • Observes, assesses, and offers appropriate service delivery to student Artists across multiple campuses
  • Provides individual, small group, and community art therapy or music therapy
  • Develops creative arts therapy treatment plan
  • Documents in students’ files according to requirements of regulatory agencies
  • Collaborates with treatment team as necessary

Participates in Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning

  • Provides in-services to team members as appropriate, and in conjunction with expressive therapy department
  • Actively participates in individual and group supervision
  • Maintains licensure according to state and federal regulations

Qualifications

  • Strengths-based theoretical framework
  • Strong clinical musicianship and strengths-based theoretical framework
  • Ability to work independently at multiple sites within the agency
  • Ability to communicate effectively with professionals/students/families
  • Strong art-based assessment skills (Expressive Therapy Continuum, IMCAP, J. Loewy assessment)

Art Therapist Training & Licensure

Master’s degree in Art Therapy from an AATA accredited/approved program

License or License Eligible

ATR-Provisional License Between Graduation and LPC/ATR

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) –or- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)- in state of Illinois
  • Art Therapy Registration (ATR)

Posted Salary Range

USD $60,000.00 - USD $67,500.00 /Yr.

Physical Requirements

Ability to run short distances and move swiftly in response to student needs, including bending, kneeling, and crouching.

Ability to lift and assist students with mobility challenges, often requiring the handling of up to 50 pounds or more.

Skill in managing fine motor tasks, such as helping students with writing, manipulating small objects, or using adaptive devices.

Ability to operate a computer or tablet for up to 8 hours daily.

Capacity to notice and respond to non-verbal cues from students

Capacity to remain calm and composed during physically and emotional demanding situations, ensuring student safety and well-being

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical assessmentInterdisciplinary collaborationStudent observationDocumentationCrisis managementCommunicationStrengths-based frameworkRegulatory compliance

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Art Therapist at Specialized Education Services a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,891 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 28% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in mental health therapy (counseling)ranked against 7,891 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$64k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Illinois354 active7,878 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 46% remote · 28% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedIllinois Counselor listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 21% offer loan repayment576 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,509 in the last 30 days1,511 the 30 days before (+66%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−2.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (7,891 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

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Salary Distribution

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20
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

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401k / retirement match
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CME allowance
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Sign-on bonus
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Loan repayment
14%
PSLF eligible
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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 60% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,891 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
Specialized Education Services logo

About Specialized Education Services

Education Administration Programs
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
201-500 employees

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k≈ 5.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,311/mo≈ 46% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.