Art Therapist
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.
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
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).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.4 / 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 power | Illinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Therapy listings in Illinois | 354 active | 7,878 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 46% remote · 28% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Illinois Counselor listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 21% offer loan repayment576 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Therapy listings | 2,509 in the last 30 days | 1,511 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 |
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