CE
Confidential Employer
Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Expressive Therapist - Fitchburg

CounselorPart-Time

Listed compensation

$35.72 per hour

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 7mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join The Arc of Opportunity as an Expressive Therapist!

  • Salary Range: $35.72 per hour
  • Schedule: 25 hours/week
  • Location: Fitchburg

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of individuals with varying abilities? Do you have a passion for using creative expression to empower others? The Arc of Opportunity is looking for a compassionate and innovative Expressive Therapist to join our team and help individuals unlock their full potential through the healing power of art, movement, and creativity.

About The Arc of Opportunity

We provide meaningful services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including acquired brain injury. For over 70 years, we’ve been fostering inclusion, independence, and empowerment through personalized care and opportunities for growth.

We believe that everyone has a unique voice, and through expressive therapies, we help the individuals we serve discover their creative selves while improving their mental, emotional, and social well-being.

The Role

As an Expressive Therapist at The Arc of Opportunity, you will lead creative therapy sessions designed to support individuals with a wide range of abilities in expressing their emotions, building self-esteem, and developing healthy coping mechanisms. Whether through art, dance, music, drama, or other forms of creative expression, you’ll work with individuals and groups to promote personal growth, social connection, and emotional healing.

Your work will be both rewarding and transformative, as you help individuals develop critical life skills, process their feelings, and discover new ways of communicating with others. You’ll play a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of ability, are encouraged to explore, express, and thrive.

Key Responsibilities

  • Facilitate individual and group expressive therapy sessions using various creative modalities (art, music, movement, drama, etc.).
  • Develop and implement group lessons plans tailored to the unique needs and goals.
  • Foster an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment where clients feel free to express themselves.
  • Collaborate with other team members, including behavior analysts, Person-Centered Plan Managers, and educators, to provide holistic care and support.
  • Track and document progress, ensuring all records are kept confidential and up to date.
  • Provide guidance and support to individuals and staff members in understanding the therapeutic process and benefits of expressive therapy.

Who You Are

  • A licensed or certified Expressive Arts Therapist, or a related credential with experience working in therapeutic settings.
  • Experienced in using creative therapies to support individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Compassionate, patient, and empathetic, with a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
  • A strong communicator, both with individuals and within interdisciplinary teams.
  • Creative, resourceful, and able to adapt therapy approaches to meet the diverse needs of clients.
  • Passionate about promoting inclusion, empowerment, and self-expression for individuals of all abilities.

25 hours/week

Requirements

Candidates must be a licensed or certified Expressive Arts Therapist or hold a related credential with experience in therapeutic settings, specifically supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Essential qualities include being compassionate, patient, empathetic, a strong communicator, creative, and passionate about inclusion and self-expression.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Art TherapyMusic TherapyMovement TherapyDrama TherapySession FacilitationLesson PlanningClient SupportCollaborationDocumentationCommunicationAdaptabilityCompassionPatienceEmpathy

Counselor Career Context

Of the 45 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 51% are remote, 31% have no call, 73% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

45 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution15 jobs

3
<$60k
7
$60k-75k
2
$75k-90k
2
$90k-105k
1
$129k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
89%
CME allowance
64%
Sign-on bonus
32%
Loan repayment
21%
PSLF eligible
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Part-time Therapist - MA/ (Remote)

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$55-$90/hr
#2

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Two Chairs · Texas

$58.5-$85/hr
#3

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)

$58.5-$85/hr
#4

Mental Health Therapist (Part-Time, W2)

$58.5-$85/hr
+ 43 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,035 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Fitchburg

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$417k
Typical market rent
$1,799/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

CE

About Confidential Employer

Individual and Family Services
Fitchburg, MA
51-200 employees