Activity Therapist
About The Position
Acadia Healthcare and Tufts Medicine have partnered to create the Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital, a 144-bed facility in Malden, Massachusetts, slated to open in early 2026. Activity Therapists plan, direct, and implement activity therapy programs as part of patients’ treatment plans. They assess patients’ needs, skills, interests, and limitations and develop therapeutic activities and interventions to support treatment goals, mental and physical well-being, and independence. The position requires a relevant bachelor’s degree, at least three years of recreation experience in a healthcare setting, and a qualifying therapeutic recreation, specialty-area, or clinical credential. The stated pay range is $30.44 to $36.00 per hour.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, or a related field.
- Three or more years of recreation experience in a healthcare setting, with knowledge of the patient population served by the facility.
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), or currently in the process of obtaining national certification; or certification in a specialty area such as art, dance, or music; or clinical professional licensure (LCPC, LPC, etc.) with certification in an expressive therapy area.
- CPR certification and de-escalation and restraint certification; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.
- First aid may be required depending on state or facility requirements.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree.
- Previous experience in recreation in a healthcare setting.
Responsibilities
- Assess patients through observation and patient/family interviews to identify needs, skills, interests, and limitations for treatment planning.
- Plan, organize, direct, and implement activities within treatment programs to support progress toward treatment goals.
- Develop and implement activities programs, including therapeutic leisure skills and activities, leisure education, and leisure awareness.
- Facilitate and lead activity sessions to improve patients’ mental and physical well-being.
- Instruct patients in activities and techniques such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, tailored to their needs.
- Develop treatment plans and activity interventions that meet patient needs and interests and help patients achieve treatment goals.
- Engage patients in therapeutic activities such as exercise, games, and community outings.
- Help patients learn social skills needed to become or remain independent.
- Modify activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
- Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude; acknowledge and work to resolve patient complaints when needs are not met; prioritize patient safety.
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
