Certified Activity Therapist - PRN/Contingent
About The Position
Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan, is seeking a contingent Activity Therapist to join its interdisciplinary team. The therapist develops and facilitates therapeutic activity programs that support individualized treatment plans for adolescents, adults, and older adults receiving behavioral health services. Interventions are intended to foster emotional wellness, strengthen coping strategies, improve social functioning, and contribute to positive patient outcomes. Working with physicians, nurses, therapists, and other clinical team members, the Activity Therapist provides holistic, recovery-focused care. The role includes assessing patients’ needs, skills, interests, and limitations; planning and leading therapeutic activities; and adapting interventions to support patient progress and treatment goals.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, or a related field.
- Three or more years of recreation or activity therapy experience in a healthcare setting, with knowledge of the patient population served.
- One of the following: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS); certification in a recognized specialty area such as Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, or Music Therapy; or clinical professional licensure such as LPC, LCPC, or LMSW with certification in a related expressive or activity-based therapy discipline.
- CPR certification and de-escalation and restraint certification; training is available upon hire and provided by the facility.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree.
- Previous experience with behavioral health patient populations.
- First Aid certification, if required by state or facility guidelines.
Responsibilities
- Assess patients through observation and interviews with patients and families to identify needs, skills, interests, and limitations for treatment planning.
- Plan, organize, direct, and implement activities within the treatment program to support progress toward treatment goals.
- Plan and implement activities programs that include 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, and relaxation, according to their needs.
- Develop treatment plans and implement activity interventions that match patients’ needs and interests and help them 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 complaints when patient needs are not met; and prioritize patient safety.
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
