Creative Arts Therapist (Art)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Las Cruces, NM

45d

About The Position

Unique clinical Art Therapist position that functions in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program section of Patient Care Services Division. Direct patient care position responsible for performing the work of a creative arts therapist of art, which encompasses a variety of different duties/responsibilities. Collaborates with HBPC & MFH program staff, guides/directs patient treatment to assist the Veteran obtain optimal levels of functioning while maintaining independence in the community. This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Additional applications will be referred as needed. (NOTE: Applications expire after 90 days. Please update application thru USAJobs if you wish to be reconsidered.)

Responsibilities

Administering and interpreting art therapy assessments and utilizing clinical knowledge to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information
Reviewing pre-evaluation data in the medical record upon admission or through consult conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting assessment data across functional domains (i.e., behavioral, cognitive, communicative, emotional/affective, physical, sensory, social).
Planning, organizing and implementing developmentally and situationally, appropriate and evidence-based comprehensive art therapy interventions for persons diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening conditions, as well as their families and in collaboration with an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team
Recommending and developing new treatment groups and programs (including co-treatment opportunities) for treating patients with complex medical, behavioral or mental health issues such as but not limited to dementia, parkinson, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) to develop or promote a variety of clinical outcomes such as improved coping with grief, loss, palliative care/terminal illness, behavior management, conflict resolution, self-expression or non-verbal communication of difficult subject matter
Participating in other difficult work in co-treatment opportunities including neurological rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, mental health recovery programs, and palliative care related to the symptoms of a terminal illness
Planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating public relations for the program to inform and educate others about art therapy in various settings including the complex interactions of the therapeutic process as well as the efficacy of art therapy in complex cases
Implementing and modifying treatment plan and goals compatible to patient functional capacity as necessary to assure optimum outcome
Performing documentation of patient care, including progress notes, daily attendance/encounters, and reports (monthly, safety, and others), as needed
Working closely with other treatment team members and community health care professionals to support the patient's medical treatment plan
Providing direct 1:1 treatment and services that require the exercise of mature professional judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical skills
Carrying full professional responsibility for cases presenting a wide range of psychosocial and medical issues with no limitations (within his/her scope of clinical privileges) as to the range of service to be performed
Providing information and referral services to various community services, as appropriate. Investigates community resources and makes information about them available to other team-members
Participating in program planning and the development of working relationships with community agencies and resources
Maintaining accurate statistics and reports, as required, within specified deadlines
Submitting data on patient contacts promptly and accurately to program office for monthly statistic
Participating in research, education, evaluations and studies
May supervise Art Therapy, students, interns, and trainees