Expressive Activity Therapist (BA) – PRN

UHS•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) is seeking a compassionate and engaging Expressive Activity Therapist to provide recreational and expressive therapy services to children, adolescents, and adults receiving psychiatric care. This PRN role supports patients’ emotional, social, and therapeutic needs as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. The therapist assesses patient needs, develops and facilitates appropriate interventions and structured activities, and helps maintain a safe, supportive environment that promotes recovery. The role also involves documenting patient participation and progress, communicating clinical observations and recommendations to treatment teams, and serving as a therapeutic recreation resource and liaison. PIW is a 130-bed facility offering inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs. PRN team members are offered competitive compensation, schedule flexibility, a behavioral healthcare work environment, and opportunities to gain experience and grow within PIW. Additional programs or benefits may be available depending on eligibility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy or a related field.
Current certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).
Current District of Columbia license or eligibility to obtain the applicable D.C. license.
At least one year of experience as a Recreational Therapist.
Knowledge of therapeutic recreation standards of practice, group dynamics, patient assessment, and clinical documentation.
Empathy and therapeutic presence, strong communication and group facilitation skills, adaptability, and sound clinical judgment.
Ability to build rapport, maintain appropriate boundaries, collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team, and remain composed in a fast-paced behavioral health environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Recreational Therapy or a related field.
Previous experience providing recreational or expressive therapy services in a psychiatric, behavioral health, or similar clinical setting.

Responsibilities

Plan, facilitate, and evaluate recreational and expressive therapy activities based on individual patient needs and treatment goals.
Complete therapeutic assessments and identify appropriate interventions for children, adolescents, and adults.
Establish supportive and professional therapeutic relationships with patients.
Facilitate therapeutic groups while maintaining a structured, engaging, and emotionally safe environment.
Observe, assess, and document patient participation, response to treatment, and progress toward therapeutic goals.
Communicate relevant clinical observations and recommendations to the multidisciplinary treatment team.
Serve as a therapeutic recreation resource and liaison to assigned treatment teams.
Apply knowledge of group dynamics and therapeutic recreation standards of practice when planning and delivering services.
Support a safe treatment environment and participate in behavioral crisis prevention and intervention processes in accordance with facility requirements.
Maintain appropriate clinical documentation and professional standards of practice.