Art Therapist -Division of Family Guidance – Department of Human Services

Organizational Overview:

The Bergen County Division of Family Guidance provides clinical, residential, educational, correctional, case management, and monitoring services to at-risk children, adolescents, and families, particularly those who are otherwise unable to receive needed services. Through its more than 30 programs, it is Bergen County’s resource for youth and families in need.

Job Description:           

This employment opportunity is to serve as Art Therapist to provide therapeutic services to adolescents across several agency programs, including school-based services, outpatient mental health programming, youth shelter, and detention settings. Under direction, the Art Therapist conducts assessments and delivers individual and group art therapy interventions grounded in the belief that creative expression supports emotional regulation, conflict resolution, behavioral management, interpersonal development, and insight.

Job Responsibilities:              

Clinical Services

  • Conducts art-based assessments using drawing, painting, and other creative modalities.
  • Provides individual and group art therapy to adolescents across assigned programs.
  • Develops and implements age-appropriate, individualized treatment plans incorporating expressive arts therapy in alignment with broader clinical goals.
  • Carries a regular caseload and participates actively in treatment planning.

Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Work

  • Participates in treatment team meetings, case reviews, and multidisciplinary staff discussions.
  • Coordinates with program staff to customize art therapy services for specific populations (e.g., residential youth, detained youth, school-based clients).

Documentation & Compliance

  • Maintains clinical documentation in accordance with agency policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintains essential treatment records, progress notes, and files.

Program Support & Administration

  • Requests, organizes, and maintains all necessary art supplies and therapeutic materials.
  • Collects and analyzes program data and assists with required reporting.
  • Contributes to agency projects and other duties as assigned by supervisory staff.

Schedule:   

  • Full time (40 hours/week)
  • Some evenings required

Education Requirements: 

  • Possession of a Master’s degree in Art Therapy or related field with at least twenty-one (21) semester hours of credit in art therapy from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by sixty (60) hours of supervised clinical training in art therapy.
  • Board Certification in Art Therapy (ATR-BC)                                                             
  • Licensed Associate Art Therapist (LAAT)
  • Licensed Professional Art Therapist (LPAT) (Preferred)

Other Requirements:

  • Experience working with adolescents, preferably in clinical, residential, or community mental health settings.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work effectively under time deadlines and within a multidisciplinary environment.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams, Word, Outlook and Excel programs.
  • Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
  • Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey to perform essential duties of the position.

What we offer:

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage
  • Enrollment into the state pension system
  • Life, Short-term Disability & Long-term Disability coverage
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • Competitive hourly wages
  • Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance and Employee Wellness Programs

Salary: $60,000/ per annum

Please send resume and employment application to resume@bergencountynj.gov – put in subject line job applying for, thank you.

The County of Bergen is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.

It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of The County of Bergen not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.