Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) - Critical Time Transition Program

Job Summary

The Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) provides therapeutic individual and group activities for youth that utilize a creative and trauma-informed approach. Interventions include, but are not limited to, utilizing art, play, music, dance, socialization and social skills groups, and recreation to support the youth to manage emotions, loss, stress and trauma and to build meaningful connections in their community. The LCAT provides these services both in the community and in the Transitional Bed setting.

This is a full-time (40 hours) position on Monday - Friday, day shift schedule. Based at our 1183 Monroe Ave Campus in Rochester, NY with some travel on the job throughout Hillside's Monroe Region occasionally required.

Essential Job functions

• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team, including the program Clinician who serves as the youth’s primary therapist, to ensure creative interventions support the youth’s broader psychotherapeutic goals.

• Partner with Behavior Analysts to align arts-based sensory and recreational goals with behavioral plans, and with the mental health therapist to monitor the impacts of treatment.

• Design and implement therapeutic recreation activities—such as community outings, adaptive sports, and social clubs—that align with the youth’s clinical and personal interests and goals.

• Support youth during high-stimulation recreational activities, providing immediate crisis intervention and de-escalation in coordination with the program staff.

• Conduct arts-based assessments that provide the team with insights into client trauma, cognitive functioning, and diagnostic nuances.

• Co-lead therapeutic groups in collaboration with other team members, utilizing creative modalities to break through resistance or facilitate communication in family or peer dynamics.

• Execute trauma-informed de-escalation techniques that support the youth’s safety plan.

• Coordinate with the team to ensure a "warm handoff" at discharge, providing creative coping strategies and recreational connections for clients transitioning back to community living.

• Maintain clinical records that include the LCAT’s unique contribution to the patient’s overall mental health and behavioral progress.

• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in Creative Arts Therapy or a related field required.
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience as a Creative Arts Therapist and/or recreational therapy or related experience required.
• Minimum 1 years of experience working with youth who have mental health challenges, and/or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and/or co-occurring intellectual/ developmental disabilities required.

Special Requirements

• Unrestricted NYS license to practice as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT). 

• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards. 

• CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Excellent communication, organization, and documentation skills.

• Ability to understand and adhere to all federal, state, and local statutes, regulatory agency standards and Hillside policies 

• Ability to de-escalate and manage crisis situations both in-person and by phone.

• Ability to deliver psychoeducational training.

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team