Overview:
Now Hiring: Activity Therapist (Contingent)
Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital | West Bloomfield, Michigan
Are you a passionate, creative, and patient-centered professional looking to make a meaningful impact in behavioral healthcare? Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking a Contingent Activity Therapist to join our interdisciplinary team and help patients build skills, confidence, and resilience on their path to recovery.
About the Role
As an Activity Therapist, you will develop and facilitate therapeutic activity programs that support individualized treatment plans for adolescents, adults, and older adults receiving behavioral health services. Through engaging interventions, you will foster emotional wellness, enhance coping strategies, improve social functioning, and contribute to positive patient outcomes.
Working closely with physicians, nurses, therapists, and other clinical team members, you will play a key role in delivering holistic, recovery-focused care.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, or a related field required.
- Master's degree preferred.
- Three (3) or more years of experience in recreation therapy or activity therapy within a healthcare setting required.
- Previous experience working with behavioral health patient populations preferred.
Licenses & Certifications
One of the following is required:
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS); or
- Certification in a recognized specialty area, such as:
- Art Therapy
- Dance/Movement Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Other expressive therapy disciplines; or
- Clinical professional licensure (LPC, LCPC, LMSW, or equivalent) with certification in a related activity-based therapy field.
Additional Requirements:
- CPR Certification (or ability to obtain upon hire)
- De-escalation and restraint training (provided by the facility)
- First Aid certification if required by state or facility guidelines
Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Complete activity assessment through patient observation and patient/family interview, obtaining information on the patient’s needs, skills, interests and limitations for the development and implementation of the treatment plan.
- Plan, organize, direct and implement the activities within the treatment program to facility patient progress with treatment goals.
- Plan and implement an activities program including but not limited to therapeutic leisure skills and activities, leisure education and leisure awareness.
- Facilitate and lead activity sessions to improve patient mental and physical well-being.
- Instruct patients in activities and techniques, such are sports, dance, music, art or relaxation techniques designed to meet their specific needs.
- Develop treatment plans and implement activity interventions that meet patient needs and interests and helps the patient achieve his/her 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.
- Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
- Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.
Qualifications:
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy or related field required.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Three or more years’ experience in recreation in a healthcare setting with knowledge of patient population served by the facility required.
- Previous experience in recreation in a healthcare setting is preferred.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), or
Certification in a recognized specialty area (Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, Music Therapy, etc.), or
Clinical professional licensure (LCPC, LPC, LMSW, etc.) with certification in a related expressive or activity-based therapy discipline
- CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.
While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances
(e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.
HFORD
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