State of Maryland

An Art Therapist I is the intermediate level of work at Maryland Department of Health (MDH) designated Court Involved (CI) Facilities assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating art therapy treatment to rehabilitate mentally ill, aged, physically ill, physically disabled patients or developmentally disabled clients. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from an Art Therapist Supervisor, Director of Activity Therapy or other healthcare professional. The work is usually performed in State treatment facilities or community-based programs. Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends. Employees may be subject to call-in based on staffing needs. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease. Employees may be required to physically restrain patients/clients displaying violent aggressive behavior. The work may require the lifting and moving of patients/clients and equipment. The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

Positions in this class are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.

The Art Therapist I and the Art Therapist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Art Therapist I performs duties under close supervision at times and with general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Art Therapist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, designs, implements and evaluates art psychotherapy programs in accordance with patients’/clients’ needs, capabilities and interests;

Observes patient/client behavior during art therapy treatment programs in order to assess and document progression or regression in treatment;

Determines appropriate art psychotherapeutic processes for individual or group therapy;

Conducts group and individual art psychotherapy by encouraging participation and self-expression of patients/clients through the symbolic and creative art process;

Prepares and maintains documentation of patient/client progress;

Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings by providing input regarding treatment and discharge plan;

Orders and maintains art supplies and equipment;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the theory and practice of art psychotherapy;

Knowledge of psychology theories and methods; Knowledge of the limitations, capabilities and problems common to developmentally disabled clients and mentally ill patients;

Skill in applying art psychotherapy techniques;

Ability to communicate effectively with patients/clients and staff; Ability to assess behavior, aptitude and performance of patients/clients and provide interpretive information;

Ability to determine and develop an effective treatment plan in art psychotherapy for patients/clients;

Ability to motivate patients/clients;

Ability to work as an effective member of an interdisciplinary team.

1. Candidates placed in this classification must be licensed by the Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as a Graduate Professional Art Therapist (LGPAT).

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties may be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and maintain current certification.

4. Employees in this classification assigned to facilities with a swimming pool may be required to obtain Red Cross instruction and certification in Life Saving and Water Safety prior to permanent appointment.

Employees in this classification are subject to call-in, and therefore, will be required to provide the agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405. Annotated Code of Maryland 

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professional classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1.) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2.) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3.) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.