Certified Activity Therapist

Acadia Healthcare; West Bloomfield Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital in West Bloomfield, MI seeks a Certified Activity Therapist to join the multidisciplinary team. The role involves planning and leading therapeutic recreation and expressive therapy activities to support patients’ recovery.

Applicants should hold CTRS or equivalent licensure with expressive therapy certification, CPR, and de-escalation training. Bachelor’s in Recreational Therapy is required; Master’s preferred. Full-time with rotating days and weekends.

Qualifications

• CTRS certification or equivalent licensure with expressive therapy certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of recreation therapy experience in healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and facilitate therapeutic recreation and expressive therapy programs.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to align activities with treatment plans.
• Lead sessions to promote emotional wellness, social interaction and recovery.
• Instruct patients in activities such as art, dance, music or relaxation techniques.
• Develop and implement treatment plans and activity interventions.
• Engage patients in therapeutic activities and community outings.
• Help patients develop social skills and independence.
• Adapt activities to meet diverse patient needs.

Skills

CTRS

Expressive therapy certification

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CPR Certification

De-escalation & restraint training

Job description

Join Our Team and Make a Difference - Certified Activity Therapist

Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital | West Bloomfield, MI

Full-Time | Rotating days and weekends (Day shift)

Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Certified Activity Therapist to join our multidisciplinary treatment team. In this role, you will help patients develop healthy coping skills, improve social functioning, and support their recovery through innovative and therapeutic activity-based interventions.

Required Qualifications

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), or
• Certification in a recognized specialty area such as:
• Art Therapy
• Dance/Movement Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Other expressive or activity-based therapy disciplines
• OR Clinical professional licensure (LPC, LMSW, LCPC, or equivalent) with certification in a related expressive or activity-based therapy discipline.
• CPR Certification (or ability to obtain upon hire).
• De-scalation and restraint certification required (training provided by the facility).

Position Summary

As a Certified Activity Therapist, you will plan, coordinate, and facilitate therapeutic recreation and expressive therapy programs that align with patients' individualized treatment plans. Working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary treatment team, you will provide structured therapeutic activities designed to promote emotional wellness, social interaction, skill development, and recovery.

Why Join Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital?

Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital is a joint venture between Henry Ford Health and Acadia Healthcare, created to address the growing need for high-quality behavioral health services throughout Metro Detroit.

Our State-of-the-art, Two-story Behavioral Health Hospital In West Bloomfield Provides a Modern, Healing Environment Designed To Support Patient Recovery And Staff Success. Features Include

• Contemporary treatment spaces
• Six outdoor therapeutic healing areas
• Evidence-based psychiatric care
• Collaborative interdisciplinary teams
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A mission-driven culture focused on compassionate patient care

We provide specialized mental health treatment for adolescents, adults, and senior adults, helping individuals achieve stability, recovery, and improved quality of life.

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.

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-scalation 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