Just-Us Art Therapist

Title: Just-Us Art Therapist for Project Impact program, various media

Classification: Contractual

WHO WE ARE

SkyART is a permanent fixture in the vibrant cultural landscapes of Chicago's South and West Side communities. Founded in 2001 with a mission to provide youth with an accessible, safe place to participate in quality visual arts programs at no cost, SkyART continues to fulfill its mission by reaching over 3,000 young people a year through our three pillar programs: SkyWAY, Project 3rd Space and Project Impact. Driving our mission is a deep understanding of the transformative power of art and its capacity to enhance intellectual, emotional and social development. SkyART acts as a foundation from which creativity grows and individuals flourish. Participants are invited into a world of imaginative possibilities and connections that go beyond the individual, to positively impact all of the communities where we work and the city as a whole.

WHO WE SERVE

The communities where SkyART works and the young people we serve exemplify the resilience and the beautiful diversity of our city. Our free programs are open and accessible to youth from communities that have been impacted by historic marginalization, generational trauma and systemic racism, and who may lack access to cultural programming that affirms their identity and places them front and center as creators of their own futures. The majority of Black and Brown youth we serve are impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which can negatively impact their ability to be successful in relationships, school, higher education or the workplace. Many are directly impacted by violence, incarceration and/or the foster care system. For all these reasons, SkyART prioritizes the wellbeing and healing of our participants using art as a platform for self exploration, reflection and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

WHAT WE DO

Founded by an Art Therapist, SkyART uses art to communicate, to connect and to heal. Through interdisciplinary, process-based projects, skill-building workshops and large-scale collaborations, SkyART encourages critical thinking and inspires creative expression for youth ages 7 to 24. In our studios youth work collaboratively with therapists or teaching artists in an atmosphere of mutual esteem and shared curiosity. SkyART has provided limited art therapy for our entire 20-year history. Building on that experience, during the initial phases of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, we created Project Impact to directly respond to the mental health needs of our young people with individual and group art therapy. We believe and research shows that art making facilitated by a trained therapist can play an instrumental role in improving wellbeing, connection, self-esteem and empathy for others.

HOW YOU CONTRIBUTE

With creativity and expression at the center of everything we do, the Just-Us therapist will work with current and previously incarcerated youth in a non-traditional setting that focuses on using forms of art to engage young people in their ability to self-regulate, communicate and connect. SkyART has created this position to integrate expressive therapeutic arts into our services and advocacy on behalf of young people incarcerated, in aftercare (returning to their community), or currently involved in the justice system. We aspire for the Just-Us therapist to contribute in creating an environment where we can show up as our whole self — centering young people as the driving force behind what we do — and where the diversity of individual lived experiences and cultures adds to the richness of our programs. We are seeking an innovative, creative, and compassionate therapist to assess and provide individual and group therapies, and support trauma-informed and social and emotional regulation needs as they come. Original ideas and critical thinking are required. We ask all employees to practice vulnerability and to hold each other accountable, even those who supervise us, through compassionate calling-in and sensitive communication. Core competencies required for any position include: connection, collaboration, communication, creativity and consistency.

JOB DUTIES

• Provide individual and group therapy sessions to meet organizational outcomes for specific populations, such as those in detention facilities, shelters, or home environments.
• Assess participants’ needs, using drawing, painting, sculpting, or other expressive processes and interventions.
• Conduct art therapy sessions providing guided self-expression experiences to help participants feel an increased sense of wellbeing, connection, exposure to diversity, improved self-esteem and empathy for others.
• Use SkyART wellness assessments and case notes to analyze or synthesize narrative and observational data
• Document sessions in the organizational database using SkyART forms.
• Establish goals or objectives for art therapy sessions in consultation with the Youth Support Manager and programs team.
• Request or purchase of needed art supplies or equipment for sessions.
• Possibly conduct professional workshops on techniques of using art in therapy and/or processes to Teaching Artists, interns, volunteers and staff.
• Communicate with institutional administrators in order to receive clearance for all supplies and materials brought into facility
• Provide group and/or individual creative therapy to youth ages 14-24 who are impacted by incarceration.
• Willingness to travel and work in various incarcerated spaces across Chicagoland, including but not limited to the City of Chicago, Warrenville and St. Charles.

YOUR BACKGROUND INCLUDES:

Education/Experience

• Master’s Degree in Art Therapy; mental health and counselor; social worker required and relevant experience working with youth population
• At least 1 to 2 years of experience working with youth and/or young adults
• Integrity, flexibility and a profound commitment to the youth we serve
• Skilled in meticulous documentation and an eye for detail; proficient in case management databases.
• Cultural competency working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Detailed-oriented with excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal and writing skills
• Practicing artists encouraged
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) strongly preferred
• Experience working with incarcerated or system-impacted youth and families strongly preferred

Certificates/Licenses Required

• Art Therapy, Social Work, Mental Health/Counseling graduate degree required; LCPC, LPC, LSW or LCSW, and ATR (or other creative therapy licensures) required or on track to acquire licensure

WHAT WE OFFER:

$35-$75/hour/Part-Time & Contractual

HOW YOU APPLY

Please submit a cover letter with your resume by email to projectimpact@skyart.org with ”JustUS Therapist” in the subject line. Do not mail or fax.