Art Therapist ~ Autism & Special Education in San Jose, California at The Creekside School

About The Creekside School

The Creekside School is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Through person-centered support, meaningful relationships, and evidence-based practices, we empower every individual to reach their fullest potential while fostering independence, dignity, and community inclusion.

Our school provides individualized educational and therapeutic services designed to help students build communication, academic, social, behavioral, and life skills in a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Every day, our team works together to create meaningful educational experiences where students feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

No two days are the same. One day you may be helping a student express themselves through a new art medium, the next supporting emotional regulation, developing social-emotional skills, collaborating with a student’s educational team, or celebrating a finished project that represents meaningful growth.

The Creekside School is seeking a compassionate, creative, and collaborative Part-Time Art Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team.

The Art Therapist provides direct art therapy services and meaningful art experiences to students with autism and other developmental disabilities. Through expressive and process-oriented therapeutic approaches, this position supports students in developing coping skills, social-emotional skills, communication, healthy relationships, adaptive behavior, and greater independence.

This is an opportunity for an Art Therapist who enjoys combining clinical expertise with creativity while developing meaningful relationships with students and working closely with a collaborative educational team.

As our Art Therapist, you will design, implement, and manage an engaging art therapy program that responds to the individual strengths and needs of our students.

You will:

• Provide high-quality individual and group art therapy experiences using a variety of artistic modalities and therapeutic approaches.
• Support students in developing coping, social-emotional, communication, and relationship-building skills appropriate to their individual abilities.
• Use expressive and process-oriented therapeutic approaches to encourage emotional expression, self-awareness, regulation, and healthy relationships.
• Develop meaningful relationships and rapport with students through student-centered engagement and individualized therapeutic support.
• Adapt activities and therapeutic approaches based on each student’s developmental, sensory, behavioral, and communication needs.
• Follow students’ IEP recommendations, Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), sensory integration plans, communication plans, and other individualized student plans.
• Utilize developmentally appropriate, research-supported approaches when working with students on the autism spectrum.
• Use the least restrictive prompts and appropriate scaffolding to encourage independence and skill development.
• Collaborate with teachers, Related Services providers, behavior professionals, families, care providers, and other members of the student’s educational team.
• Support the development and generalization of healthy relationships and social-emotional skills across school and home environments when appropriate.
• Collect and review qualitative and quantitative data, document student progress in measurable terms, and adjust programming based on student needs and available data.
• Participate as an active member of the multidisciplinary team and contribute to collaborative problem-solving and student planning.
• Manage art therapy materials, equipment, therapy spaces, and the program’s annual budget.
• Maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and safe therapeutic environment.
• Maintain student and family confidentiality and comply with School policies, procedures, and applicable educational requirements.

Education & Credentials

• Master’s degree or PhD in Art Therapy or a related field.
• Registered Art Therapist (ATR or ATR-BC).

Experience

• At least two years of professional experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum and/or students with moderate to significant developmental support needs.
• At least one year of experience collaborating with other professionals as part of a student’s IEP team.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of typical and atypical child development and the individualized learning needs of students with developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of behavioral strategies, social-emotional development, coping and social skills, trauma-informed approaches, relationship dynamics, and ethical considerations in treatment.
• Understanding of sensory and communication challenges that may affect students with autism and other developmental disabilities.
• Ability to creatively adapt therapeutic activities to meet individual student needs.
• Experience collecting, reviewing, and using data to evaluate progress and adjust programming.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and supportive during challenging or emotionally sensitive situations.
• Openness to feedback, professional development, coaching, and learning new approaches for supporting students with special needs.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Our students have a wide range of communication, sensory, behavioral, developmental, and physical support needs. The Art Therapist works directly with students throughout the school environment and should be comfortable adapting their approach to meet each student where they are.

Some students may engage in behaviors of concern, including aggression, self-injurious behavior, property destruction, or other behaviors that may present a safety risk. Employees working directly with students receive required Safety-Care by QBS training and certification through The Creekside School. Physical management is used only when necessary to address a serious and imminent safety risk and in accordance with School training and procedures.

This position also requires the ability to participate in the physical aspects of working with students, which may include sitting, standing, walking, running in an emergency, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, lifting, pushing, pulling, and assisting with student activities. The detailed physical requirements of the position will be provided as part of the complete job description.

At The Creekside School, art therapy is more than creating a finished product. It is another way for our students to communicate, connect, regulate, explore, and grow.

You’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team that values creativity, collaboration, individualized support, and meaningful relationships. We are looking for someone who sees each student’s strengths and understands that progress may look different for every individual.

If you are an Art Therapist who wants to use your clinical expertise and creativity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students with autism and developmental disabilities, we would love to hear from you.

The Creekside School is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.