Art Therapist ~ Supporting Students with Autism in San Jose, California at The Creekside School

Art can offer students another way to share an experience, explore emotions, and connect with others. At The Creekside School, our Art Therapist helps students with autism and other developmental disabilities access these opportunities through individualized, creative therapeutic experiences.

We’re seeking a compassionate, creative, and collaborative Part-Time Art Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team. In this role, you’ll combine clinical expertise with an understanding of each student’s strengths, interests, and support needs to make art therapy accessible and meaningful.

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 promote independence, dignity, and community inclusion.

Our school provides individualized educational and therapeutic services that support communication, academic, social, behavioral, and life skills. Together, we create a learning environment where students feel valued, respected, and encouraged to grow.

You’ll design, implement, and manage an art therapy program that responds to students’ individual strengths and needs. Through individual and group sessions, you’ll support emotional expression, coping skills, communication, social connections, adaptive behavior, and greater independence.

Your work may include adapting materials to a student’s sensory needs, helping a student explore a new way to express themselves, or collaborating with their educational team to carry skills into everyday activities. Each session offers an opportunity to build trust and support progress at the student’s pace.

• Provide individual and group art therapy using a variety of artistic modalities and therapeutic approaches.

• Help students develop coping, social-emotional, communication, and relationship-building skills appropriate to their individual abilities.

• Use expressive and process-oriented approaches to support emotional expression, self-awareness, regulation, and healthy relationships.

• Build rapport through student-centered engagement and individualized therapeutic support.

• Adapt activities to students’ developmental, sensory, behavioral, and communication needs.

• Follow students’ IEP recommendations, Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), sensory integration plans, communication plans, and other individualized plans.

• Use developmentally appropriate, research-supported approaches when working with students on the autism spectrum.

• Apply 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 educational team members.

• Help students apply relationship-building and social-emotional skills across school and home environments when appropriate.

• Collect and review qualitative and quantitative data, document measurable progress, and adjust programming based on student needs and available data.

• Participate in multidisciplinary planning and collaborative problem-solving.

• Manage art therapy materials, equipment, therapy spaces, and the program’s annual budget.

• Maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and safe therapeutic environment.

• Protect student and family confidentiality and follow school policies, procedures, and applicable educational requirements.

• Master’s degree or PhD in Art Therapy or a related field.

• Registered Art Therapist credential (ATR or ATR-BC).

• 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.

• 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.

• Creativity in adapting therapeutic activities to individual student needs.

• Experience using data to evaluate progress and adjust programming.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• A collaborative approach to problem-solving.

• Ability to remain calm, professional, and supportive during challenging or emotionally sensitive situations.

• Openness to feedback, professional development, coaching, and new approaches to 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. You’ll work directly with students throughout the school environment, adapting your 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 who work 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.

The role also involves physical activities that may include sitting, standing, walking, running in an emergency, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, lifting, pushing, pulling, and assisting with student activities. Detailed physical requirements will be provided as part of the complete job description.

At Creekside, the creative process offers opportunities to communicate, connect, regulate, and explore. We value each student’s strengths and recognize that meaningful progress looks different for every individual.

You’ll join a multidisciplinary team that values creativity, collaboration, individualized support, and trusting relationships. Your clinical perspective and artistic skills will contribute to experiences that help students participate more fully in school and everyday life.

If you’re passionate about helping students with autism and developmental disabilities express themselves and build meaningful skills, we’d love to hear from you. Apply to join The Creekside School as a Part-Time Art Therapist.

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