Expressive Activity Therapist

Responsibilities

Make a Meaningful Impact on Behavioral Healthcare. 

Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) is seeking a compassionate and engaging Expressive Activity Therapist to join our Behavioral Health team on a PRN basis.

In this role, you will provide recreational and expressive therapy services designed to support the emotional, social, and therapeutic needs of children, adolescents, and adults receiving psychiatric care. Working as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, you will assess individual patient needs, develop appropriate therapeutic interventions, facilitate structured activities, and help create a safe and supportive environment that promotes recovery.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) who wants to use creativity, clinical knowledge, and therapeutic engagement to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients.

What You Will Do

As an Expressive Activity Therapist, you will:

• Plan, facilitate, and evaluate recreational and expressive therapy activities based on individual patient needs and treatment goals.

• Complete therapeutic assessments and identify appropriate interventions for children, adolescents, and adults.

• Establish supportive and professional therapeutic relationships with patients.

• Facilitate therapeutic groups while maintaining a structured, engaging, and emotionally safe environment.

• Observe, assess, and document patient participation, response to treatment, and progress toward therapeutic goals.

• Communicate relevant clinical observations and recommendations to the multidisciplinary treatment team.

• Serve as a therapeutic recreation resource and liaison to assigned treatment teams.

• Apply knowledge of group dynamics and therapeutic recreation standards of practice when planning and delivering services.

• Support a safe treatment environment and participate in behavioral crisis prevention and intervention processes in accordance with facility requirements.

• Maintain appropriate clinical documentation and professional standards of practice.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy or a related field.

• Current certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).

• Current District of Columbia license or eligibility to obtain the applicable D.C. license.

• At least one year of experience as a Recreational Therapist.

• Knowledge of therapeutic recreation standards of practice, group dynamics, patient assessment, and clinical documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Recreational Therapy or related field.

• Previous experience providing recreational or expressive therapy services in a psychiatric, behavioral health, or similar clinical setting.

What Will Help You Succeed

You’ll succeed in this role by bringing empathy and therapeutic presence, strong communication and group facilitation skills, adaptability, and sound clinical judgment. The ability to build rapport, maintain appropriate boundaries, collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team, and remain composed in a fast-paced behavioral health environment will be essential.

About The Psychiatric Institute of Washington

For nearly 50 years, The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) has provided behavioral healthcare to children, adolescents, and adults throughout the Washington, D.C. community. Our 130-bed facility offers inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs designed to help patients find hope, stability, and a path toward a healthier future. 

At PIW, our team brings together professionals from across clinical, administrative, operational, and support disciplines who share a commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. 

About Us | Mental Health | Psychiatric Institute of Washington

Why Choose PIW?

At PIW, your work is a part of something meaningful, and every role contributes to helping individuals navigate some of life’s most challenging moments. When you join PIW, you will have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated behavioral healthcare professionals, strengthen your clinical skills, expand your experience, and build a career within an organization committed to passionate care, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Benefits & Rewards

PRN team members enjoy competitive compensation, schedule flexibility, a rewarding behavioral healthcare environment, and opportunities to gain experience and grow within PIW. Additional programs or benefits may be available based on eligibility. 

Eligibility for benefits and programs may vary based on employment status, scheduled hours, position, location, and applicable plan requirements.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you are looking to use recreational and expressive therapy to help patients build coping skills, increase engagement, and make meaningful progress toward their treatment goals, we encourage you to apply.

Apply today and take the next step in your behavioral healthcare career with the Psychiatric Institute of Washington!

About Universal Health Services 

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) is one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services. Since our founding in 1979, UHS has grown steadily into a premier Fortune 500® corporation perennially recognized by multiple esteemed national rating entities. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates inpatient acute care facilities, inpatient behavioral health facilities, outpatient and other facilities, nationwide virtual behavioral health services, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services with physical locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Ireland and United Kingdom. www.uhs.com. 

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