Activity Therapist / Recreational Therapist (Full-Time)

Activity Therapist Brookfield, WI

Activity Therapist Brookfield, WI | Full-Time | On-Site About Wisconsin Behavioral Health Wisconsin Behavioral Health is a mission-driven organization expanding access to quality behavioral healthcare. Grounded in evidence-based, recovery-oriented programming, the organization is launching a new Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The Opportunity The Activity Therapist brings expressive and experiential modalities, such as music, art, or movement, into the PHP/IOP treatment milieu, helping clients build coping skills, process emotion, and engage in recovery-oriented programming outside of traditional talk therapy. This full-time, on-site role works closely with the clinical team to design and deliver group and individual sessions that complement each client's broader treatment plan.

What You'll Do

• Plan and lead group and individual activity therapy sessions (music, art, or movement-based) tailored to client treatment goals.
• Conduct activity therapy assessments to identify client strengths, needs, and appropriate therapeutic activities.
• Document client participation, progress, and clinical observations in the EMR.
• Collaborate with therapists, the psychiatrist, and clinical director to integrate activity therapy into individualized treatment plans.
• Adapt session content and modality to accommodate varying client capabilities, diagnoses, and comfort levels.
• Maintain a safe, welcoming space for expressive work in accordance with HIPAA confidentiality standards.
• Order and maintain supplies or equipment needed for sessions (art materials, instruments, yoga/movement equipment).

Requirements

• Required (one of the following credential paths) Occupational Therapist (OT), or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), to meet Wisconsin DHS 61.75 staffing standards. Registered Art Therapist. Registered Music Therapist. Graduate of the division of mental hygiene's Activity Therapy Assistant Course. Other professional credentials can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• All candidates Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreation Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Expressive Therapies, Occupational Therapy, Counseling, Yoga Therapy, or a closely related behavioral health or therapeutic discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and facilitate therapeutic activities that support individualized treatment goals, recovery, and overall wellness.
• Working knowledge of trauma-informed care, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Wisconsin behavioral health regulations, and documentation standards.
• Excellent verbal, written, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Preferred One or more years of experience developing and facilitating structured therapeutic recreation, expressive therapy, wellness, or activity-based interventions in a behavioral health, psychiatric, or substance use disorder treatment setting.
• Experience collaborating with an interdisciplinary treatment team and documenting client participation and progress in accordance with organizational policies and applicable regulatory standards.
• Experience in an outpatient mental health or substance use treatment program.
• Additional training or certification in a second expressive modality.

Benefits

Salary: $58,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience and credential. This is a direct hire with Wisconsin Behavioral Health. Atlantic Health Strategies is recruiting on their behalf.