Creative Therapist/ Art Therapist

Requirements

• Minimum of 13-month commitment
• Enjoys working with kids.
• 21 years or older
• Proficient in spoken Spanish
• Must have completed one of the following:
• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Art Therapy.
• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Drama Therapy/Psychodrama.
• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Psychology with knowledge of the techniques of play and art therapy.
• Experience in therapy is preferable, but it is most important that the therapist is motivated to work with our children.
• Experience working with children
• Flexibility and Creativity
• Organizational and time-management skills to plan and maintain patient schedule, as well as documentation and reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team, but can also take initiative and work independently.

Overview

The role of the creative therapist is to identify and provide therapy for our children. The therapist works individually and in groups with children and teenagers. Therapy is based on several techniques stemming from psychology, developmental psychology, neuropsychology, physiology, etc. The creative therapist uses the characteristics and possibilities of art as a way to communicate and express thoughts and feelings. Creative therapy is not like art class, where the result is an art project. The therapist helps children to recognize, guide, survive, reduce or accept emotional, social and cognitive problems.

Many of the children at NPH have had traumatic pasts and many cannot find a way to deal with their pain, fear and sadness. These children often present behavioral problems, social problems, low self-esteem, depression, and closed personality traits. The task of the art therapist is to teach these children not to feel powerless and to bring them in contact with their own strength. This in turn will help to empower them and teach them how to express themselves as they learn how to be seen and heard. The hope and goal of the program is that through their creative processes, the children will grow personally and they will develop emotionally.

Other Responsibilities

Each volunteer chooses an hogar (group of children of the same age living together) at the beginning of their year. Each home’s Volunteer Coordinator will communicate the expectations for hogar time. Usually, it is six days a week, 6 to 8 p.m., but this might vary per home. This has been described as the most fulfilling part of volunteering, the bond and relationships formed with their hogar of children.

Volunteers have every other weekend off, as well as up to 22 days of vacation time after four months of service. Vacation must be arranged according to the specific home’s policies.

NPH Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and commit for a year.  All NPH volunteers receive room and board, access to medical care, and a modest monthly stipend. NPH USA pays for health insurance (up to $500/year). Volunteers are responsible for paying their transportation to and from the country where they will serve, as well as any pre-trip expenses like vaccines and language school (if needed).

For more information, please write to the Director of International Engagement, Dr. Jennifer Foster, at jafoster@nphusa.org.