*Expressive Therapist positions are available at levels I, II, or III, depending on experience and education. *

Our NEW Pediatric Behavioral Health Center is scheduled to open in December 2026. Candidates applying for this position should expect a start date after September 1, 2026. All applicants must be 21 years of age or older and provide two professional references as part of the hiring process.

Positions supporting Oklahoma Children's OU Health Behavioral Health Center require successful completion of a fingerprint-based background check in addition to standard pre-employment requirements. Any required background check and/or fingerprint-based screening will be conducted in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. 

Under the direction of Child Life, Integrative and Creative Care this role provides foundational clinical expressive therapy services for patients and families by using expressive modalities as tools to help them attain and maintain their maximum levels of functioning and coping in the area of physical, cognitive, communication and social/emotional health during hospitalization or residential programs. Program planning will be designed to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping, provide normalization, promote social interaction and support developmental integrity through expressive experiences and interventions in a safe environment.

Essential Responsibilities

Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position. Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.

• Will assess and prioritize patient needs through referrals and patient review process.

• Identify interventions based on patient assessment, match techniques to developmental, emotional, physical and social needs of patients and families.

• Provide expressive therapy, through a multitude of modalities, interventions designed to meet patients' physical or psychological needs.

• Inform and educate patients and families on the use of expressive therapy techniques to support health coping and normal growth and development.

• Involve family members in expressive therapy services per assessment including teaching skills and resources for transition to home.

• Implement and document patient care plans; communicate plans and outcomes to others.

• Provide expressive therapy programming to complement work in meeting the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and families.

• Provide individual and group sessions to fulfill therapeutic objectives, including but not limited to: anxiety reduction, pain management, developmental stimulation, alternative means of expression/communication, positive coping techniques, procedural support, quality of life and family/patient support.

• Identify and educate appropriate expressive therapy resources for each patient and family.

• Participate in interdisciplinary team planning and co-treating.

• Monitor patient progress and remain adaptive in plan of care.

• Incorporate expressive therapy in development of patient's self-awareness and expression, coping skills, sense of well-being and social behavior.

• Provide educational in-services for patients and families as well as staff members.

• Supports the training and supervision of students and volunteers related to expressive therapy.

General Responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Level I Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Recreation: Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation or related field

Experience Requirements

• Recreation: Hospital, rehabilitation center, or residential facility experience strongly preferred.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements

• Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required with in 30 days of start date. 

• Recreation: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) from National Council for Therapeutic Recreation or eligible to take exam required. Obtain CTRS-L and  National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification within 90 days of hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Requirements

• Working knowledge of expressive therapies and impact to patients and families.

• Must have knowledge of the theories of expressive therapy, best practices, family systems, cultural awareness and human growth and development. 

• Must have effective oral and written communication skills.  

• Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team. 

• Skill in the supervision of students and volunteers. 

• Must have good interpersonal skills to develop effective working relationships and to deal with difficult family/individual dynamics.

• Knowledge of performance improvement tools and how to monitor an ongoing process. 

• Skill in planning programs and analyzing the problems that arise. 

• Good presentation skills for representing the department to internal and external audiences. 

• Computer skills and a general knowledge of office procedures. 

• Must be self motivated and able to problem solve both independently and in a team setting.

Level II Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Recreation: Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation or related field

Experience Requirements

• Recreation: 3 or more years' experience in Hospital, rehabilitation center, or residential facility experience as Recreational Therapist.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements

• Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required with in 30 days of start date. 

• Recreation: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) from National Council for Therapeutic Recreation or eligible to take exam required. Obtain CTRS-L and  National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification within 90 days of hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of expressive therapies and impact to patients and families.

• Must have knowledge of the theories of expressive therapy, best practices, family systems, cultural awareness and human growth and development. 

• Must have effective oral and written communication skills.  

• Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team. 

• Skill in the supervision of students and volunteers. 

• Must have good interpersonal skills to develop effective working relationships and to deal with difficult family/individual dynamics.

• Knowledge of performance improvement tools and how to monitor an ongoing process. 

• Skill in planning programs and analyzing the problems that arise. 

• Good presentation skills for representing the department to internal and external audiences. 

• Computer skills and a general knowledge of office procedures. 

• Must be self motivated and able to problem solve both independently and in a team setting.

Level III Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Recreation: Bachelor's Degree in Therapeutic Recreation or related field.

Experience Requirements

• Recreation: At least 5 years' experience working in Hospital, rehabilitation center, or residential facility experience as Recreational Therapist.

• Must be employed as an expressive therapist at Oklahoma Children's for a minimum of 1 year.

License/Certification/Registration Requirements

• Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required with in 30 days of start date. 

• Recreation: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) from National Council for Therapeutic Recreation required. CTRS-L and  National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Requirements

• Expert knowledge of expressive therapies and impact to patients and families.

• Must have knowledge of the theories of expressive therapy, best practices, family systems, cultural awareness and human growth and development. 

• Must have effective oral and written communication skills.  

• Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team. 

• Skill in the supervision of students and volunteers. 

• Must have good interpersonal skills to develop effective working relationships and to deal with difficult family/individual dynamics.

• Knowledge of performance improvement tools and how to monitor an ongoing process. 

• Skill in planning programs and analyzing the problems that arise. 

• Good presentation skills for representing the department to internal and external audiences. 

• Computer skills and a general knowledge of office procedures. 

• Must be self motivated and able to problem solve both independently and in a team setting.

#CB