Creative Art Therapy Assistant

Position Summary:

OnPoint NYC is seeking a compassionate Creative Art Therapy Assistant with a strong understanding of harm reduction principles to support individuals impacted by drug use, trauma, and mental health challenges. This role will support the Art Therapist with integration of creative expression with therapeutic techniques in a non-judgmental, client-centered environment to promote healing, self-awareness, and empowerment. The ideal candidate values autonomy, meets individuals where they are, and contributes to a trauma-informed, inclusive care team.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate brief interventions in the drop-in center, the holistic center and the overdose prevention center, engaging participants and educating them about services.
• Assist in planning, setting up, and facilitating individual and group art therapy sessions at OnPoint's Drop-In Centers, Holistic space and Overdose Prevention Center.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including case managers, peer support workers, nurses, and social workers to coordinate participant care.
• Participate in outreach or drop-in programs that serve marginalized populations (e.g., unhoused individuals, sex workers, people who use drugs).
• Facilitate social activities including art exhibitions and museum trips for participants interested in the arts.
• Support Art Therapist in developing written reports, publications, presentations, and/or relevant portions of funding proposals as needed.
• Maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and non-judgmental creative environment.
• Build trusting relationships with participants through empathy, active listening, and consistent presence.
• Collaborate with harm reduction, outreach, clinical and supportive teams to ensure participant safety and support.
• Uphold trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally responsive practices.
• Offer encouragement and assistance during art-making, respecting each participant's autonomy and creative process.
• Prepare, organize, and restock art supplies and materials for programmatic events.
• Support OnPoint participants in safe use of art materials and creative tools.
• Assist with documentation of attendance, session notes, and program outcomes in accordance with programmatic requirements.
• Help create and install participant art displays, exhibitions, or community art projects.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of art therapy spaces.
• Support inventory and purchasing of art materials.
• Assist with program evaluation, feedback collection, and reporting.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and training opportunities.
• Perform other related task and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications:

• Advanced Bachelor's degree in Art Therapy, Fine Arts, or related mental health field.
• Experience working in community, harm reduction, mental health, or social service settings.

· Experience facilitating creative or expressive arts groups.

· Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and culturally safe practices.

· Must have strong interpersonal and team building skills, excellent communication and presentation skills, and the ability and willingness to be hands-on and creatively solve problems as they arise.

· Must be organized, detail oriented and able to multitask in a high-paced environment.

· Must be comfortable deescalating conflict.

· Maintains respect and compassion for all clients being served, regardless of their active drug use or treatment compliance.

· Must be dedicated to advancing an agenda of equal rights and social justice for marginalized individuals, especially through participation in advocacy and community activism.

· Excellent communication, de-escalation, and interpersonal skills.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.

· Bilingual (Spanish) strongly preferred.

HOW TO APPLY
Go to and submit a cover letter and resume outlining your experience and/or interest in harm reduction,

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70, $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid jury duty
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person