What IS our weight in salt, anyway?

[Guest guest]

As I prepare to ask for a raise this year, I am very much aware of how much we do for our patients as creative arts therapists. I am also very aware of how much the hospital "system" and "budget" have very different priorities as far as "keeping the patients busy" is concerned. How do we, in this newly defined level of identity,(licenseure) convince our administrators that a Dance/movement Therapist (Art Therapist, Drama Therapist, some Music Therapists) with Masters degrees and are licensed mental health professionals should have an increased pay rate form our fellow recreation and activites therapists, when they really only recognize us as "activities people" anyway? All of the extra things that we do (in-services, brochures, grand rounds, for goodness' sake) only really seem to help us to get ourselves known, and not increase productivity for the

hospital. I'm feeling a bit wiped out with this prospect. Can anyone help with some positive ideas???? Thanks, Jenn

Jenn , MS, DTR

PR Chair, and Dance Therapy Representative

New York Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies

Yahoo! Photos – Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover Photo Books. You design it and we’ll bind it!

[Guest guest]

For me, and probably many others, I often feel like an " androgynous

entity " , neither here nor there. Convincing co-workers,

supervisiors, and administration that I'm a clinician first has been

difficult.

I guess to prove that our license has any meaning we need to ask to

take on the task that other " clinicians " have. For some that might

not be very attractive. I know I have no interest in doing case work

other than in a Psychiatric Rehabilitation role.

At my current job title - Recreation Therapist (ART) there's no

point in doing those task and in turn do more work that those in my

department titled higher than me. Keep in mind I'm speaking of

titles for OMH run facilities (i.e. State Hospitals), which are the

last places that have to adapt to the new LCAT license.

I would think as things evolve and others learn and accept our

license and what we do changes will occur.

As for positive suggestions. Maybe doing an inservice/experiential

on what you do and/or would like to do might help. Bring in some

experts (not necessarily CATs) to express the CLINICAL benefits of

what you offer. Have your patients/clients express their feeling on

how you've helped them. Make a video of that (with the proper

clearances of course).

Good luck, this will take time to work out.

>

> As I prepare to ask for a raise this year, I am very much aware of

how much we do for our patients as creative arts therapists. I am

also very aware of how much the hospital " system " and " budget " have

very different priorities as far as " keeping the patients busy " is

concerned.

>

> How do we, in this newly defined level of identity,(licenseure)

convince our administrators that a Dance/movement Therapist (Art

Therapist, Drama Therapist, some Music Therapists) with Masters

degrees and are licensed mental health professionals should have an

increased pay rate form our fellow recreation and activites

therapists, when they really only recognize us as " activities

people " anyway?

>

> All of the extra things that we do (in-services, brochures,

grand rounds, for goodness' sake) only really seem to help us to get

ourselves known, and not increase productivity for the hospital.

>

> I'm feeling a bit wiped out with this prospect. Can anyone help

with some positive ideas????

>

> Thanks,

> Jenn

>

>

> Jenn , MS, DTR

> PR Chair, and Dance Therapy Representative

> New York Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies

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> Yahoo! Photos – Showcase holiday pictures in hardcover

> Photo Books. You design it and we'll bind it!

>