[3] Jones’ contributions to the field of art therapy include serving in professional and community positions.
Jones also served as president, training influential art therapists and creating permanent pieces of artwork.
He mastered visual representation of water surfaces by that time, which helped him to process the drowning incident by re-enacting it through his art.
At 19, recognised as a conscientious objector, he became a member of the Civilian Public Service Corps, and volunteered to work in the Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital for the following three years.
[4] Jones had a theme for art therapists to remember: “openness creates openness.” His drowning experience as a child taught him that phrase, and the time at the state hospital reinforced it.
[4] Jones found work as a commercial artist after World War II and settled into Rossville, Kansas with his wife, Eleanor (nee Illston), and children; David, Amy, Evan, Anne, Matthew and Peter.
Called the "Don Jones Assessment",[6] it combined guided imagery and drawing while patients remained in a relaxed state.
[6] Menninger hired Margaret Naumburg by Jones' suggestion, and helped to establish a new concept of "process vs. content" at the hospital.
[4] Together, they pioneered to develop some of the first clinical internship training programs in the United States, and acted on the Steering Committee that established the American Art Therapy Association.
[8] By this time, Jones worked as the director of the adjunctive therapies department in Harding Hospital for two years.
He continued to assist the Worthington Area Art League that started in his basement 35 years ago, supervised students and consulted with various treatment programs.