Therapeutic Recreation is
the provision of treatment
services and the provision
of recreation services to
persons with illnesses or
disabling conditions. The
primary purposes of treatment
services which are often referred
to as recreational therapy,
are to restore, remediate
or rehabilitate in order to
improve functioning and independence
as well as reduce or eliminate
the effects of illness or
disability. The primary purposes
of recreation services are
to provide recreation resources
and opportunities in order
to improve health and well-being.
Therapeutic recreation is
provided by professionals
who are trained and certified,
registered and/or licensed
to provide therapeutic recreation.
(ATRA, 1987)
Career Information
Duties and Responsibilities
of Recreational Therapists
Therapeutic Recreation Specialists,
often referred to as recreational
therapists, work with individuals
who have mental, physical
or emotional disabilities.
Select activity modalities
are utilized to treat or maintain
the physical, mental and emotional
well-being of consumers served.
These interventions help individuals
remediate the effects of illness
or disability and achieve
an optimal level of personal
independence. The goals of
interventions include improving
physical, cognitive and social
functioning.
Recreational therapists work
as members of an interdisciplinary
team. Relevant information
about the patient is gathered
from client assessment, medical
record, medical staff, and
family members. Individual
treatment plans and programs
are developed consistent with
client need, abilities and
interests. For instance, a
recreational therapist may
utilize a recreational activity,
such as fishing, to aid a
patient with right side paralysis,
learn to use the left side
and thus continue a lifetime
activity. In a psychiatric
setting the recreational therapist
may prescribe an assertiveness
program to help the depressed
patient achieve greater self
confidence and independence.
Education, Training and
Qualifications
A degree in Therapeutic Recreation
(or in Recreation with an
emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation)
is required to be considered
for jobs in clinical settings
such as hospitals or community
mental health facilities.
National certification is
available through the National
Council for Therapeutic Recreation
Certification (NCTRC). Many
employers insist on hiring
those individuals who have
the NCTRC certification. A
few states regulate this profession
through either licensure,
certification or regulation
of titles. You may reach the
NCTRC in writing at 7 Elmwood
Drive, New City, NY 10956,
or by telephone at (845) 639-1439.
Academic programs in therapeutic
recreation emphasize course
work in the physical, biological,
and behavioral sciences and
recreation and leisure theory.
They also require a minimum
of 360 hours of internship
under the supervision of a
Certified Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist. Newly graduated
Recreational Therapists generally
begin as staff therapists.
There are also graduate degree
options for the individual
interested in going further
in this profession. Advancement
is chiefly to supervisory
or administrative positions.
Some therapists teach, conduct
research, or do consulting
work on a contract basis.
"Employment of recreational
therapists is expected to
grow faster than the average
for all occupations through
the year 2005, because of
anticipated expansion in long-term
care, physical and psychiatric
rehabilitation, and services
for the disabled. Hospitals
will provide a large number
of recreational therapy jobs
through the year 2005. A growing
number of these will be in
hospital-based adult day care
and out-patient programs,
or in units offering short-term
mental health and alcohol
or drug abuse services. Long-term
rehabilitation and psychiatric
hospitals will provide additional
jobs ...Job prospects are
expected to be favorable for
those with a strong clinical
background." Occupational
Outlook Handbook, 1994-95
Edition, U.S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Bulletin 2450-8
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