Recreational therapy

According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), recreational therapy or therapeutic recreation (TR) is a systematic process that utilizes recreation (leisure) and other interest activities as interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being.^[1] Recreational therapy may also be simply referred to as recreation therapy, in short it is the utilization and enhancement of leisure.^[2]

The work of recreational therapists differ from other professionals on the basis of using leisure activities alone to meet well-being goals, they work with clients to enhance motor, social and cognitive functioning, build confidence, develop coping skills, and integrate skills learned in treatment settings into community settings. Intervention areas vary widely and are based upon enjoyable and rewarding interests of the client. Examples of intervention modalities include creative arts (e.g., crafts, music, dance, drama, among others), games, sports like adventure programming, exercises like dance/movement, and skill enhancement activities (Motor, locomotion, sensory, cognition, communication, and behavior).

Approaches

There are four approaches in therapeutic recreation:

• Recreation services: Providing recreation services to people with disabilities for experiencing leisure and its benefits, often this takes a rehabilitation tone in approach for helping clients to reach an optimal level of health and well-being.
• Therapeutic approach: The purpose of this approach is curative in nature. It attempts to lessen and ameliorate the effects of illness' and disabilities, it also can be prescriptive for improving certain functional capacities.
• Umbrella or combined approach: Use of recreation as a subjective continuation of enjoyable activities as well as a recreation service for bringing purposeful change.
• Leisure ability approach: An approach that operates leisure activities therapeutically and engages the clients fully for participation with good dissemination on the benefits of structured leisure/ leisure awareness education (Gun & Peterson, 1978).^[3]

Eight domains of leisure are: leisure awareness, leisure attitudes, leisure skills, community integration skills, community participation, cultural and social behaviors, interpersonal skills.

Educational programs

A bachelor's degree in recreational therapy is required for most entry-level positions. These programs typically cover areas such as treatment and program planning, human body, physiology, kinesiology, and professional ethics. Some programs offer the opportunity to specialize in occupational therapy, and in the intervention of those that are mentally or physically challenged. Most employers prefer to hire candidates who are Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). Therapists become certified through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) or through a provincial regulatory body such as, Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO). To qualify for certification under the Academic Path, applicants must have a bachelor's degree in TR, complete an internship under the supervision of a CTRS, and pass a written exam. There is also an Equivalency Path A and B for certification. The requirements are slightly different and include a bachelor's degree outside of TR, paid work experience, and successful completion of the written exam.^[4]

Professional organizations

The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)^[5] and the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA)^[6] are the largest national membership organizations representing the interests and needs of recreational therapists in the U. S. and Canada.^[7]

Credentialing

Certification: The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification,^[8] a charter member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), also provides a certification that expires after 5 years. Those who are certified must apply for re-certification at the end of the expiration period. Specialty certification is now available in 5 areas. Health and human service professionals who acquire a higher level of knowledge and more advanced skills provide the consumer with a greater depth of service compared to individuals who practice at less advanced levels. Specialization is well recognized within professional practice and has become the norm within the health and human service delivery system today.^[9] The median salary for recreational therapists in the United States was estimated $44,839 a year in 2011.^[10] This number may vary slightly based on specific geographic region, years of experience, and type of employing agency.

Licensure: There are currently four states with Recreational Therapy licensure (Utah, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma)^[11]. To practice Recreational Therapy in these states, professionals must possess a current, valid state license. In addition to the four currently licensed states, numerous other states are currently moving toward developing licensure. Through the Joint Task Force on Recreational Therapy Licensure sponsored by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association and the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, significant progress is being made in the licensure arena. Licensure is being pursued by the profession as a further means of protecting the public from potential harm.

References

Further reading

• Robertson, T. & Long, T. (Eds.) (2007). Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Stumbo, N. J.& Peterson, C. A.(2009). Therapeutic recreation program design: Principles and procedures. Toronto, ON: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
• Dattilo, J. & McKenney, A. (2011). Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation (2ndEd). State College, PA: Venture Publishing.
• Carter, M., Van Andel, G., & Robb, G. (2003). Therapeutic Recreation A Practical Approach. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Austin, D. R., Crawford, M.E., McCormick, B.P. & Van Puymbroeck, M. (2015). Recreational Therapy: An Introduction (4thed). Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.
• Kunstler, R., & Stavola Daly, F. (2010). Therapeutic recreation leadership and programming. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

External links

• Therapeutic Recreation Directory
• O*Net Online Summary Report for Recreational Therapists
• American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
• National Therapeutic Recreation Society
• U.S. Bureau of Labor: Recreational Therapist
• I Am A Recreational Therapist (Your First Stop to all things Recreational Therapy)
• National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)
• Rec Therapy Today