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 480 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 Opportunities

"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