Celebrate Recreational Therapy Month
by Janine Roe, CTRS
What Is Recreational Therapy?
Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life.
Interventions:
Recreational Therapists provide a variety of interventions including, but not limited to leisure counseling, values clarification, bibliotherapy, cinematherapy, horticulture therapy, humor, relaxation techniques, physical activity, aromatherapy, assertiveness training, social skills training, cognitive stimulation, animal-assisted therapy, aquatic therapy, creative arts, reality orientation, remotivation, resocialization, sensory stimulation, self esteem training and reminiscence.
A recreational therapist may also provide leisure education. Leisure education is aimed at providing patients with information to help return to a meaningful leisure lifestyle. This may include information related topics such as adapted sports, motivational techniques, implementing healthy and active lifestyles, community programs, transportation options, support networks, and appropriate leisure options to drugs and alcohol abuse.
Education, Training and Qualifications:
Recreational Therapists must graduate from a 4 year, Bachelor’s Degree program. Although certification is usually voluntary, most employers prefer to hire candidates who are certified therapeutic recreation specialists. According to the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification in 2007, about 3 out of 4 recreational therapists worked in a clinical setting, which often requires certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. The council offers the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credentials to candidates who have a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an accredited educational institution, pass a written certification examination, and complete a supervised internship of at least 480 hours. Therapists must meet additional requirements to maintain certification.
Employment Opportunities:
Recreational therapists work in a variety of agencies and organizations. The possibilities include acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, community health centers, public and private schools, correctional facilities and private practice.
According to Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) employment of recreational therapists is expected to increase 4 percent from 2006 to 2016, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment of recreational therapists will grow to meet the therapy needs of the increasing number of older adults. In nursing care facilities—the largest industry employing recreational therapists—employment will grow slightly faster than the occupation as a whole as the number of older adults continues to grow. Fast employment growth is expected in the residential and outpatient settings that serve people who are physically disabled, cognitively disabled, or elderly or who have mental illness or substance abuse problems. Employment is expected to decline in hospitals, however, as services shift to outpatient settings and employers emphasize cost containment.
Professional Organizations/External Links:
·American Therapeutic Recreation Association
(ATRA) http://www.atra-tr.org
·National Therapeutic Recreation Society
(NTRS) http://www.nctrc.org
·National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
(NCTRC) http://www.nctrc.org
·Therapeutic Recreation Association of Greater St. Louis
(TRAGSL) http://www.tragsl.org