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What is Recreational Therapy? Explained

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 Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Approaches
  3. Educational programs
  4. Professional organizations
  5. Credentialing
  6. References

Introduction

Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation (TR), is a systematic process that uses recreation (leisure) and other 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, according to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA). Recreational therapy can also be referred to simply as recreation therapy; in short, it is the use and enhancement of leisure.

Recreational therapists' work differs from that of other professionals in that they work with clients to improve motor, social, and cognitive functioning, build confidence, develop coping skills, and integrate skills learned in treatment settings into community settings. Intervention areas vary greatly and are based on the client's enjoyable and rewarding interests. Creative arts (e.g., crafts, music, dance, drama, among others) are examples of intervention modalities, as are games, sports such as adventure programming, exercises such as 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 in order for them to enjoy leisure and its benefits; this often takes a rehabilitation tone in order to help clients achieve an optimal level of health and well-being.
  • Therapeutic approach: This approach's goal is curative in nature. It tries to lessen and improve the effects of illnesses and disabilities, and it can also be prescriptive for improving certain functional capacities.
  • Umbrella or combined approach: Recreation can be used as a subjective continuation of enjoyable activities or as a recreation service to bring about purposeful change.
  • Leisure ability approach: An approach that uses leisure activities therapeutically and fully engages clients in participation, as well as good dissemination of the benefits of structured leisure/leisure awareness education (Gun & Peterson, 1978).
Leisure awareness, leisure attitudes, leisure skills, community integration skills, community participation, cultural and social behaviours, and interpersonal skills are the eight domains of leisure.

Educational programs

Most entry-level positions require a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy. Treatment and programme planning, the human body, physiology, kinesiology, and professional ethics are typical topics covered in these programmes. Some programmes allow you to specialise in occupational therapy or in the treatment of those who are mentally or physically challenged. Most employers prefer to hire Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). Therapists can obtain certification from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) or a provincial regulatory body such as Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO). Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in TR, complete an internship under the supervision of a CTRS, and pass a written exam to qualify for certification through the Academic Path. For certification, there are also Equivalency Paths A and B. The requirements are slightly different, and include a bachelor's degree from a university other than TR, paid work experience, and passing the written exam.

Continuing Education

As part of the overall requirements to renew national certification through NCTRC, Recreation Therapists with the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential must complete 50 clock hours (5.0 CEUs) of continuing education within a 5-year period.

NCTRC requirements for renewing national certification The NCTRC has outlined several options for CTRSs to obtain continuing education.
These are some examples:
  • Academic Courses
  • Teleconferences/Audio Seminars like ATRA's webinar series.
  • Internet Course Programs
  • Conferences
  • Internships & Externships: 

Professional organizations 

The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) and the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA) are the two largest national membership organisations in the United States and Canada, representing the interests and needs of recreational therapists.

Credentialing

Certification: The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification[7], a charter member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), offers a 5-year certification. Those who have been certified must apply for re-certification when their certification expires. In five areas, specialty certification is now available. When compared to individuals who practise at less advanced levels, health and human service professionals who acquire a higher level of knowledge and more advanced skills provide a greater depth of service to the consumer. Specialization is widely accepted in professional practise and has evolved into the norm in today's health and human service delivery systems. In 2011, the median annual salary for recreational therapists in the United States was estimated to be $44,839 USD. This figure may vary slightly depending on geographic region, years of experience, and type of hiring agency.

Licensure: Recreational Therapy licensure is currently available in four states (Utah, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma). Professionals must have a current, valid state licence to practise Recreational Therapy in these states. In addition to the four currently licenced states, a number of other states are in the process of developing licensure. Significant progress is being made in the licensure arena thanks to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association and the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification's Joint Task Force on Recreational Therapy Licensure. The profession is pursuing licensure as an additional means of protecting the public from potential harm.

References

  • "American Therapeutic Recreation Association" (http://atra-online.com/displaycommon.cfm? an=12).
  •  "What is Recreational Therapy?" (https://cph.temple.edu/rs/therapeutic-recreation/what-thera peutic-recreation). College of Public Health. May 18, 2011.
  • Robin Kunstler; Frances Stavola Daly (2010). Therapeutic Recreation Leadership and Programming (https://books.google.com/books?id=5e-ZAm-omZEC&pg=PA29). Human Kinetics. pp. 29–36. ISBN 978-0-7360-6855-0. 
  • "NCTRC Certification Paths A and B" (http://www.nctrc.org/newapplication.htm#equivalenc y). 5. "American Therapeutic Recreation Association" (https://www.atra-online.com/). www.atraonline.com. 6

















































































































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