Recreation Therapy
The American Therapeutic Recreation Association defines therapeutic recreation as: ...the provision of treatment services and the provision of recreation services to persons with illness or disabling conditions. The primary purpose of treatment services, which are often referred to as recreational therapy, is to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.
Similarly, the National Therapeutic Recreation Society defines therapeutic recreation as: Practiced in clinical, residential, and community settings, the profession of 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, independence and well-being (NTRS, 1994).
(some positions listed below require advanced education)
| Recreational Therapist | Director of Therapies |
| Senior Citizen Programs | Clinical Specialist |
| Occupational Therapist | Physical Therapist |
| Speech Pathology Clinician | Youth Camp Recreation Therapist |
| Community Rec Programmer | Physical Therapist Supervisor |
| Program Specialist | Recreation Program Asst |
| Healthcare Consultant | Rehabilitation Counselor |
| Speech Pathology Specialist | |
| Employment settings for the therapeutic recreation specialist | |
| Hospitals | Rehabilitation Centers |
| Outpatient Centers | Home healthcare |
| Retirement Communities | Veterans Administration Hospitals |
| Specialty schools (blind, deaf, etc) | Healthcare organizations |
| Nursing homes | Correctional facilities |
| Psychiatric facilities | Senior centers |
| Adult day care | Universities/colleges |
| Self-employed | |
| People oriented | Excellent communication skills |
| Motor skills | Physical coordination |
| Patience | Perseverance |
| Persuasiveness | Motivational skills |
| Ability to design & implement rehabilitative programs | Leadership |
| Ability to plan recreational activities |
Therapeutic Recreation Job Bulletin Board
Therapeutic recreation internship sites
Rehab Mall.com - job listings
North Carolina Recreation Therapy Association
The American Therapeutic Recreation Association
NCTRC - National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association - excellent links!!
Recreation Therapy Directory: resources for therapeutic recreation
professionals
Craig Hospital in Denver: National Center of Excellence in the specialty of rehabilitation and research for patients for spinal cord and brain injury
Therapeutic recreation chat rooms
Cornerstones Magazine Online: Therapeutic Editorial Library
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