Recreational Therapist
A Recreational Therapist is a healthcare professional who uses recreational activities to promote mental and physical well-being in patients. They design and implement therapeutic programs tailored to individual needs and interests, facilitating improvements in emotional health, social skills, and confidence. These therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and community facilities, often collaborating with other healthcare providers to enhance patient care.
The role involves assessing patient needs, developing treatment plans, and leading activities such as arts and crafts, group sports, and community integration exercises. Recreational Therapists may also teach stress reduction techniques and supervise recreational staff. To enter this profession, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree and may benefit from internships or volunteer experiences in related fields. With a median annual salary of about $57,120, the field is expected to grow at an average rate. Ideal candidates are energetic, creative, and possess strong interpersonal skills, making them well-suited to work with diverse populations.
Recreational Therapist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Recreational therapy, physical therapy, human development, psychology, assistive technology, physiology
Earnings (Yearly Median): $57,120 per year, $27.46 per hour (2023)
Employment & Outlook: 4 percent (As fast as average)
Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Recreational therapists provide therapeutic recreational services aimed at helping their patients improve emotional and mental well-being, build interpersonal relations, strengthen social skills, and increase confidence. Recreational therapists develop and implement medically approved recreational therapies and programs to meet patient needs, abilities, and interests. The range of recreational therapies is vast and includes community integration, stress reduction, fitness, group sports, field trips, and arts and crafts. Recreational therapists encourage their patients to socialize and use recreational and community resources.
Work Environment. Recreational therapists work in medical settings, such as hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, substance abuse facilities, and psychiatric facilities, as well as community and institutional settings, including schools, parks and recreation departments, prisons, retirement facilities, and adult day care facilities. In medical environments, recreational therapists generally partner with medical and social service professionals to increase patients’ social skills and confidence. In community and institutional settings, recreational therapists partner with educational and therapeutic professionals to address students’ or patients’ social or recreational needs.
Occupation Interest. Individuals attracted to recreational therapy tend to be physically strong and energetic people who can teach and lead various activities. Individuals who excel as recreational therapists exhibit tact, creativity, problem-solving, desire to help, patience, humor, and caring. Recreational therapists must be able to work as part of a team to meet patient needs.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. The daily duties and responsibilities of recreational therapists vary by the individual’s area of job specialization and work environment. Recreational therapists attend to the therapeutic needs of their patients. Patients in recreational therapy may be part of inpatient medical facilities or be seen on an outpatient basis, often by referral. The recreational therapist first conducts patient assessments. The recreational therapist develops treatment plans once the patient’s needs and abilities are recorded. They provide therapy sessions and workshops that focus on patients' mental and physical well-being.
Community integration, stress reduction, fitness, group sports, field trips, and arts and crafts are common recreational therapies. A recreational therapist might lead individuals and small groups in such community integration exercises as riding public transportation, placing orders in a restaurant, and asking for or giving directions. Recreational therapists might teach patients such stress reduction techniques as massage, meditation, and deep breathing. In various group settings, recreational therapists lead activities in nature, performing arts, field trips, arts and crafts, stretching, aerobic exercise, strength training, or group sports such as volleyball and baseball. They are responsible for ensuring that all recreation program activities and events meet national requirements for safety and the Americans with Disabilities Act. This may mean overseeing recreational equipment and facilities' safety, upkeep, and maintenance.
Recreational therapists must communicate regularly and effectively with patients, families, colleagues, and insurers. They interact with patients throughout the day in a friendly and supportive manner and advise patients on using recreational equipment. Some provide early intervention services to young children with mental and social delays and limitations. Recreational therapists evaluate, document, and communicate patient progress in therapeutic activities. They then meet with patient treatment teams or families and provide insurance companies with patient records and progress notes as required. Recreational therapists may also supervise recreation staff and volunteers.
Independent recreational therapists working outside a medical or educational facility may also be responsible for scheduling appointments and billing patients.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Recreational therapists work in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, therapy clinics, and schools. Therapeutic office settings used by recreational therapists may be shared with other therapeutic professionals, such as physical, occupational, or speech and language therapists.
Human Environment. Recreational therapists interact with a wide variety of people. They should be comfortable meeting with people with physical, mental, and emotional illnesses, special needs, older adults, children, colleagues, and supervisors. Recreational therapists usually work as part of a patient treatment team, including families, social workers, teachers, doctors, and other therapists. As a treatment team member, recreational therapists participate in frequent team meetings and communicate patient progress to fellow team members.
Technological Environment. Recreational therapists use a wide variety of technologies and equipment in their work. Recreational therapists use Internet communication tools, word-processing software, and spreadsheets. During therapy sessions, their equipment may include musical instruments, sports equipment, and adaptive technology such as wheelchairs.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing the profession of recreational therapy in the future should develop good study habits. High school physical education, psychology, and sociology coursework can prepare students for undergraduate and master’s level studies. Students interested in the recreational therapy field may benefit from seeking internships or part-time or volunteer work in recreational programs or with people with physical, developmental, or social problems impacting their daily lives.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary students interested in recreational therapy should complete coursework in recreational therapy if offered by their school and courses in related fields. Such coursework may include physical education, physical therapy, special education, abnormal psychology, human development, ethics, anatomy, physiology, and assistive technology. An internship is typically required for completion of an undergraduate program in recreational therapy. Those interested in attending graduate school in recreational therapy may benefit from seeking internships or working in recreational therapy programs or with people with physical or mental special needs. American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) membership may provide networking opportunities. Before graduating, interested college students should apply to graduate school in recreational therapy or secure related employment as a therapy assistant or special education assistant.
Related Occupations
− Fitness Trainer and Instructor
− Occupational Therapy Assistant
Bibliography
"Recreational Therapists." O*NET OnLine, 6 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1125.00. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
"Recreational Therapists." US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.