Recreational Therapists
Additional Information
Duties
The following is a typical list of what recreational therapists do:
- Analyze the health care needs of patients by seeing them, consulting their medical records, performing tests, and speaking with other healthcare professionals, patients' families, and the actual patients themselves.
- Plan and implement programs that are tailored to the specific needs and interests of patients.
- Develop and implement strategies to help the client achieve their objectives.
- Participate in therapeutic exercises, games, and community outings with patients.
- Assist patients in developing the social skills they'll need to become or stay self-sufficient.
- Help patients learn coping mechanisms for stress, worry and depression.
- Observe and record the progress of a patient.
- Evaluate the efficacy of initiatives.
Individuals with mental and physical health issues can benefit from recreational therapy, which is provided by therapists who specialize in these areas.
Arts and crafts, dance and sports are some of the interventions they utilize to aid their patients who are paralyzed on one side of their body can benefit from a recreational therapist's guidance by learning to perform activities, such as casting a fishing rod, using their functioning side.
Children with cancer, for example, are frequently the focus of therapists' attention. Patients can be taught to keep active and socially connected through such activities as kayaking or a ropes course by their therapists.
For people with impairments, recreational therapy is a way to learn how to access community resources and participate in leisure activities. Patients in wheelchairs, for example, may be taught how to use public transportation by their therapists.
Additionally, therapists may provide interventions to aid patients who are struggling to cope with social and emotional issues. As an example, a therapist might use a therapy dog to aid patients with their despair or anxiety.
Psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, teachers, and occupational therapists are examples of therapists who work with medical professionals. They are distinct from recreation employees, who organize recreational activities just for the sake of having fun.
Education
In order to work as a recreational therapist, you'll normally require a bachelor's degree in either healthcare, such as recreation therapy, or recreation and fitness.
Classes on assessment, anatomy, medical and psychiatric terminology, and features of diseases and impairments are all included in recreational therapy programs. Students also learn how to use assistive technology. In order to get a bachelor's degree, students must do an internship.
Registration, Certification, and Licensing
The majority of firms prefer to recruit recreational therapists who have been certified. The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certificate is offered by the NCTRC. There are three methods in which a candidate might be eligible for certification. An undergraduate degree in recreational therapy, supervised internship of at least 560 hours, and passing a test are all required to pursue the first option. If you have a bachelor's degree in a non-related field, you can still apply for the other alternatives, which involve passing an exam. Therapists must either pass a test or fulfill work experience and continuing education requirements every five years in order to keep their certification.
NCTRC provides specialized certification in five professional areas: behavioral health, community inclusion services, developmental disabilities and geriatrics. Therapists may also receive certifications from other organizations, such as aquatic therapy or aromatherapy, to demonstrate their expertise in a particular therapeutic practice.
Recreational therapists' profession is only loosely regulated in a small number of states as of 2017. Contact your state's medical board for specific information.
Characteristics of Critical Importance
Compassion. When offering assistance to patients and their families, recreational therapists should be pleasant and compassionate. They may have to deal with patients who are in pain or who are experiencing emotional distress.
Possessing abilities of leadership. Effective intervention programs must be planned, developed, and implemented by recreational therapists. They must be able to captivate and compel patients to engage in treatment activities of all kinds.
The ability to pay attention and understand what is being said. Patients' difficulties and concerns should be attentively listened to by recreational therapists. As a result, they can come up with a treatment plan for that particular patient.
Patience. Some patients may demand more time and attention from recreational therapists than others.
Resourcefulness. Patients' treatment strategies are tailored by recreational therapists. While adapting exercises or programs for each patient's specific requirements, they need to be both creative and adaptable.
The ability to communicate effectively orally. Recreational therapists must be able to effectively interact with their patients. Instructions on how to deal with stressful situations should be clearly communicated.
Pay
It was $47,710 per year in May 2020 for recreational therapists. There are two extremes of earnings in each given occupation: those earning more than the median and those earning less. Ten percent of the workforce earned less than $31,450 and more than $79,250.
Job Projections
A 10 percent increase in recreational therapist jobs is expected between 2020 and 2030, which is in line with overall job growth.
