What? I get to play all day? Sign me up! Okay, it is not that simple, but yes, Play Therapy is a real protocol for a Recreational Therapist. Some jobs require them to actually just play with clients, using play to assess children\u2019s development, work through fears or anxieties, or communicate feelings too complex for children to articulate. Recreational Therapy may also be known known as Therapeutic Recreation or just straight Recreation Therapy.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an occupation that, according to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), provides treatment services to restore, remediate and rehabilitate. It\u2019s primary purpose is to improve an individuals independence and eliminate or alleviate one;s illness or disability. The Recreational Therapist brings their resources to the client and helps develop a treatment plan using the tools they acquire in the RT training. Training can be found at the Associate, Bachelor, and Graduate school level depending on your career goals.<\/p>\n
Education<\/strong><\/p>\n A Bachelor\u2019s degree is most often required for entry level jobs; however some Associate programs offer such an intense program that you may be able to acquire entry level jobs with the promise of continuing your education within a set amount of time. Nursing homes may be one option for those with an associate\u2019s degree, as the title Activity Director usually only requires a minimum of 1 year of schooling. General coursework for RT\u2019s at the undergraduate level includes:<\/p>\n Certification<\/strong> Most employers will expect an RT to be certified. Certification in RT is done through The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). They will require applicants to show proof of a completed bachelor\u2019s degree, pass a written exam and complete an internship under the supervision of a CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) and in return they will receive that certification themselves.<\/p>\n Work Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n RT\u2019s may work in a variety of settings. Some work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, government jobs. or residential rehabilitation center. They work in an office to do planning, patient assessment, or administrative duties; however, most of time an RT is an applied therapy, meaning they are hands-on working with clients. They must have excellent social and communication skills. They must also have enough physical strength to move heavy objects, such as wheelchairs, to assist their physically disabled patients. What do they do all day? Examples of Intervention Modalities (This is the fun stuff you as a Recreational Therapist get to do!)<\/p>\n\n