Therapeutic Recreation
What is Therapeutic Recreation?
Ever think about the connection between health and recreation? Consider this: children cope better with being hospitalized when given a chance to play. People recovering from physical injuries or adapting to disabilities stay healthier longer when they are physically and socially active. Older adults maintain a sharper mind and a higher level of social involvement when they recreate. Therapeutic Recreation (TR) is an occupation that takes play and recreation very seriously. It is an established health related profession committed to promoting the connection between health and recreation involvement. It has a unique role in the health and human service system to promote play, recreation and leisure as a means to psychological and physical recovery, health and well-being among individuals with disabilities. Recreation therapists use individual and group counseling techniques and play, recreation and other activity-based interventions to maximize an individual’s functioning and promote quality of life.
Is TR a Career for Me?
Therapeutic recreation is an exciting helping profession. It might be a good fit for you if you are interested in a health-related career and you have a strong interest in helping individuals with chronic illnesses and disabling conditions, especially through socially and physically active recreation.
What is the Profession Like?
As a recreation therapist, you will use individual and group counseling techniques and play, recreation, and other activity-based interventions to assist individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The intent of TR services is to maximize the individual’s functioning and promote health and life quality through recreation involvement.
Where would I work?
You may work in:
Mental health agencies * pediatric facilities nursing homes * physical rehabilitation hospitals * adult day programs * substance recovery programs * community recreation centers * outdoor recreation centers * adult retirement communities * skilled nursing facilities * developmental disability centers * home health care * * after school programs * assisted living centers
In these settings, recreation therapists advocate for, plan, organize, and deliver recreation services to maximize a person's independence and social integration. The U.S. Department of Labor projects continued growth in employment for recreation therapists particularly in assisted living, outpatient physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and for services for people with disabilities.
What Are Examples of TR Interventions?
Recreation therapists design interventions that include a wide range of modalities and facilitation techniques including: Adapted Aquatics * Aquatics Therapy * Therapeutic Horseback Riding * Wheelchair Sports * Exercise Programs * Medical Play * Adapted Fitness Activity * Animal Assisted Therapy * Horticulture * Social Skills Training * Music * Adventure Programming * Journaling * Creative Arts * Stress Management * Yoga * T’ai Chi Chuan * Leisure Education *
Will I Have a Professional Title?
Your Temple coursework prepares you to take the national exam to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and to practice as a recreation therapist. Temple’s TR alumni consistently score higher than the national average on this certification exam. Most health care and human services agencies require CTRS certification for employment.
What Will My Salary Be Like?
Entry level salaries in the metropolitan Philadelphia area range from $30,000 (nursing home) to $40,000 (physical rehabilitation hospital). Regionally, recreation therapists in supervisory or administrative positions have salaries ranging from $45,000 to more than $75,000.
What is Temple's TR Curriculum Like?
The undergraduate curriculum at Temple offers diverse educational experiences both in the classroom and through hands-on training that allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world settings. These experiences allow you to learn about:
• the effect of disabling conditions on people across the life span;
• assessment, treatment and documentation procedures;
• adaptive equipment/assistive devices and techniques;
• leading therapeutic groups and providing individualized interventions;
• using recreation activities to recover from illnesses and to promote physically and socially active lifestyles for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
As part of your education, you will complete TR internships in health and human service agencies. Local, national, and international internship opportunities exist. Temple’s TR students have completed internships in many locations, including:
Canada * Australia * California * Florida * New Jersey * Louisiana * Wyoming * Oregon * Washington * Illinois * Oklahoma * Delaware * New York * Texas * Maine * Connecticut * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Virginia
Why Choose Temple?
Temple’s TR department is highly regarded nationally for excellence in teaching and research. Faculty are established leaders in advancing TR as a health and human service discipline and have been recognized with numerous professional awards. Because of Temple’s outstanding reputation for quality, TR students do very well in both internship and employment opportunities. Another good reason to choose Temple is “location, location, location.” The metropolitan Philadelphia area offers students a “living classroom” comprised of many diverse health care and human services agencies. Students affiliate with agencies for course projects, internship placements, and career-related paid employment.
Who Can I Contact?
For more information, curriculum outlines, or an advising appointment, contact:
Nannette Vliet, CTRS, EdM
TR Manager of Student Services
1700 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, 300B
215.204.6733
nvliet@temple.edu
or
College of Health Professions
Department of Therapeutic Recreation
1700 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, Suite 304
215.204.2703
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