Occupational Therapist
About The Position
Recreation therapists assist patients/clients in leisure activities to engage and improve their minds, bodies and spirits. Their goal is to help patients/clients adjust to life with a disease, injury or disability. Most jobs in the field require a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation, and job prospects are also helped by acquiring certification. Job Description Recreation therapists employ leisure activities to help patients/clients with disabilities or illnesses. Through the use of games, sports, crafts, art, music, cooking and more they maintain their patients'/client ́s physical and emotional wellbeing. In doing this they also help patients/clients integrate into their community via group activities. Recreation therapists may work in hospitals or other medical institutions, in their community's parks and recreation department, residential or care facilities or in specialized school programs.
Requirements
- Most recreation therapist jobs require a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation.
- These are typically Bachelor of Science programs that teach students to both understand their patients'/client ́s conditions and engage those patients/ clients physically and mentally to keep them refreshed.
- The programs often include a significant amount of field work so students can gain hands-on experience for their future career.
- As an alternative to a therapeutic recreation study, some schools may offer a bachelor's degree in recreation with a therapeutic concentration.
- A few states require recreational therapists to obtain licensure.
- In California, the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) offers a certification process (Recreation Therapist Certified - RTC) which requires the passing of an exam and continuing education.
- This can be attained through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, or NCTRC.
- They offer therapists the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) designation for those who have met the necessary education and work experience requirements and pass an exam given by the NCTRC (www.nctrc.org).
Responsibilities
- To assess patient/client needs, recreational therapists consider medical records, personal observation and talks with the patient and his or her family or care providers.
- They then execute a therapeutic program targeted towards what that patient/client requires most.
- Therapists also document a patient's/client ́s progress during their activities.
- Therapists in care homes may work on building skills to assist client ́s in working towards more independence or maintaining current level of functioning.
