RECREATIONAL THERAPY

(RT)
Sarah Smith
November 5, 2017
Recreational therapy, aka therapeutic recreation, is a
systematic process that utilizes recreation and other
activity-based interventions to address the assessed
needs of individuals with illness and/or disabling
conditions, as a means to psychological and physical
health, recovery, and well-being.
(ATRA, 2015, p. 2)
Populations We Serve

Image retrieved from Flicker

Everyone!
Where Clinical Settings: In clinical
settings, the focus is more on the
We use of recreation to treat
Provide illnesses and disabilities
Nonclinical: In these settings,
Services recreation is used as a source of
enjoyment and enrichment for the
Recreational Therapy is a patient.
process provided in Recreational Therapy (RT) is a
diverse settings. process, not a setting.
Why We Do It
Recreational therapy means a treatment service designed to restore,
remediate, and rehabilitate a persons level of functioning and
independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as to
reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to
participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling
condition.
(ATRA, 2013a, 2015, pg. 2-3)
 What We Do
RT is an impactful way of
using recreation activities
such as sports, art, games,
hiking, etc. to help
individuals who have a
variety of disabilities. We
have fun!

Images on this page were all taken by me

How Do We APIED
Do It?

Assessment
Planning
Intervention or Implementation
The Medical Model Evaluation
Documentation
How Are We Organized?

ATRA (the American Therapeutic Recreation Association) was

founded in 1984 and is the national organization that
oversees the practice of RT in the United States.
ATRA Website
There are also international organizations that help to keep
the practice standardized and unified.

What Is Required?
Education
The U of U has a wonderful
program that will prepare
you to practice in the field
ATRA Certification and
Licensure
Certification
After graduation, you can take
an exam to become a CTRS
(certified therapeutic
recreation specialist). The
National Council for
Therapeutic Recreation
Certification (NCTRC) was
created to determine the
requirements for certification.
Licensure
Certain states (including
Utah) require a license to
practice.
 Check it out!
In the last few years, the
University of Utah has
begun to offer a bachelors
degree in Recreational
Therapy and the program
is amazing! Check out the
programs website for more Recreational Therapy
information! Home Page
Credits
ATRA www.atra-online.com
Marcia Pevey, Elderly Care Photo, September 5, 2013. www.flickr.com
Image of young man playing basketball. Retreived from Getty Images on November 4,
2017. http://www.gettyimages.com/photos/intellectual-
disability?alloweduse=availableforalluses&excludenudity=true&family=creative&license
=rf&phrase=intellectual%20disability&sort=best#license
University of Utah college of health logo http://uofuhealth.utah.edu
U of U RT website http://health.utah.edu/occupational-recreational-
therapies/degrees/recreational-therapy/
NCTRC website https://nctrc.org