RECREATIONAL

THERAPY
Mr. Kishore singh
rathore
Recreational Therapy
Recreation is a form of activity therapy used in most
psychiatric settings. It is a planned therapeutic activity that
enables people with limitations to engage in recreational
experiences.
Aims
 To encourage social interaction.
 To decrease withdrawal tendencies.
 To provide outlet for feelings.
To promote socially acceptable behavior.
 To develop skills, talents and abilities.

 To increase physical confidence and a feeling

of self- worth.
Points to be Kept in Mind
 Provide a non-threatening and non-demanding
environment.
 Provide activities that are relaxing and without
rigid guidelines and time-frames.
 Provide activities that are enjoyable and self-
satisfying.
Types of Recreational Activities

Motor forms: These can be further divided

into fundamental and accessory.
fundamental forms are such games as hockey and
football.
 while the accessory forms are
exemplified by play activity and
dancing.
Sensory forms: These can be either visual, e.g.
looking at motion pictures, play, etc., or auditory
such as listening to a concert.
Intellectual forms: These include reading,
debating and so on.
Suggested Recreational Activities for
Psychiatric Disorders

Anxiety disorders
Aerobic activities like walking, jogging, etc.
Depressive disorder
Non-competitive sports, which provide
outlet for anger, like jogging, walking, running,
etc.
Manic disorder
One-to-one basis individual games like
badminton, ball.
Schizophrenia (paranoid)
Concentrative activities like chess, puzzles.
Schizophrenia (catatonic)
Social activities to give client contact with reality,
like dancing, athletics.
Dementia
Concrete, repetitious crafts and projects
that breed familiarization and comfort.
Childhood and adolescent disorders
It is better to work with the child on a one-to-one
basis and give him a feeling of importance. Some
activities include playing, story-telling, and
painting.
Adolescents fare better in groups; provide
gross motor activities like sports and games to
use up excess energy.
Mental retardation: Activities should be
according to the client's level of functioning
such as walking, dancing, swimming, ball
playing, etc.
Role of nurse in recreational therapy
Encourage the patient to communicate and express
his feelings.
She must provide a nonthreatening and non-
demanding environment.
She must providing activities that are relaxing and
without rigid guidelines.
Nurse must help the patient to develop skills,
talents abilities.
She must frequently observe clients behavior
throughout the abilities.
She must provide activities that are enjoyable and
self-satisfying.
Recreation therapists work with clients to develop a
tailored approach to help them increase their
mental, physical and emotional well-being through
interventions that may include physical activity.
Recreation therapy is one of the essential
treatment areas within the health care team.
Bibliography

 R Sreevani, A guide mental health nursing, 4th edition, Jaypee

publication.
 Townsend Mary C, (2007) psychiatry mental health nursing, fifth
edition, Jaypee publication.
 Manisha Gupta, A textbook of therapeutic modalities in
Psychiatric Nursing, Jaypee publications.
 https://www.slideshare.net>nicoleearl>recreationaltherapist.