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> Resources > Types
of Jobs > Recreation Therapist
RECREATION THERAPIST
Nature of the Work
Recreational therapists, also referred to as therapeutic recreation
specialists, provide treatment services and recreation activities to
individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Using a variety of techniques,
including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement,
drama, music, and community outings, therapists treat and maintain the
physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients. Therapists
help individuals reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic
motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize
effectively so that they can enjoy greater independence, as well as reduce
or eliminate the effects of their illness or disability. In addition,
therapists help integrate people with disabilities into the community
by teaching them how to use community resources and recreational activities.
Recreational therapists should not be confused with recreation workers,
who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment. (Recreation
workers are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)
In acute health care settings, such as hospitals and rehabilitation
centers, recreational therapists treat and rehabilitate individuals with
specific health conditions, usually in conjunction or collaboration with
physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and physical and occupational
therapists. In long-term and residential care facilities, recreational
therapists use leisure activities—especially structured group programs—to
improve and maintain their clients’ general health and well-being.
They also may provide interventions to prevent the client from suffering
further medical problems and complications related to illnesses and disabilities.
Recreational therapists assess clients on the basis of information the
therapists learn from standardized assessments, observations, medical
records, the medical staff, the clients’ families, and the clients
themselves. They then develop and carry out therapeutic interventions
consistent with the clients’ needs and interests. For example,
clients who are isolated from others or who have limited social skills
may be encouraged to play games with others, and right-handed persons
with right-side paralysis may be instructed in how to adapt to using
their unaffected left side to throw a ball or swing a racket. Recreational
therapists may instruct patients in relaxation techniques to reduce stress
and tension, stretching and limbering exercises, proper body mechanics
for participation in recreational activities, pacing and energy conservation
techniques, and individual as well as team activities. In addition, therapists
observe and document a patient’s participation, reactions, and
progress.
Community-based recreational therapists may work in park and recreation
departments, special-education programs for school districts, or programs
for older adults and people with disabilities. Included in the last group
are programs and facilities such as assisted-living, adult day care,
and substance abuse rehabilitation centers. In these programs, therapists
use interventions to develop specific skills, while providing opportunities
for exercise, mental stimulation, creativity, and fun. Although most
therapists are employed in other areas, those who work in schools help
counselors, teachers, and parents address the special needs of students,
including easing disabled students’ transition into adult life.
Working Conditions
Recreational therapists provide services in special activity rooms,
but also plan activities and prepare documentation in offices. When working
with clients during community integration programs, they may travel locally
to instruct the clients regarding the accessibility of public transportation
and other public areas, such as parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, restaurants,
and theaters.
Therapists often lift and carry equipment, as well as lead recreational
activities. Recreational therapists generally work a 40-hour week that
may include some evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
A bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, or in recreation
with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, is the usual requirement
for entry-level positions. Persons may qualify for paraprofessional positions
with an associate degree in therapeutic recreation or a health care related
field. An associate degree in recreational therapy; training in art,
drama, or music therapy; or qualifying work experience may be sufficient
for activity director positions in nursing homes.
Approximately 150 programs prepare students to become recreational therapists.
Most offer bachelor’s degrees, although some also offer associate,
master’s, or doctoral degrees. Programs include courses in assessment,
treatment and program planning, intervention design, and evaluation.
Students also study human anatomy, physiology, abnormal psychology, medical
and psychiatric terminology, characteristics of illnesses and disabilities,
professional ethics, and the use of assistive devices and technology.
Although certification is usually voluntary, most employers prefer to
hire candidates who are certified therapeutic recreation specialists.
The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification is the
certificatory agency. To become certified, specialists must have a bachelor’s
degree, pass a written certification examination, and complete an internship
of at least 480 hours. Additional requirements apply in order to maintain
certification and to recertify. Some States require licensure or certification
to practice recreational therapy.
Recreational therapists should be comfortable working with persons who
are ill or who have disabilities. Therapists must be patient, tactful,
and persuasive when working with people who have a variety of special
needs. Ingenuity, a sense of humor, and imagination are needed to adapt
activities to individual needs, and good physical coordination is necessary
to demonstrate or participate in recreational activities.
Therapists may advance to supervisory or administrative positions. Some
teach, conduct research, or consult for health or social services agencies.
Employment
Recreational therapists held about 24,000 jobs in 2004. About 6 out
of 10 were in nursing care facilities and hospitals. Others worked in
State and local government agencies and in community care facilities
for the elderly, including assisted-living facilities. The rest worked
primarily in residential mental retardation, mental health, and substance
abuse facilities; individual and family services; Federal Government
agencies; educational services; and outpatient care centers. Only a small
number of therapists were self-employed, generally contracting with long-term
care facilities or community agencies to develop and oversee programs.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of recreational therapists is expected to grow more
slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. In
nursing care facilities—the largest industry employing recreational
therapists—employment will grow slightly faster than the occupation
as a whole as the number of older adults continues to grow. Employment
is expected to decline, however, in hospitals as services shift to outpatient
settings and employers emphasize cost containment. Fast employment growth
is expected in the residential and outpatient settings that serve disabled
persons, the elderly, or those diagnosed with mental retardation, mental
illness, or substance abuse problems. Among these settings are community
care facilities for the elderly (including assisted-living facilities);
residential mental retardation, mental health, and substance abuse facilities;
and facilities that provide individual and family services (such as day
care centers for disabled persons and the elderly). Opportunities should
be best for persons with a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation
or in recreation with an option in therapeutic recreation. Opportunities
also should be good for therapists who hold specialized certifications,
for example, in, aquatic therapy, meditation, or crisis intervention.
Health care facilities will support a growing number of jobs in adult
day care and outpatient programs offering short-term mental health and
alcohol or drug abuse services. Rehabilitation, home health care, and
transitional programs will provide additional jobs.
The rapidly growing number of older adults is expected to spur job growth
for recreational therapy professionals and paraprofessionals in assisted-living
facilities, adult day care programs, and other social assistance agencies.
Continued growth also is expected in community residential care facilities,
as well as in day care programs for individuals with disabilities.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of recreational therapists were $32,900 in May
2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,520 and $42,130. The lowest
10 percent earned less than $20,130, and the highest 10 percent earned
more than $51,800. In May 2004, median annual earnings for recreational
therapists were $28,130 in nursing care facilities.
SOURCE
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos082.htm
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