What Does A Recreation Therapist Do

The job of a recreation therapist involves meeting with patients to evaluate their skills and abilities in order to discover their needs and apply certain procedures that will help improve their condition. Those procedures are actually training sessions during which the recreation therapist addresses the physical, social, and emotional needs of the patient and typically consist of music, sports, relaxation techniques, discussions, crafts, depending on the phase of the rehab process and the patient's state.

Recreation therapists work alongside with physical therapists focusing on developing the patient's flexibility, endurance, education, and leisure skills. The main goal of recreation therapy in general is to restore or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. To be legally allowed to carry out such duties, one must be trained and certified, registered and/or licensed to provide Therapeutic Recreation.

The academic path that leads to the tile 'Recreation Therapist' is long and not an easy one for sure. The first step is to earn a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in therapeutic recreation or a major in recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation. Getting a major in therapeutic recreation means that you have successfully completed the following - a minimum of 18 semesters in therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework; supportive courses consisting of 18 semester hours of support coursework; a minimum of 480-hour, twelve (12) consecutive week field placement experience.

As far as the working conditions are concerned, recreation therapists provide services in special activity rooms, and also plan activities and prepare documentation in offices. There is travelling involved so having a driver's license is an absolute must. Quite often, recreation therapists have to travel from one place to another to attend seminars, give speeches at community integration programs, travel locally to patients to instruct them regarding the accessibility of public transportation and other public areas.

About sixty percent of all recreation therapists are hired by nursing care facilities and hospitals. The remaining forty percent work in state and local government agencies, educational facilities and in community care facilities for the elderly, including assisted-living facilities. Only a very small number of them are self-employed, with their purpose normally being to develop and oversee programs.

There are certain personal skills that one must have to be a good recreation therapist. First of all, he or she must be comfortable with working with people who have disabilities. Therapists must also be patient, tactful and also be optimistic by nature, so that they can translate some positive energy to the patients. Good sense of humor and imagination are are also needed.

A lot of colleges in Australia offer courses on occupational therapy. Open job positions are available all the time, the only requirement to make a career is to have a master's degree. The salary in this field is above the average, especially if you are a pediatric occupational therapist.