My Philosophy

Therapeutic recreation is a holistic process that uses recreation activities, of all different kinds, to bring about a positive change, either socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically, or spiritually, in an effort to maintain and improve quality of life.

A recreation therapist (RT) cultivates holistic wellness by using a process called APIE; Assess the needs and abilities of the client, make a treatment Plan based on the assessment, Implement the plan, and Evaluate the progress of the client, and re-evaluate treatment needs as necessary. Documentation should also take place during each stage of the APIE process.

The Health Promotion/Health protection Model adequately represents my personal therapeutic recreation philosophy. I believe that optimal health is a result of wellness in mind, body, and spirit. As human beings, we have control over how we live and how we react to life experiences. TR enables individuals to gain/regain that control after it has been lost due to life circumstances

The Health Promotion/Health protection Model moves along a continuum to represent the gradual increase of client choice (represented by the shaded area) with the gradual decrease of RT direction (represented by the lighter area). In this model, TR is used to first take the client into recovery (health protection), and onto a state of optimal health (health promotion).

In the prescriptive phase, recreation activities are driven by the RT to spark the patient's vision of regaining life control. Expressive art therapy, for example, provides an opportunity for the patient to visually portray or release powerful emotions, such as fear or anger, which come with life altering circumstances, such as quadriplegia. In acknowledging their emotions through art, the patient can deal with these emotions in healthy ways. The patient will then begin to move from a passive state of poor health, to a proactive state of existence as he/she feel more capable and self-reliant. This is a stabilizing and introductory phase to recreation activities.

The recreation phase begins to focus on developing the patient's skills according to their personal goals, such as joining a wheelchair basketball team or training for a hand-cycling race. The client will be more engaged, and autonomy will increase as they find success in these activities, regardless of the limitations that come with their new injuries. The RT's roll decreases, and the client starts to be more independent in pursuing recreation participation.

Recreation activity in the leisure phase, enables the client to achieve optimal health through self-directed leisure participation. The client experiences enjoyment, expression, self-discovery, and freedom of choice in continued participation in their desired recreation activities. The RT acts as a support system to the client, rather than a therapist or guide. From this phase, the client now moves through life, with increased control and lasting self-determination.

Resources
Bullock, C., Mahon, M., & Killingsworth, C. (1997). Introduction to recreation services for people with disabilities a person-centered approach (3rd ed.). Champaign, Ill.: Sagamore Pub.


Other TR Philosophies

University of Vermont Medical Center
It is the philosophy of the Therapeutic Recreation program that leisure and recreation are inherent aspects of the human experience. Therapeutic recreation is a process of utilizing recreation activities for intervention in physical, emotional, and/or social behavior to bring about a change which promotes the growth and development of the individual

Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association
Therapeutic Recreation is a profession which recognizes leisure, recreation and play as integral components of quality of life. Service is provided to individuals who have physical, mental, social or emotional limitations which impact their ability to engage in meaningful leisure experiences.

Therapeutic Recreation is directed toward functional interventions, leisure education and participation opportunities. These processes support the goal of assisting the individual to maximize the independence in leisure, optimal health and the highest possible quality of life.