From:
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Recreational Therapists
Significant Points
- Overall employment of recreational therapists is expected
to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations, but
employment of therapists who work in community care facilities
for the elderly and in residential mental retardation, mental
health, and substance abuse facilities should grow faster than
the average.
- Opportunities should be best for persons
with a bachelor’s
degree in therapeutic recreation, or in recreation with
a concentration in therapeutic recreation.
- Recreational therapists should be comfortable working with
persons who are ill or who have disabilities.
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.
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.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational
Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Recreational Therapists, on
the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos082.htm. |
The two major therapeutic recreation
associations are