Recreational Therapy

What Is Recreational Therapy?

This field uses activities and recreation to help people overcome illness and disability so that they can live a happier and more productive life.  Recreational Therapy helps people to heal physically, psychologically, and socially using a variety of approaches such as sports and games, arts and crafts, drama and music, singing and dancing, aquatics, going on outings with other people—all kinds of activities. It sounds like fun, doesn’t it?!  Helping people in need is always rewarding.  The therapists most often work in hospitals and residential facilities like nursing homes, but they may also work for schools or recreation departments.

You’ll likely need a Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy to work in this field, and a Master’s degree to go into management.  If you’re thinking about this field for your career, you’ll need to be sure you’re a patient person who has empathy for people who are disabled or sick and unable to live life the way they want to.  That sensitivity is going to be critical to your happiness with your work and your patients’ happiness and improvement.  Some job titles you’ll see are Recreational Therapist, Mental Health-Recreation Therapist, Child Life Specialist – Recreation Therapy, Recreational Therapist – Expressive Therapy, Recreational Art Therapist, Autism Recreational Therapist, and Recreation Therapy Supervisor.