What is Recreational Therapy?

Recreational Therapy improves people’s ability to function and be independent by promoting health & wellness as well as reducing & eliminating the challenges, limitations and restrictions that people of all ability levels experience on a daily basis. Recreational Therapy (RT) uses recreational and other activities to help people learn new skills and become more independent and achieve their goals.

RT differs from play because before, during and after the activity, the Recreational Therapist speaks with the person (or group) and asks processing questions (sometimes called “debriefing”) and empowers people to learn while they are involved in the activity.

Recreational Therapists assess the people they serve, develop and plan the RT interventions they will use with that person or group, provide or implement the RT interventions or activities, and then evaluate the outcomes of the RT interventions. Recreational Therapists get to know people (by assessing their strengths, needs, interests and functional skills), help them to set goals and use specific activities to help them achieve their goals and teach them how to be able to continue to reach their goals independently. Many times, people don’t even realize they are learning because they're having fun. At Creekside Recreational Therapy Services (Creekside RTS), all recreation is therapeutic -- you just have to make it that way.

RT staff at Creekside RTS use many interventions including Adventure Based Therapy, Horticulture Therapy, Relaxation Techniques, Communication and Social Skills Training, Anger Management Techniques, Assertiveness Training, Therapeutic Touch, Cooperation and Teamwork, and Values Clarification. There are many more interventions that Recreational Therapists commonly use.

RT services can be provided in clinical (hospital, outpatient clinic, doctor's office), residential (group home, foster home, family home or assisted living facility) and community (school, preschool, family child care home, after school program, camp, recreation and parks program, etc.) settings. Creekside RTS staff are available to come to you to provide quality RT services in a familiar place that you feel comfortable. 

For more information, please go to the Creekside Recreational Therapy Services website.