Recreation Therapy Services is vital in the holistic approach to treatment of patients at the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center. A recreational therapist uses a wide range of treatment techniques to improve the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functions of the patients.
These interventions include the patient, the family, and significant others to improve overall health and to assist in positive adjustments to disabling conditions as a part of the holistic approach. The goal of recreational therapy is to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate in order to improve independence as well as to reduce or eliminate the effects of illness and/or disability.
The unique feature of recreational therapy that makes it different from other disciplines is the use of recreational modalities designed in intervention strategies. Recreation Therapy is a member of the rehabilitation team intervening with physician orders. The treatment goals of recreation therapy will focus on the goals of the rehabilitation team using its unique strategies to bring about the desired physical, behavioral, and cognitive improvements.
Incorporating the patient’s interests with the family unit within the community in which they live makes the therapy process relevant and meaningful. The recreational therapist targets independence and successful involvement in life as success to healthy living.
Program Components and Intervention Techniques
- Task Analysis Strategies for physical functioning
- Stress Management and Relaxation
- Reminiscence Therapy
- Cognitive Therapy for Memory and Problem Solving
- Community Assessment and Integration Training
- Aquatics Therapy
- Animal Facilitated Therapy
- Group Initiatives
- Social Skill Training
- Values Clarification
- Leisure Education for skill development, wellness, and safety
- Creative Therapy
- Sensory Stimulation /Snoezelen Therapy
- Patricia Neal Innovative Recreation Cooperative for Community Adjustment
A qualified recreational therapist is one who is nationally credentialed as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), usually referred to as a Recreational Therapist. Qualified professionals are certified through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). NCTRC requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, a formal internship, and passing of a national certification examination. CTRS must maintain their credential annually with a re-credentialing process review every five years through NCTRC. All of the Recreation Therapy staff at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center are NCTRC credentialed.