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Career Details : Recreational Therapists

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Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.

Experience

A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Tasks

  • Plans, organizes, and participates in treatment programs and activities to facilitate the physical, mental, or emotional rehabilitation or health of patients.
  • Develops treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment and objectives of therapy.
  • Observes and confers with patient to assess patient's needs, capabilities, and interests and to devise treatment plan.
  • Instructs patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, gardening, music, or art, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
  • Evaluates patient's reactions to treatment experiences to assess progress or regression and effectiveness of treatment plan.
  • Confers with members of treatment team to determine patient's needs, capabilities, and interests, and to determine objectives of therapy.
  • Prepares and submits reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.
  • Counsels and encourages patients to develop leisure activities.
  • Conducts therapy sessions to improve patient's mental and physical well-being.
  • Modifies content of patient's treatment program based on observation and evaluation of progress.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Job-Required Social Interaction
    • Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
    • Objective or Subjective Information
    • Provide a Service to Others
    • Frustrating Circumstances

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