California CareerZone - Recreational Therapists (29-1125.00)

Recreational Therapists

Job Definition: 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.

Job Zone

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

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

Interests: Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.; Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.; Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Knowledge: Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.; Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.; Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.; Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.; Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.; English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.; Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Skills: Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.; Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.; Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.; Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.; Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.; Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.; Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.; Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.; Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.; Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Tasks: Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.; Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests and objectives of therapy.; Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.; Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.; Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.; Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.; Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.; Obtain information from medical records, medical staff, family members and the patients themselves to assess patients' capabilities, needs and interests.; Plan, organize, direct and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community and prevent further medical problems.; Prepare and submit reports and charts to treatment team to reflect patients' reactions and evidence of progress or regression.

Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $52,090.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $33,080.00 and $75,510.00.

Outlook: During 2006, there were approximately 1,500 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 1,600 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 10 openings due to growth and about 20 replacement openings for approximately 30 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training: Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.; Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy - A program that prepares individuals to plan, organize, and direct recreational activities designed to promote health and well-being for patients who are physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled. Includes instruction in the foundations of therapeutic recreation, leisure education and counseling, program planning, therapeutic recreational modalities, basic anatomy and physiology, psychology, medical terminology, human growth and development, patient observation and evaluation, special needs populations, and professional standards and ethics.

Similar Occupations: Child, Family, and School Social Workers - Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist single parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers on how to deal with problem children.; Occupational Therapists - Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to disabled persons.; Physical Therapists - Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.