A recreational therapy assistant is a trained professional who helps a recreational therapist provide treatment to patients by supporting or assisting them. In a variety of settings, such as hospitals, assisted living homes, mental institutions, and juvenile detention centers, people in this position work to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of others. They do so by implementing activities aimed at cultivating a person’s interest and abilities in things like board games, sports, music, hobbies, crafts, dance, or other activities based on the individual’s abilities and desires. This type of therapy is used to help people rehabilitate themselves mentally, physically, or both. Assistants typically provide support; depending on the situation, they may assist in the development of plans, the organization of supplies, or the coordination of larger group activities. In most cases, they are unable to provide therapy directly, though experience as an assistant can be beneficial when pursuing a career as a full-fledged therapist in the future.
Getting a Glimpse of Recreational Therapy in General
Most health and wellness experts agree that recreation is essential for a balanced life, and therapeutic recreation capitalizes on this concept by utilizing various forms of leisure activity, hobbies, and sports to aid healing. The field can be broad, and therapists often specialize in specific areas. Some work with traumatized children, while others work with juvenile offenders or adult convicts who have been separated from society for a long time; still others work with the elderly or infirm.
Common Tasks and Responsibilities
An assistant is a person who assists a licensed therapist in the delivery of therapy. He or she isn’t usually able to directly implement the therapy because that usually necessitates a license, but there’s often a lot of planning and background research to be done. For example, the assistant may speak with the patient and his or her family or support network, as well as spend time learning about the patient’s specific interests. The assistant can then assist in the creation of an agenda and suggest potential therapeutic activities. The assistant can also track the progress of the chosen activity and assist the patient and lead therapist in setting realistic and achievable goals.
A lot can also be determined by the environment. An assisted living home’s recreational therapy assistant might assist residents with cooking breakfast, leading a field trip to a nearby shopping center, or providing transportation to religious services. He or she might also organize trivia games or lead general group activities. His or her primary goal is to facilitate activities and events that assist patients and clients in maintaining physical and mental activity and alertness, allowing them to enjoy life more fully.
Requirements for Education
A high school diploma is required to work as a recreational therapy assistant in the United States and Canada. Most states also demand additional education, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, as well as state-mandated professional certification testing. A therapy assistant diploma can be obtained through post-secondary education at public universities in Canada. Similar post-secondary training programs prepare candidates for work in this field in Europe and Asia.
There are a few core skills that are frequently beneficial. Basic knowledge of the human body and its associated mechanics of movement, as well as knowledge of human growth and development, is frequently extremely useful, if not absolutely necessary. Other required abilities include the ability to observe and report patient behavior in relation to prescribed care, as well as the ability to foster positive relationships with patients and their families.
Possibility of Progression
Many recreational therapists start their careers as assistants, and there is often plenty of room for advancement in the field. To become a certified therapeutic provider, most people must complete specific recreational therapy courses and, in some cases, pass licensure exams. This is usually determined by the jurisdiction. Although prior experience as an assistant does not always negate this type of requirement, it does often make the required coursework easier, and it is often much easier to find a job with prior experience as an assistant on a resume.