Recreational Therapists

What Recreational Therapists Do

Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.

Work Environment

Recreational therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and government parks and recreation departments. Most therapists work full time.

How to Become a Recreational Therapist

Recreational therapists typically need a bachelor’s degree. Many employers require therapists to be certified.

Pay

The median annual wage for recreational therapists was $48,220 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Employment of recreational therapists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 1,700 new jobs over the 10-year period.

 

Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. These therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Duties

Recreational therapists typically do the following:

• Assess patients’ needs using observation, medical records, tests, and discussions with other healthcare professionals, patients’ families, and patients
• Develop treatment plans and programs that meet patients’ needs and interests
• Plan and implement interventions to support the client in meeting his or her goals
• Engage patients in therapeutic activities, such as exercise, games, and community outings
• Help patients learn social skills needed to become or remain independent
• Teach patients about ways to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression
• Document and analyze a patient’s progress
• Evaluate interventions for effectiveness

Recreational therapists help people reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic physical and mental abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively.

They use interventions, such as arts and crafts, dance, or sports, to help their patients. For example, a recreational therapist can help a patient who is paralyzed on one side of his or her body by teaching patients to adapt activities, such as casting a fishing rod or swinging a golf club, by using his or her functional side.

Therapists often treat specific groups of patients, such as children with cancer. Therapists may use activities such as kayaking or a ropes course to teach patients to stay active and to form social relationships.

Recreational therapists help people with disabilities integrate into the community by teaching them how to use community resources and recreational activities. For example, therapists may teach a patient who uses a wheelchair how to use public transportation.

Therapists may also provide interventions for patients who need help developing social and coping skills. For example, a therapist may use a therapy dog to help patients manage their depression or anxiety.

Therapists may work with physicians or surgeons, registered nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, teachers, or occupational therapists. Recreational therapists are different from recreation workers, who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment.

Recreational therapists held about 19,900 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of recreational therapists were as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private	38%
Government	17
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	13
Ambulatory healthcare services	9
Social assistance	7

They use offices for planning or other administrative activities, such as patient assessment, but may travel when working with patients. Therapy may be provided in a clinical setting or out in a community. For example, therapists may take their patients to community recreation centers or parks for sports and other outdoor activities.

Some therapists may spend a lot of time on their feet actively working with patients. They may also need to physically assist patients or lift heavy objects such as wheelchairs.

Work Schedules

Most recreational therapists work full time. Some recreational therapists work evenings and weekends to meet the needs of their patients.

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of recreational therapists.

	Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
	Occupational Therapists	Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.	Master’s degree	$84,950
	Physical Therapists	Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.	Doctoral or professional degree	$89,440
	Rehabilitation Counselors	Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently.	Master’s degree	$35,950
	School and Career Counselors	School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed. Career counselors help people choose a path to employment.	Master’s degree	$57,040
	Speech-Language Pathologists	Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults.	Master’s degree	$79,120
	Special Education Teachers	Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.	Bachelor’s degree	$61,030
	Athletic Trainers	Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.	Bachelor’s degree	$48,440
	Exercise Physiologists	Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help injured or sick patients recover.	Bachelor’s degree	$49,170
	Social Workers	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives.	See How to Become One	$50,470

For more information and materials on careers and academic programs in recreational therapy, visit

American Therapeutic Recreation Association

For more information about certification, visit

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

O*NET

Art Therapists

Music Therapists

Recreational Therapists