Recreation Therapy at TriStar Centennial Parthenon Pavilion

TriStar Centennial Parthenon Pavilion provides the service of Recreation Therapy as part of patients’ treatment and care.

What is Recreation Therapy?

Recreational Therapy, also known as Therapeutic Recreation, utilizes recreation and leisure-based interventions to address the physical, mental and emotional needs of individuals to promote recovery and overall well-being. Recreation Therapists use a variety of modalities, including art, drama, music, sports, crafts, fitness, pets, horticulture, games and team-building exercises to teach and model healthy coping skills. Using different modalities while incorporating a person’s interests can lead to a better understanding of behaviors and patterns of thought, helping patients stay engaged and motivated in their treatment process. According to research, participation in these activities will help individuals achieve a greater sense of self-efficacy, leading to the setting and achieving of more realistic goals and thus more positive outcomes in therapy.

What Can Recreation Therapy Provide?

Evidence-based research shows that involvement in Recreation Therapy has been shown to reduce a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Social Anxiety
  • Hypertension
  • Physical Pain
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Depression
  • Stress

In addition, participation in Recreation Therapy has been shown to improve the following:

  • Sleep
  • Gross/Fine Motor Skills
  • Cooperation Skills
  • Coping Skills
  • Life Satisfaction
  • Mobility
  • Locomotion
  • Physical Strength
  • Range of Motion
  • Improve Appetite
  • Body Image
  • Immune System Activity
  • Attention Span
  • Mental Alertness
  • Conversation Skills
  • Social Skills

Through participation in Recreation Therapy sessions, patients can increase their awareness of positive leisure and recreation activities that work best for them, promoting motivation in recovery as well as insights to long-lasting healthy coping skills.

Where is Recreation Therapy Offered?

  • The Intensive Outpatient Program of Parthenon Pavilion
  • Medical Psychiatric Unit of Centennial Tower
  • Parthenon Pavilion

Who are Recreation Therapists?

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS), or Recreation Therapists, are bachelors to doctoral level professionals who engage patients in their own leisure interests and activities as a way to increase understanding and development of coping skills. Practitioners in the field take leisure and play seriously. The profession is committed to promoting health and wellness through the use of leisure and recreation by engaging individuals in both challenging and healthy activities. Using group and individual interventions, the overall aim is to improve each participant’s quality of life, regardless of their current diagnosis or situation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment in Recreation Therapy positions is projected to grow faster than the average, with a more focused increase in the care needs of the aging population.”

* To be a Recreation Therapist, one has to have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Recreation Therapy, complete a minimum 14-week/560-hour internship under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), and successfully complete the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Certification Exam.

This information and more about Recreation Therapy can be found on the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification website: https://nctrc.org