 | Charles L. (Chuck) Killingsworth is a professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg,KS. Where can one obtain the education and training to become a qualified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist? In Kansas, there is only one degree program that prepares students to become a TR Specialist: Pittsburg State University. PSU offers the only program in the State of Kansas, but it is nationally accredited and is one of three emphases in the Recreation Degree program. For more information contact: Dr. Dan Ferguson, Professor, PSU – 620-235-4665. |
Health & Wellness
2012-03-23 09:09:38
Therapeutic recreation - series - part 1
Q: What is therapeutic recreation?
A: The following is a true story and, but one example, of a professional intervention that can have a very positive impact on people with disabilities as well as older citizens living in Assisted Living and Nursing Home environments.
Jane Adams (not her actual name) was a young woman of 19 years when she was in a car accident that left her quadriplegic, unable to move her arms and hands. The accident, caused by another driver who was drunk, severed her spinal cord and caused significant injury to her brain. Prior to her accident, Ms. Adams was involved in all types of sports and on several teams throughout her years in school including being on the women’s volleyball and track teams at the university where she was majoring in Biology. While Ms. Adams had taken art, music, and other expressive activity classes over her years in school, her primary interests were in the sport and physical activity areas.
Upon being discharged from the hospital, she was admitted to a head injury rehabilitation agency where she received treatment and services from a variety of therapies, including the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). The CTRS, after assessing both her interests as well as her level of functioning with respect to recreation and leisure skills, began to introduce her to a variety of activities that she could do using the limited movements that she still possessed. As a result, Ms. Adams became interested in painting and the CTRS assisted her in developing skills wherein she used her mouth to hold a paint brush to paint. As she developed greater skills in painting she became more interested in painting and a few other expressive arts leisure activities. After being discharged and moving into a supported living arrangement in her home community, she continued to improve her painting skills and interests in other activities. She became so proficient in her painting that she began to sell her paintings, has had several showings of them, and earns enough to be fairly independent.
So, What is Therapeutic Recreation (TR)? Sometimes referred to as Recreation Therapy, professionals in this field use recreation/leisure activities in providing treatment, education and recreation services to help people of all ages with illnesses, disabilities and other conditions to improve their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life. The treatment component uses recreation activities to help people improve or maintain physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual functioning – essentially, dealing with the “total person”, not just the issues that they may be having in these areas. The education component, usually referred to as leisure education, assists the individuals to identify appropriate recreation and leisure pursuits, skills, and resources so that they may be able to participate in recreation activities of their choosing with others experiencing similar challenges and/or along with people in their community. The third component, recreation services, focuses upon providing opportunities for enjoying the recreation experience whether one is living in the community or in a care facility.
