Unlike many of their classmates, those being graduated with college degrees inrecreation therapy are able to find positions in their chosen profession. Recreationtherapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is projected to be one of the thirty fastestgrowing professions during the decade of the 1990s.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the recreation therapy labor force willgrow from 26,000 today to 35,500 by the year 2000. This is a projected growth rate of37%.

As in other health-related professions, the demand for recreation therapists is due inlarge measure to the growing number of Americans living to an advanced age,technological advances in health care that enable individuals to survive severe illness,disorders and traumas, and greater societal concern for the mentally ill and personsaddicted to drugs or alcohol. Another factor in the growth of recreation therapy isincreased professionalization, reflected by a new national certification programadministered by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.

Diane Williamson, a recent graduate in recreation therapy from Indiana University,received job offers from three different agencies upon graduation. Within the first sixmonths she was in the field, four other agencies contacted her about positions withthem. "I am happy in my present position," said Ms. Williamson, "but it made me feelgood to know that others were interested in me and that opportunities were available."

Ms. Williamson works on a mental health unit within a general hospital where she usesactivities as a form of goal-directed treatment for psychiatric patients. Activities herclients take part in include table games, arts and crafts, sports, expressive arts, outdoorrecreation, stress reduction exercises and field trips into the community.

In addition to being goal-directed, therapeutic activities are carefully selected by clientswith the guidance of the recreation therapist in order to provide meaningfulopportunities that may produce mastery experiences and feelings of pleasure andsatisfaction. Patient goals gained through active participation in these activities includeincreasing fitness, managing stress, developing social and leisure skills, buildingself-esteem, and learning how to express feelings appropriately.

The recreation therapist begins his or her work with every client by conducting anassessment of the client's health status, needs and strengths. Next, a plan of action isdeveloped to meet goals and objectives that flow out of the initial assessment. Theplanned intervention is then implemented, during which time the recreation therapistcarefully observes the client's participation. These observations serve as a basis forevaluation of client progress that is documented in the client's record. Modifications arelikely to be made in the client's program as changes are noted in the client'sperformance.

Each recreation therapist's job differs according to the setting in which he or she isemployed and the type of patients or clients within the setting. Recreation therapistswork in a variety of clinical sites including general hospitals, children's hospitals,psychiatric hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, drug rehabilitation centers, centersfor persons with developmental disabilities, nursing homes and community mentalhealth centers. Within such clinical settings, recreation therapists usually work inconcert with other health care professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and other helpingprofessionals, as members of interdisciplinary teams. Community-based recreationtherapists are employed in such settings as community park and recreationdepartments, public school programs, group homes for persons who aredevelopmentally disabled or mentally ill and adult day care programs for persons whoare elderly or mentally ill.

Job prospects are expected to remain good within traditional clinical settings, such ashospitals and rehabilitation centers. The greatest growth, during the present decade, isexpected in community-based programs as community residential facilities and daycare programs are expanded for persons with developmental disabilities as well as forthose with problems in mental health.

While hiring requirements vary, entry-level positions commonly call for abaccalaureate-prepared staff with degrees in recreation therapy, or therapeuticrecreation. Many nursing homes, however, still employ non-degreed staff or staff withassociate degrees as activity directors. Master's-prepared recreation therapists serve asmaster clinicians or occupy supervisory or management positions. Salary ranges varyaccording to degree and experience. Starting salaries for baccalaureate-preparedrecreation therapists generally are in the range of $18,000 to $25,000. Those withmaster's degrees command a few thousand dollars more than those with bachelor'sdegrees and those with associate degrees tend to make a few thousand dollars less. In1988, the median salary for experienced therapists was about $27,600.

Two national organizations exist for recreation therapy or therapeutic recreation. Theyare the American Therapeutic Recreation Society, P.O. Box 15215, Hattiesburg, MS39404-5215, and the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, 2775 South Quincy Street,Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22206-2204.

For further information, contact David Austin, Department of Recreation and Park Administration, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. Phone: (812) 855-308; Fax: (812) 855-6778.

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