Glossary

https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/6474/Austin_Glossary.pdf?sequence=1 

Requirements/competencies of the Field

How to Get to Where Were Going:

Academic Path

The Academic Path eligibility requirements to take the CTRS exam are a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in therapeutic recreation or a major in recreation or leisure with an option in therapeutic recreation. An official transcript must be submitted with application and verify the degree, major and coursework.

A “major in therapeutic recreation” or “major in recreation with an option in therapeutic recreation” refers to the completion of a degree which includes the following:

1. A minimum of 18 semester or 24 quarter hours of therapeutic recreation and general recreation content coursework with no less than a minimum of 15 semester or 20 quarter hours in therapeutic recreation content. A minimum of 5 courses in therapeutic recreation is required and each course must be a minimum of 3 credit hours. Content specific Therapeutic Recreation coursework is required as part of the NCTRC professional eligibility requirements. The specific course content include the following areas: a) Assessment; b) TR Process; and c) Advancement of the Profession. It is recommended that each content area be addressed by a specific TR course but at a minimum, at least 50% of the course be devoted to the designated content material. Multiple courses can be used to meet a TR content area if the total amount of coverage is equal to 50% of a three credit course; AND
2. Supportive courses to include a total of 18 semester hours or 24 quarter hours of support coursework with a minimum of: (i) 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours coursework in the content area of anatomy and physiology; (ii) 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours coursework in the content area of abnormal psychology; and (iii) 3 semester hours or 3 quarter hours coursework in the content area of human growth and development across the lifespan. The remaining semester hours or quarter hours of coursework must be fulfilled in the conte nt areas of social sciences and humanities; AND
3. A minimum 560-hour, fourteen (14) consecutive week field placement experience in therapeutic recreation services that uses the therapeutic recreation process as defined by the current NCTRC Job Analysis Study under the supervision of both academic and agency field placement supervisors who are NCTRC CTRS certified. An acceptable field placement experience is one which is completed after the majority of required therapeutic recreation and general recreation coursework is completed as verified on the official transcript and the completed fieldwork verification form.

Academic Path - Application prior to degree completion

Applicants may apply for professional eligibility review after completion of the following conditions:

1. Enrollment in a degree program pertaining to Therapeutic Recreation/Recreation Therapy as defined by the current NCTRC standards.
2. Completion of a minimum of 90 credit hours toward degree attainment.
3. Completion of all required coursework other than the field placement requirement, as defined by the current NCTRC standards.
4. Submission of an official academic transcript denoting the completion of the above requirements.

Applicants completing this option of the Academic Path application process will be awarded NCTRC certification and the CTRS certificate upon demonstration of the following:

1. Successful completion the NCTRC exam.
2. Completion of a field placement experience in accordance with NCTRC Standards.
3. Academic degree attainment as documented by an official academic transcript.
4. Field Placement Verification Form signed by the field placement supervisor

Please note: Applying through this process will require an additional $25.00 fee. The total application fee is $425.00 when submitting the Professional Eligibility Application.

Related Fields

Similar fields of study

(links to website and definitions) 

• Addiction Counseling
• Art Therapy
• Community Services
• Dance
• Gerontology
• Human Services
• Mental Health Counseling
• Music Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Psychology, General
• Recreation, Fitness, and Leisure Studies
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• Social Work
• Sport and Fitness Management

My Philosophy

Statement of Personal Philosophy:
My philosophy on Therapeutic Recreation is that as recreation therapists we are helping others to help themselves through recreation. We use a holistic approach to strengthen the patients minds, bodies and spirits. Recreation (all forms; painting, climbing, fishing, horseback riding, any positive activity) gives people hope and confidence while learning a new skill and can be processed by the therapist to turn the activity into a abstract learning experience-through relating it to a real life problem/solution the patient may be having in life. Our goal is to improve overall happiness and quality of life and through doing so I believe that we, as therapists, improve our lives too.

• Therapy is a process! Every experience can be used to the clients benefit if processed correctly- teach them what positive lesson they can learn from the experience and how they can apply it to their lives. 

Other Philosophies of Professional Organizations:

• The URTA is established for the development of the profession of Recreation Therapy, to promote standards of practice and strengthen members through: education, advocacy, research, networking, community partnership, involvement in local, state and national issues and the enhancement of personal growth and development.

• At the City of Chandler Therapeutic Recreation Program, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with physical, mental, emotional, or social limitations.We strive to facilitate the development, maintenance and expression of an appropriate leisure lifestyle for individuals with developmental disabilities. Participants typically are part of one or more of the following areas: sheltered workshop, special education classes and one whose mental and/or physical disability limits that person from participating in regular recreation.

Therapeutic Recreation Model:

This model shows the process that a patient would go through while receiving recreational therapy. As you can see this process is flexible and can begin and end in different areas and continue to go back throughout the model (overlap) if needed- just according the the patients specific needs. 
Typically the patient starts in "treatment" where the perceived freedom is usually low and the role of the therapist is high (meaning very involved). You use recreation to teach the patient something that will help them overcome a problem they are having. 
Then you move to "leisure education" where the patient learns how to use recreation in their free time to help benefit their lives. The freedom for the patient is higher in this area and the therapist acts more as just a consoler- helping to process the lessons they are learning through recreation. 
Finally, "recreation participation" is for patients who now just need the therapists as a resource (freedom is high) and can take the skills they have already learned and go put them to good use through participating in positive recreation. 

The model journeys through improving the patient's functional behaviors-learning choice-overcoming barriers-learning new skills/resources-to creating regular recreation participants.