Ashanti Jones
East Carolina University
ENGL 2201
Professor Glover
12/9/2025
Recreational therapy is turning out to be a good alternative to the treatment of PTSD in
military veterans. More often than not, veterans may develop feelings of isolation, emotional
numbness, and an inability to adjust to civilians. This makes their avoidance of traditional
treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or medication, common. Sometimes this is
related to stigma; many times, it is due to uncomfortableness in a clinical setting that does not
relate to the military experience of the individual. Since PTSD affects an individual's personal
well-being and their interactions with society, treatments must be social and trust-promoting.
Research establishes the fact that recreational therapy not only reduces symptoms but also
improves social bonding because of shared activities, rebuilding identity, peer support, and
integration into actual environments.
For many veterans, though, the most overwhelming period of adjustment after service has
little to do with the presence of traumatic memories and more to do with the attainment of a
sense of belonging. Military culture fosters a strong sense of community; soldiers in close-knit
units rely on each other for almost everything. Once these individuals transition into civilian life,
much of the automatic trust and mission that took place dissipates. Taking away that sense of
military identity, along with needing to be hypervigilant or avoiding emotions, can lead to a deep
retreat into oneself. Recreational therapy places a veteran in goal-oriented settings where positive
connections can form naturally. One study by Wheeler et al. (2020) illustrated that group-based
outdoor activities, such as fishing and equine therapy, significantly improved symptoms of PTSD
and social functioning; the benefits most came from the time spent together rather than the
physical activity. In terms of establishing social connections, rebuilding identity is the most
important factor in recreational therapy. Many veterans struggle to maintain a cohesive sense of
self-service, as mental health issues frequently interfere with family and community roles.
Female veterans face a particular struggle with this issue as they often feel marginalized within
veterans' groups. Fleming (2020) reported that nature-based programs gave women veterans
pride in their service, raised confidence, and granted them a sense of belonging. When veterans
are made to feel valued rather than defined by symptoms, they are more receptive to authentic
connection. Recreational therapy helps veterans master leadership, teamwork, and problemsolving skills, which may translate to improved interactions outside of the program.
Stigma is a significant factor in why recreational therapy can be successful at promoting a sense
of belonging. Many veterans feel that seeking mental health assistance is a weakness and runs
counter to military values. Hawkins et al. (2016) discussed how nature-based recreational
therapy more closely aligns with military ideals based on strength, where healing is
conceptualized as a skill-building process rather than the treatment of pathology. Not requiring
veterans to begin by talking about their trauma builds trust through teamwork and challenge
alongside other veterans. Where stigma subsides, participation typically increases, and
opportunities for connection open. You will find veterans who would avoid traditional
counseling eager to participate in activities such as fly-fishing, hiking, or therapeutic kayaking;
such environments feel more inviting.
The power of recreational therapy extends beyond the activities themselves. As Bennett et al.
(2022) show, community-based programs in recreational therapy have improved veterans' quality
of life, levels of engagement, and overall wellness. Part of that improvement comes from the
time veterans spend in community spaces like parks and gyms instead of hospitals. Regular
involvement helps place them into routines of civilian life and rebuilding social networks, which
combats the avoidance behaviors often linked with PTSD.
Physical activity tends to open up avenues to emotional openness and socialization. McDonagh
(2021) showed that higher recreational physical activity levels were related to lower depression
rates and better overall health among veterans. Success in attaining physical objectives can often
translate into greater psychological preparedness. For example, a veteran who masters archery or
hikes through challenging terrain might experience confidence that translates to increased
positivity in their social relationships. The development of self-efficacy encourages trust not only
in themselves but also in others. Some even believe that recreational therapy does improve
moods and can help reduce isolation, but the social benefits cannot be considered the same in all
cases. The point is quite fair, considering that symptoms such as hyper-vigilance may complicate
participation in groups. Still, structured group interactions, peer mentorship, and guided activities
to build trust and belonging are included in recreational therapy. Researchers point out,
"Recreational therapy programs are designed to target healing from a social perspective rather
than being simply a distraction from their experiences" (Hawkins et al., 2016). As with any other
form of therapy, these take time and repetition but hold very real promise for meaningful social
connections.
Ultimately, recreational therapy speaks to veterans because it doesn’t ask for emotional
vulnerability right off the bat. It offers a mission, a team, and a shared challenge. Trust and
openness come through action, not by pressure. Recreational therapy improves social connection
for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder by creating environments grounded in
community, confidence, capability, and shared identity. The more involved veterans get through
structured group activities, especially, for example, in outdoor or community settings, the more
likely they are to feel supported and connected. Traditional therapies tend to demand that
veterans speak up before they might feel safe. Recreational therapy builds a sense of safety by
which the veterans can share later. Healing from trauma requires more than the management of
symptoms; it’s about reclaiming a place in society. Among the greatest contributions recreational
therapy can make is helping veterans reintegrate into life as capable, valued members of their
communities.
References
Bennett, J. L., Craig, P., Aytur, S., Thompson, T., Roscoe, H., & Gravink, J. (2022).
Community-based recreational therapy for veterans with behavioral health disorders: Impacts on
quality of life, participation, and happiness. Community Mental Health Journal, 58(8), 1477–
1486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-00962-6
Fleming, L. (2020). Outdoor recreation and female veteran identity: Exploring identity change
after Higher Ground participation (master's thesis, Clemson University).
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu
Hawkins, B. L., Townsend, J., & Garst, B. (2016). Nature-based recreational therapy for military
service members: A strengths approach. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 50(1), 55–74.
McDonagh, K. F. (2021). The relationship between participation in recreational therapy
physical activity and symptoms of mental health issues in veterans (Doctoral dissertation,
University of Massachusetts Boston). ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
McDonagh, K., Bennett, J., & Geden, S. (2024). Physical activity participation, quality of life,
and behavioral health disorders in veterans with PTSD. Therapeutic Recreation Journal.
(Advance online publication).
Wheeler, M., Cooper, N., Andrews, L., Hacker Hughes, J., Juanchich, M., & Rakow, T. (2020).
Outdoor recreational activity experiences improve psychological wellbeing of military veterans
with PTSD. PLOS ONE, 15(11), e0237032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237032
AI Acknowledgement Statement I used ChatGPT only to help organize the research notes I took
while preparing this paper. I entered summaries and key points from the articles I had already
read. I then reviewed and revised everything myself, and all analysis, argument development,
and writing came from my own work. OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/ Intext citation: (OpenAI, 2025)