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Bailey Brosse
Therapeutic Recreation Programming
03/24/2012
Shepherd University
Therapeutic Recreation Programming
Philosophical Concepts of Therapeutic Recreation
The purpose of recreation is an important part in one’s life and there are many different theories to quality of living. Recreational therapy is based on many philosophies through learned information and experiences. A philosophy is ones values and beliefs through knowledge and understanding (thefreedictionary.com).The American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s mission is to work with its members and to promote recreational therapy(atra-online).Through the benefits of therapeutic recreation, quality of life, and recreation a learned philosophy of
Recreational Therapy can be established.
There are many models and theories one can learn from in Therapeutic Recreation. The benefits of recreational therapy according to ATRA:

Improve mental, physical, social and emotional skills

Provides skills to increase freedom and a good quality of life

Provide people with disabilities ways to avoid changes physically, mentally, and psychosocially to decrease the need of health care services

Lowers the dependence of Health Care systems. (atra-online).
There are many other benefits of recreational therapy depending on the person’s physical and mental condition.
QUALITY OF LIFE- According to The World Health Organization (2001), quality of life is determined differently for everyone based on their values and beliefs; what one wants to accomplish and one’s interactions with themselves, others, and their environment. Another view on quality of life is that it “is a complex notion that encompasses both objective and subjective components” (Lee and McCormick 2004). Everyone has their own philosophy on quality of life and the answers can be found through therapeutic recreation (Stumbo and Peterson p. 3-4).
RECREATION- Jay B. Nash, author of A Philosophy of Recreation in America, discusses his philosophy of recreation. Nash stated that recreation is needed for people between the ages of 17 to 22, for the working class, and for the elderly. His philosophy focused on people staying active and interested in what they enjoy. Nash stated,” recreation is doing a concept, a mastering concept, a creating concept, and hence is a method of achieving integration of ‘mind and body.’”
Recreation is not only a physical process, but a psychological one as well. Any one of any age can be involved in recreation as a way to improve their health (Nash p. 257-260).

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Recreation falls into the categories of:
1.
An activity focused on physical activity. i.e.,sports and can be adapted for those who are disabled
2.
Focuses on the safety, education, and enjoyment
3.
Promoting social interaction between peers.
(NATIONAL ABILITY CENTER)
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION: Therapeutic Recreation revolves around leisure activities for people that are disabled or ill in ways that can benefit their health and safety (Stumbo and
Peterson 11). The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) is an organization that states that, “Recreational therapists are healthcare providers who use recreational therapy interventions for improved functioning of individuals with illness or disabling conditions” (atraonline.com). Their philosophy is to help those with disabilities to enjoy life and improve their health through leisure and recreation. ATRA’s mission statement is “to serve as a member-driven association that collectively supports the recreational therapy profession” (atra-online).
Therapeutic recreation is about working with others to rehabilitate and habilitate their needs to improve their overall well being.
There are many programs in Therapeutic Recreation. The Leisure Ability Model is set up in three different categories. The first category is functional intervention. Functional intervention focuses on the needs of the client and the functional abilities of leisure lifestyle. The IDT and
TRS are in control during functional intervention to assess the client. The second category of the
Leisure Ability Model is leisure education; directed towards the growth of leisure knowledge and abilities. Leisure education is about teaching skills to clients through model teaching. The last component of the Leisure Ability Model is recreation participation which is about the client having fun and becoming independent (Stumbo, Peterson p. 36-62). There are many other models used in TR that specialist use for guidance when working with clients.
The process of therapeutic recreation begins with observing the client to determine their strengths and weaknesses as well as what they enjoy to do; to determine their physical and social abilities as a way to create their program plan. There are many programs and services a TRS can do with a client to improve their mental, social, and physical skills that are very enjoyable for the client. Some examples are shopping, crafts, and sports (Recreational Therapy Process). The main goal of a TRS is to make the client feel comfortable and gain more independence in their lives.
Learned Philosophy,
I believe through the information and knowledge I have learned about therapeutic recreation, my learned philosophy:
Therapeutic Recreation is a way for those who are disabled to work independently or with others in a recreational setting to improve their happiness and well-being.
In conclusion, I believe that any one of any disability should be able to participate in leisure activities that can rehabilitate their needs, but that the client can also feel relaxed and have fun. Recreation and leisure are about enjoying activities with others or individually that

stimulate the mind and body. There should always be activities the client enjoys that will improve their social and cognitive skills. Therapeutic recreation is a great field to work with others to gain more knowledge about the needs of those with illnesses or disabilities.
References
American Therapeutic Recreaion Association
. “Welcome.” 2009. Web. 18 Jan. 2013.
Nash, B. Jay. “A Philosophy of Recreation in America.”
Journal of Educational Sociology 21.5
(1948): 257-263. Web.
National Ability Center . National Ability Center Site, 2009. Web 20 Jan. 2013
Norma J. Strumbo and Carol Peterson, Therapeutic Recreation Program Design, Pearson, -
Benjamin Cummings, 5 th
Edition, 2009.
Other Rehabilitation Issues in Sci: Recreational and Vocational Therapy: The Recreational
Therapy Process.
Rehab Team Site, 2009. Web. 22 Jan. 2012
The Free Dictionary, Philosophy.
Fairfax, Incorporation, 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
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