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What is recreational therapy? -

Recreational therapy refers to therapy that engages a person’s full mind and body in the pursuit of fostering proper development and socialization for those with developmental, cognitive, or physical issues and disabilities.

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Florence Nightingale -

Considered the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was a 19th-century British healthcare professional who championed the fight for more humane treatment of both patients and nurses in hospitals around the world.

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The Lady with the Lamp -

Frequently portrayed in contemporary art as the "Lady with the Lamp," an omnipresent nurse closely watching over her patients at all hours of the night, Nightingale is remembered today for drastically decreasing the mortality rate in European hospitals and for establishing the world's first secular nursing school at Saint John's Hospital in London.

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The birth of recreational therapy -

In the 1850s, Nightingale was a strong proponent of the benefits of recreation in the treatment of patients. Not only did Nightingale recognize the importance of recreation for an individual's physical health, but she also acknowledged that physical, social, and artistic recreation was hugely beneficial to patients' well-being and worldview.

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What is recreational therapy used for? -

Today, recreational therapy is a beneficial aspect of developmental treatment for all sorts of hardships. Development can be stunted or disturbed for any number of reasons, from cognitive disabilities, to troubles with addiction, to old age.

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Who practices recreational therapy? -

Recreational therapists can be found all around the world. Some areas may require therapists to hold the appropriate licenses, while many other areas allow therapists to practice therapeutic recreation as a holistic and unlicensed profession.

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Who can it help? -

Anyone struggling with development in any area of their life, be that children, seniors, or anyone in between, can benefit from therapeutic recreation.

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Recreational therapy for children -

Development is closely monitored in children, as they learn for the first time how to interact with and react to the big new world they find themselves in. Children falling behind in cognitive development, for example, can benefit from recreational therapy that emphasizes spatial awareness and critical thinking.

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Recreational therapy for seniors -

On the other end of life's journey, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain full control over the development skills learned over the decades. Senior citizens can benefit from social, cognitive, and physical recreational therapy that keeps their skills sharp throughout their old age, allowing them to maintain independent and fulfilling lifestyles.

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The benefits of recreational therapy in recovery -

People in the throes of life can also be in need of recreational therapy. Situations that can stunt social and emotional development, such as long periods of serious drug dependency, can be fought with therapeutic recreation that helps individuals learn or relearn the skills needed to build long and healthy lives.

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Inclusive therapy for everybody -

The holistic and dynamic nature of recreational therapy means that it can be tailored to anyone's specific needs. Regardless of life experience, age, or developmental disabilities, there is a therapeutic recreation regiment out there for everyone.

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Meticulously planned activities -

Recreational therapy is by no means a free-for-all of social and recreational games and activities. Therapists work very closely with their patients and clients to tailor a collection of thoughtful therapies that will effectively and precisely address the patients' needs.

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The six domains -

The list of activities that are used in recreational therapy is long and vast. To help organize activities, most are categorized under six labels, or domains.

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Physical -

The first domain is the physical domain. This is not to be confused with physical therapy, although there can at times be small overlaps. The physical domain includes anything that stimulates an individual's physical body, from physical relaxation, to adaptive sports, to exerting teambuilding exercises.

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Adaptive sports therapy -

Adaptive sports therapy can help individuals become more connected with their bodies. Physical activity shows its benefits in almost every facet of life. Sports and exercise not only promote a healthy body, but can also help people develop social and teamwork skills, and increase confidence.

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Yoga -

Yoga can be used in therapeutic recreation to help build a stronger connection between an individual's mind and body, which can also help relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders and other emotional irregularities.

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Spiritual -

The spiritual domain of recreational therapy encompasses activities and thought processes that help individuals become more at peace with themselves and their environment.

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Not just religion -

The term "spiritual" may lead many to equate the domain with religion. For many people, spiritual development can certainly mean developing a relationship with a higher power, but by no means is it necessarily related to any specific religion or belief system.

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Nature therapy -

Spiritual development can manifest itself in any number of secular practices, including nature therapy. Communing with nature is extremely helpful in treating depression, anxiety, or any number of discomforts and confusions that are the result of loud, busy, or artificial environments.

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Artistic -

The artistic domain of recreational therapy can be beneficial to anyone who finds satisfaction in creation. Art of any medium promotes cognitive function, confidence, and healthy emotional expression.

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Music therapy -

Music therapy is a multifaceted practice that engages numerous parts of the mind and body. Stimulating sounds, focusing on rhythms and tempos, and the act of creating something in a group can be the key to developing healthy creativity and keeping the mind sharp and connected to the body.

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Art therapy -

For people of all ages that lack a proper outlet for their emotions, art therapy can be the key to expressing any and all parts of the human experience that can't be properly expressed with words. Activities such as painting and drawing can help individuals organize and process the thoughts and feelings that may otherwise be impenetrable.

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Intellectual -

The fourth domain of recreational therapy is the intellectual domain. This category includes activities that stimulate an individual's brain through problem solving, critical consideration, and intellectual understanding.

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Cognitive exercise -

Adaptive cognitive exercises can help individuals develop a better grasp of numbers, physical shapes, and abstract ideas that help make the world make more sense. Intellectual exercises can be essential in clearing the mist around how the world works and why it's organized the way it is.

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Critical thinking -

Critical thinking exercises help keep the mind sharp and can be immensely helpful for individuals in old age. Crosswords, puzzles, and even abstract discussions can help anyone maintain an active and able mind.

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Sensory -

Sensory therapy can be used to help stimulate individuals who find it difficult to keep their feet on the ground, or promote a healthy and stable connection to the outside world.

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Engaging the senses -

It's no secret that it's easier to engage with things that stimulate a person's entire brain than simple words on a page or words from a person's mouth. For children especially, exposure to exciting and stimulating environments that smell, look, feel, and sound new or interesting can help develop a relationship with the world that is understandable, exciting, and fulfilling.

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Social -

The sixth and final domain of recreational therapy is the social domain. People of all ages with all sorts of histories in all kinds of situations can have trouble socializing in a healthy or effective manner. Teambuilding activities, group therapy, and exposure to casual, social situations can be essential in helping an individual learn how to properly communicate, make friends, and develop healthy interpersonal relationships.

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Finding a recreational therapist -

Recreational therapy might be, for some, an unfamiliar field. Certainly, it's much less talked about than physical therapy or talk therapy. It may seem like a daunting task to successfully seek out and find a recreational therapist, but practicing professionals can be found in every corner of the world. Talking to any healthcare professional about recreational therapy will certainly open the necessary doors for you and your loved ones.

See also: Understanding the many different forms of therapy

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