Recreational therapy is slowly findings its way into mainstream medicine, and is now used to treat a variety of health conditions, including mental disorders. As described by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, recreation therapy has to do with restoring, remediating and rehabilitating an individual's normal level of functioning and independence in day-to-day activities. The therapy aims to reduce restrictions like limited mobility owing to certain illnesses or health conditions.Usually recreational therapies are offered in a range of mental health treatment settings.
These include residential care, inpatient and outpatient, etc. Certified recreational therapists would need to have a bachelor's degree in the field. They would also need to pass a national certification exam.Recreational therapists make use of several techniques to treat mental illnesses and reduce the symptoms of the same to a great extent. Leisure education is imparted to patients who can then identify the leisure activities they are interested in. Individuals with mental health issues usually lose touch with their social and leisurely lifestyles, thereby becoming isolated. Leisure education would take care of that by helping these individuals improve their social skills and build better relationships with others so that they can enjoy a better lifestyle.Recreation participation is also an important part of recreational therapy treatment. It would involve therapists participating in the leisure activities along with their patients in order help improve the latter's social and leisure skills. Group settings would also involve therapists teaching their patients to understand and cope with behavioral patterns through leisure activities.The versatility of recreational therapy would allow it to address several issues.
A daily routine of leisure based activities via classes, social groups or volunteer work would help individuals with mental health conditions improve their social skills and gain more support from others around them. Physical exercises and activities can also help enhance the mood to a great extent. When combined with leisure activities, exercise can turn out to be the best stress reliever, and can offer individuals a sense of accomplishment in their personal lives.Recreational therapy reinforces several concepts that align with treatments like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (BDT). DBT and Recreational Therapy work together to offer components like mastery, mindfulness and social interaction for patients.A recreational therapist can therefore effectively guide as well as motivate individuals experiencing different mental health difficulties. The high quality mental health programs offered by recreational therapy would help these individuals improve their social skills and lifestyle habits.
