Recreational Therapist

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual and group therapeutic recreational services to patients as referred to address functional deficits.  


• Screen patients, provides functional assessments, develops goals and modalities for patient treatment plans, and provides direct services for individuals and groups of patients.  


• Communicate with patients based on an understanding of the developmental needs of children, adolescents, adults, and/or geriatric population.  


• Document and reports patient progress to treatment team.  


• Participate in program evaluation.  


• As needed, assist in training, orienting, and evaluating the performance of recreational therapy interns and volunteers.

 Requirements:

• Knowledge, skills, and abilities in current theory and practice of therapeutic recreation in the field of psychiatry - acquired through successful completion of an accredited bachelor of science degree program in therapeutic recreation or through AA degree and three to four year’s of additional therapeutic recreation work experience in addition to experience requirements below.  Knowledge, through formal education or education/experience, must include:  human growth and development, abnormal psychology, group dynamics, psychotropic medications, assessment methodologies, psychiatric diagnosis, and anatomy/physiology.


• Certified Park & Recreation Professional (CPRP) or appropriate certification as determined by Director, Division of Clinical at time of appointment and throughout tenure in position.  Maintains professional knowledge and skills through attendance at professional meetings, workshops, courses, and in-service sessions.


• Three to six months' experience in order to demonstrate therapeutic group skills and learn assessment and documentation requirements.


• Interpersonal and communication skills to relate effectively to psychiatric patients with a wide variety of problem behaviors, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds, demonstrate understanding of the own role and the roles of others in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, and teach patients, interns, and volunteers