What does a therapeutic recreational specialist do?

Therapeutic recreation specialist works with patients who have mental, physical or emotional problems. Through the carefully planned series of exercises and activities, the therapist works on the restoration of independence and self -government to clients. The therapeutic recreation specialist cooperates with clients in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health centers and private practice. Most clients go through the recommendation from a psychiatrist or social worker.

There are four main functions performed by a therapeutic recreational specialist: evaluation, plan development, implementation and documentation. To become a therapeutic recreational specialist, a university degree in recreational therapy or physical therapy is usually required. Most employers require certification of the National Council for therapeutic Recreational Certification (NCTC).

Most therapeutic recreational specialists are part of a team of medical services. The first meeting with the new client VVOLVES review of the patient's history, discussion with a primary care doctor about the problems that need to be addressed and a short meeting with the client. Recreation specialist controls the interests of the patient, hobbies or skills and builds on these items for the development of the therapeutic program. For example, a therapist can teach a stroke victim with partial paralysis. The activity can be completed by the functional side and then extended to the side of the affected paralysis.

At the beginning of the program, the therapist will perform a number of diagnostic tests to measure the level of mobility, strength and interest. This information is used to create a baseline for growth measurement. The measured items depend on the patient and his concern.

For example, a patient fighting severe depression can be very quiet and responds to answers to one words. Patient with engine driving problems can be able to move forward in a straight line. The progress level is based on the individual achievements of each patient after a certainthe time.

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treatment plan is developed to meet the specific levels of skills and goals. To involve the client, introduce diversity and focus on various muscle groups. Alternation between individual and group activities contributes to diversity and AIDS in the recovery process.

The approach used to implement the treatment plan varies depending on the client's problems, the level of family support and interpersonal skills. Many therapists use a very low key approach, inviting to connect to an ongoing activity with a family member or a group of other patients. Some therapists provide supporting staff with a detailed plan, but do not share it with the patient. The level of participation, success and failure of various options and techniques must be documented and discussed with patient treatment. This type of review measures the effectiveness of therapy.