Becoming a Recreational Therapist
For some people, doing simple tasks may seem impossible because of a mental or physical disability that restricts some seemingly simple functions. These people can seek help from a recreational therapist to help achieve personal goals that may seem unlikely for them to accomplish. As part of my senior project, I had to research a career that I’m interested in and what it takes to obtain that career. I chose to research recreational therapy, and I looked at multiple websites to see if this career is a good choice for me. I had never heard of it before and didn't know that it was a career, but as I researched more and more, I realized that it could be a great fit for me. I also looked up some colleges in Pennsylvania to see what school I should go to to receive a good education that will prepare me for starting my life as a recreational therapist. I even emailed a professor, who used to be a therapist herself, of recreational therapy at the college I am interested in and conducted an interview. I learned a lot about this interesting career along this journey and I’m
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Even though the salary is livable and path of college is straightforward, this career is worthwhile simply because I would be helping people overcome obstacles and improve their quality of life. I aspire to make a difference in someone’s life, and recreational therapy allows me to do that every day for a living. This research project has opened my eyes and lead me to a career that I didn’t know about before, but now seems like a perfect fit for me. It is reassuring to know that I can make a good choice on such a big decision making time of my life. Throughout the rest of my high school journey and as I transition into college, I hope that I continue to take the steps needed pursue a career as Recreational
Working in an interdisciplinary team, gives the team an ability to address the patients’ needs from different perspectives and different strategies. The interdisciplinary team works together to provide the individual with the most beneficial possible outcome. Interdisciplinary teams can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social workers, and other health care providers (Mellor, Cottrell, & Moran, 2013). The challenge for being a recreational therapist among a health care field is that many health care providers do not see recreational therapy as a serious, legitimate, and beneficial program for their health service patients as well as for their other health care providers. This idea creates a challenge for not
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant has been an ambition of mine for several years now. After researching, job shadowing, and talking to professionals, I have decided to make Occupation Therapy my career. My passion is to help patients by participating and assisting them in their recovery from injuries and disabilities. My compassionate and caring attitude will be vital assets in pursuing this career. After training in Occupational Therapy, it is motivating for me to know that I will be a part of assisting patients to gain back their independence. Helping others is something that I am passionate about in my career and in my spare time. I have been on several mission trips to Haiti and other places which I have provided care for others in a medical setting.
Occupational therapy was a career choice I fell into. When I first arrived to Keiser University back in 2009 I was going to apply for the physical therapy assistant program. Physical and speech therapy where the only therapeutic disciplines I had any knowledge of at that time. When I met with the admissions counselor she informed me the waiting list for the PTA program was about two years, I was floored I wasn’t going to wait that long I needed to start school ASAP. The counselor then asked me “ what is your goal?” and my response was “to work with children in the medical field without being too medically involved”. She then handed me an occupational therapy pamphlet and I just signed the paper work to start that month. I honestly
When I was 15, my grandmother suffered from a severe stroke and was advised to go to a rehabilitation center. At that time I had not ever heard of the profession called occupational therapy. Upon visiting my grandmother, I had the opportunity to witness several health care professionals working together to help rehabilitate her. I have always wanted to engage in a career in which I could attribute to helping people, and at first I thought physical therapy would best compliment my natural abilities but then I encountered the occupational therapist. So as I watched her work with my grandmother diligently I realized that I had found exactly what I was looking for.
Entering my first year of college I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do. I still didn’t choose a major let alone a career. I was stuck in between wanting to make enough money that my family would be taken care of financially and choosing a career that I wouldn’t mind going in to work every day. The one thing that I was certain of was that I wanted to be able to help people in whatever I chose to do. After careful consideration and exploring the options available to me, I have come to the conclusion that I want to have a career in physical therapy. Physical therapy is the treatment of disease, injury or deformity through physical methods rather than through drugs or surgery.
While growing up I had many ideas of what professional career I wanted to obtain, although until recent years, occupational therapy was not even a thought. It was not until my grandmother had a stroke that I even knew what occupational therapy was or entailed. I watched my grandmother participate in therapy leading her to learn how to tie her shoes again, and the things I thought were so simple as to dress herself again. It was during that time as high school graduation was approaching that I realized I wanted to be apart of that. I wanted to have a role helping others learn and exceed as she did because I seen how much joy it brought her. This experience opened my eye to the things we so often take for granted, that some people lose the ability of doing or lack the ability of doing. Throughout her journey of facing and overcoming these problems, it led me to a yearning to pursue this
Psychodynamic therapy, focuses on unconscious mind and how past experiences, inner thoughts, fears, and emotions The main goal of psychodynamic therapy is for clients to be self-aware of the past and how it effects who they are in the present. This type of therapy focuses on the underlying problems and emotions that influenced the client’s behavior. (Psych Central, 2016)
I have a B.A. in Speech and Language Pathology and I am three months away from graduating from Psychiatric Technician program. By the end of the program, I will have 600+ hours in the classroom and 900+ hours of clinical experience in the field of psychology. I have worked with children who are mild to profoundly developmentally delayed (in special ed and vocational education programs), with adults preforming basic nursing procedures as well as developing therapeutic relationships and interactions with patients in the hospital setting, in sheltered workshops and in the community helping clients with normalization in their communities, and with forensic and non-forensic patients and individuals in the developmental hospital setting.
My first semester in college, I took a Psychology 101 course and immediately knew I wanted to work in this field. I was drawn into different theories and how individual’s minds work. I always believed I was born to help others and guide them to success in life. I desire to help others because of my own personal struggles with mental illness. My unique perspective on mental illness allows me to empathize on a different level with individuals. I desire to give back and support to the community the way it was there for me during my dark times. I was lucky to have known from the start that psychology was my interest. I am excited to continue my education in the counseling field and become a future Clinical Mental Health Counselor.
In conclusion, throughout this therapy session, Olivia, and I explored a deeper understanding of her values and interest in order to help her make a career decision. We incorporated theories and homework that fit into her worldview. In addition, from these therapy sessions, I was able to make a recommendation of a career based on everything she was searching for in a career. If she chooses to pursue my recommendation, I have no doubt that this career will suit her skills, wants, and needs. She now has the opportunity to be herself, enjoy a career, and above all spend time with her family a spiritual community.
Licensure, certification, certificates and accreditation are the typical types of credentialing programs, and associations are free to develop credentialing programs. There is no standardization in credentialing terms at the moment and terminology differs in each modality. Rops, 2007. Recreational therapy offers certification, and some States licensing is also required. A person who has graduated from an accredited school with a Bachelor Degree, and those who have taken the national exam, is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Many hospital settings use CTRSs in their recovery units, and specialty clinics. CTRSs go through a rigorous exam to become a CTRS. Hiring a CTRS has many benefits, and is helpful in a hospital setting
When I first seek out for therapy, it was interesting and scary. I made my first appointment and I was anxious and upset during my visit. I did a 20 minutes interview over the phone before my first initial office visit. My intake worker that assess my caseload allowed me to know her briefly, and let me know she would not be my therapist, but allowed me to accept the rules, polices, and therapist assigned to me. As the article stated, “explain what therapy is, how it works, and answer questions about what the client can expect from therapy in general and from therapy with you.”
My specialization is to work as a therapist in a prison setting and provide social change to them and society. This all started to interest me is when I reflect on what I had learned through my own struggle in life. It then got me thinking about working with clients who have been misdiagnosed. With that said I see a career as a counselor in mental health can be both challenging and stimulating. I hope to continue to work in an area where I can provide counseling and have a positive impact on those I serve and contribute relevant experience and educational background to a challenging counseling position. The reason I choose this is because it fits my personal goal to help those who have struggled in making choices such as myself because either the lack of support through social or family influence. As a professional is to assist those in the prison setting find acceptance and closure to why they have done what they have done while conducting counseling sessions with prison inmates. Due to societies thoughts most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, they come fro...
Physical therapists are health care professionals that provide therapeutic services to their patients who have temporary or chronic physical conditions that were caused from injury or disease. Physical therapist also provided therapeutic services to patients after they have gone through surgery to help them gain back mobility and manage their pain. They can also work in preventive care by promoting healthy life styles and instructing individual patients or groups on preventing injury by using exercises that stretch and strengthen muscles. To help their patients try to recover they use massage techniques, wellness plans, and different types of equipment. When a physical therapist sees a patient for the very first time they must do an examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and then put together a physical intervention to start the rehabilitation process. They also work as a team with other health care professionals to help with their patients needs. Physical therapist can really make a difference in their patient’s lives by not only providing therapeutic services but also encouraging and motivating them so they can get better. The main goals of physical therapist are to help their patients retain or gain back lost physical mobility, eliminate or reduce pain, increase productivity and help promote a healthy life style so patients can have a better quality of life and become more independent.
Finding a career you like can be a difficult and stressful process. With the help of Nebraska Career Connections I was able to narrow my career field down to 5 interests. Therapeutic Services was my number one pathway. After looking at the 100’s of careers Physical Therapy is an occupation, where you can help patients with therapy needs, identify and evaluate patient goals, and use stretches and exercises to help with pain relief. Although Physical Therapists have to attend school for about 7 years, but they make an ample amount of money. To become a Physical Therapist you have to obtain a bachelor's degree, and then on top of that you have to obtain doctorate in Physical Therapy. The doctorate degree takes an extra 3 years. Physical Therapists also have to have a license to perform the job. While Im looking at staying in Nebraska, UNL is a good place to start my Physical Therapy journey. UNL offers a pre-physical therapy course, where you will be able learn the basic stuff about physical therapy. After graduating from that you can move on to a professional school. Creighton University and University Nebraska Medical Center are the two only major schools that