in Therapeutic Recreation
Gain the skills to help clients enjoy greater independence, improve their health and well-being, and reduce or eliminate the effects of their illness or disability. At the heart of the program is the idea that play, recreation and leisure activities benefit people of all ages and abilities.
Program Information
Start Date
September 05, 2023
Domestic Availability
Accepting Applications
International Availability
Accepting Applications
Program Code
THR
Delivery
Hybrid, Placement
Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Academic School
Location
Program Contact
View Curriculum
September 03, 2024
Domestic Availability
Accepting Applications
International Availability
Accepting Applications
Program Code
THR
Delivery
Hybrid, Placement
Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Academic School
Location
Program Contact
View Curriculum
Prepare for rewarding work as a Recreational Therapist in recreation, health or social service delivery settings. This program is offered in a combination of on-campus and online courses. During the first two semesters, you are required to be on campus two days of each week for the on-campus courses.
On the days you are on not on campus for courses, you’ll have the time to explore a variety of volunteer roles within the profession. This experience will enhance your learning and you will develop valuable industry connections and relationships for placements and possible future employment.
The third semester is a supervised field placement which can take place in the work setting and geographic location of your choice. Assistance to obtain the placement that best suits your goals will be provided.
You will learn specialized skills and a wide range of interventions and techniques to improve the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and leisure needs of clients. You will learn to:
- Complete client assessments, working closely with patients/clients/residents and their family members
- Develop and evaluate group and individualized programs
- Use a variety of facilitative techniques, such as arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, and music to assist individuals to participate in meaningful recreational activities
- Help people with disabilities to integrate into the community by teaching them how to use community resources and recreational activities, to foster independence, successful community living and integration
This program is built on strong community links with partners that provide health and wellness services and aligns with current regulating professional standards and competencies. At the heart of the program is the idea that play, recreation and leisure activities benefit people of all ages and abilities.
Therapeutic Recreation professionals may work with a variety of individuals requiring health services, including geriatric, mental health, addictions, general medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, and pediatric clients. Geriatrics continues to be an area of growth due to our aging population and recent changes to the Long-Term Care Homes Act.
Opportunities include work in:
- Health care agencies and hospitals
- Residential facilities
- Community mental health centres
- Adult day Care programs
- Substance abuse centres
- Hospice care
- Community Centres
There is also a need in this fast-growing sector for skilled graduates to work as private practitioners, providing services in the home and community settings.
Your program has mandatory requirements which may include a criminal reference check, first aid, CPR-C, etc. For more information, please see the Non Academic Requirements page.
- Provide for the safety of clients, self and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and standards of practice.
- Assess recreational and leisure needs, strengths, challenges and interests of people experiencing barriers to healthy leisure to assist them in meeting their leisure goals.
- Maintain accurate documentation in accordance with current ministry guidelines, professional standards of practice and organizational policies and procedures.
- Plan, implement and evaluate holistic individual and group recreation therapy programs which respond to identified needs, align with assessment results and adhere to current best practices.
- Provide client and family therapeutic functional intervention, leisure education and counselling, and opportunity for recreation participation.
- Research, analyze and evaluate recreation therapy activities using evidence based practices.
- Plan, implement and evaluate community programs and/or services and processes.
- Collaborate with clients, inter-professional teams, volunteers and community service providers to safely and effectively manage integrated therapeutic recreation services that promotes personal, social, economic and the health related benefits of recreation therapy services.
- Develop plans for ongoing personal and professional growth and development.
Students applying to Therapeutic Recreation must meet the following requirements:
- Undergraduate degree or Ontario College diploma in a related field or equivalent
This program gave me a greater insight into the holistic approach to leisure and health. The college was very supportive at every step. From the Admissions process to the credit transfer process and the assignments, there were so many people who helped me.
Yaminini Phulpagar