Course

Introduction to the Therapeutic Recreation Process

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Therapeutic Recreation
Course code
THRT 2301
Credits
3.00
Semester length
Flexible delivery ranging over 2 to 15 weeks
Max class size
30
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Online
Hybrid
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course introduces the therapeutic recreation process with an emphasis on assessment, documentation, and evaluation. Therapeutic recreation standards of practice in relation to the TR process are explored in depth. Topics regarding medical terminology, interdisciplinary communication, assessment methods, and documentation methods are explored. Students will gain skills in interpreting program protocols and individual program plans, interpreting assessment data, designing client goals and objectives, documenting client attendance and progress, and gathering client feedback.
Course content

 

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

Course content will be guided by research, empirical knowledge, and best practice. The following values and principles, consistent with professional standards, inform course content.

  • Increasing knowledge and understanding of therapeutic recreation standards of practice equips professionals to successfully advocate for the profession and implement suitable programs within their scope of practice.

  • Understanding the scope of practice for a recreation therapist and a recreation therapy assistant allows for improved communication, job functioning,and program efficacy.

  • Documentation is an essential element of the therapeutic recreation process as a means to properly record and communicate to clients, family members, staff, community, stakeholders, and other allied health professions.

  • Utilizing a standardized system to gather client feedback and report client progress establishes legal and confidential records of care and ensures accountability among therapeutic recreation professionals.

  • Recreation therapists utilize several assessment tools within the therapeutic recreation process, such as assessment summaries, DSM-5 criteria, the ICF, and RAI/MDS. The recreation therapy assistant must understand assessment tools to provide effective programming to the clients.

  • Recreation therapists utilize several documentation techniques within the therapeutic recreation process, such as program protocols, individual program plans, progress notes (e.g. SOAP and DART notes), and client evaluation summaries. The recreation therapy assistant must understand documentation techniques to provide effective programming to the clients.

  • Understanding standardized reporting methods including medical abbreviations, medical terminology, and classification systems (e.g. ICF, DSM-5) allows for more effective and efficient communication between therapeutic recreation practitioners, allied health professions, and regulatory bodies.
Learning activities
  • Lecture/discussion
  • Media
  • Group work
  • Student presentations
Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Typical means of evaluation would include a combination of:

  • Written assignments
  • Presentations
  • Exams
  • Participation

This is a letter graded course.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 

  1. Articulate the importance of assessment, documentation, evaluation, and interdisciplinary collaboration as therapeutic recreation standards of practice.
  2. Facilitate programs according to the scope of practice for therapeutic recreation practitioners.
  3. Interpret medical terminology and abbreviations used to document client progress.
  4. Use information from common tools used for therapeutic recreation assessment to inform programming.
  5. Interpret common forms of therapeutic recreation documentation, including individual program plans and program protocols.
  6. Document client progress, attendance, engagement, and feedback regarding recreation therapy activities.
Textbook materials

 

 

A list of textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.

Requisites

Prerequisites

THRT 1122 and THRT 1205

All students in the Therapeutic Recreation program, both diploma and degree students, are required to attain a mimimum of 60% (C letter grade) in all courses utilized for credit towards a Diploma and/or Degree in Therapeutic Recreation in order to progress in the program.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for THRT 2301
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV KIN_V 2nd (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC ORTM 2XX (3) or UNBC RRT 2XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EPHE 253 (1.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025