Introduction to the Therapeutic Recreation Process

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.