Course

Valuing Diversity: Therapeutic Recreation and Mental Health

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Therapeutic Recreation
Course code
THRT 2307
Credits
3.00
Semester length
Flexible delivery ranging from 10 to 15 weeks
Max class size
30
Method(s) of instruction
Hybrid
Online
Lecture
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
In this introductory course, we explore concepts and skills necessary to work in the field of mental health, focusing on therapeutic recreation interventions. Topics will include examination of historical, contemporary and emerging perspectives of mental illness etiology, treatment and support; national and provincial mental health and addiction strategies; current models for the classification and treatment of illness; and strengths based therapeutic recreation best practices.
Course content

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

  • Therapeutic Recreation service promotes recovery-focused care with individuals living with mental health and substance use.
  • Historical treatment of individuals with mental illness devalued and isolated individuals and limited treatment and recovery.
  • Challenging our personal values, attitudes and beliefs will inform and influence our interactions with individuals living with mental health issues.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the major classifications of mental illness using both the DSM 5 and ICD 10 increases competence of the TR practitioners and enriches interdisciplinary team contributions.
  • Advocating for the rights of all individuals is central to therapeutic receation professional standards of practice.
  • Understanding service systems nationally, provincially and locally in health authorities and in other community-based services provides context for the delivery of TR services within systems.
  • Building leisure and recreation life skills increases individuals' capacity to engage in meaningful and challenging activity; develops personal networks and wellbeing and increases opportunity for community enagement.
  • Self- expresssion, self-determination and self-efficacy is enhanced when individuals have a personal leisure identity.
  • Using person-centered and strengths based approaches supports the inherent capacity and resiliency of individuals.
  • Developing leadership and facilitation skills in the classroom increases skills and competence and allows for knowledge transfer in practice.

 

Learning activities
  • Lecture 
  • Discussion
  • Group work
  • Multi media
  • Creative and expressive arts

 

Means of assessment

This course will conform to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.

Typical means of evaluation may include some or all of the following:

  • written papers
  • exams
  • presentations ( individual or group)
  • creative and expressive arts projects
  • participation

This is a graded course.

Learning outcomes

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

  1. Recognize past and present societal attitudes towards mental illness and substance use and demonstrate sensitive ways to challenge personal and societal beliefs.
  2. Explain mental health care service in Canada and B.C. and within local health authorities articulating the differences between community-based psychosocial rehabilitation programs, hospitals, crisis centres and forensic services.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the bio psychosocial (medical, psychological, social, environmental) causes of mental illness.
  4. Explain mental health/illness using a working knowledge of the major dianostic categories in DSM 5 and ICD 10.
  5. Describe best practice treatment models and approaches including: psychotherapeutic, preventive, harm reduction, CBT approaches, and recovery care.
  6. Articulate the therapeutic recreation process in engagement, relationship building, assessment, implementation and follow up with clients.
  7. Demonstrate creative and expressive arts interventions.

 

Textbook materials

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

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

THRT 1101

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 2307
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV KIN_V 2nd (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EPHE 2XX (1.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025