Norlund said people who become heavily involved in drugs and alcohol at an early age, anywhere from 10 to 18, will stop or slow their whole social development from that point. When they become adults, they don't know what to do socially. A lot times they are immature and need to be educated on how to behave in more healthy patterns. Becoming a therapeutic recreation specialist requires a minimum of a four-year degree program. Some people earn their master's degree in the field, while some get a doctorate and teach.
Some people have degrees in recreation itself with a concentration of therapeutic recreation.
Upon completing a program, the person must undergo an approved internship and then the educational information can be submitted to the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. A national exam must be passed to gain certification. Continuing education is stipulated and recertification is required annually. Some people certify with the Consortium for Therapeutic Recreation Activities Certification, which is based in Texas. A recreational therapist typically ends up working in venues such as nursing homes, long-term youth centers, prisons, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, psychiatric facilities, community recreation centers and camps.