NRPA Therapeutic recreation offers a unique career opportunity for individuals who value leisure experiences and enjoy working with people with disabilities. Employment of therapeutic recreation specialists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005 chiefly because of anticipated expansion in the need for long-term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there are approximately 38,000 positions in therapeutic recreation, and it is projected that positions will grow at the rate of 20 percent through the year 2000 and beyond.
Therapeutic recreation is also the twelfth fastest growing occupation requiring a bachelor's degree.
Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life. Recreational therapy services utilize various interventions to treat physical, cognitive, emotional, and social conditions associated with illness, injury or chronic disabilities. Recreational therapy includes an education component, which enables individuals to become more informed and active partners in their health care by using activity to cope with stress of illness and disability. With a degree in therapeutic recreation, you can work in a variety of agencies and organizations. The possibilities include acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, community recreation centers, pediatric hospitals, group homes, senior centers, community mental health centers, public and private schools, correctional facilities and private practice.