To gain patients' confidence, it is necessary to have a warm, friendly personality that inspires both trust and respect. In addition to these qualities, it is necessary to have ingenuity and imagination in adapting activities to individual needs. The potential therapist must be skilled, patient, and resourceful in teaching and dealing with patients. Newly graduated recreational therapists generally begin as staff therapists. Advancement is chiefly to supervisory or administrative positions.
Some therapists teach, conduct research, or do consulting work on a contract basis.
Job Outlook Employment of recreational therapists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2000, chiefly because of anticipated growth in the need for long-term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and services for the mentally and emotionally disabled. Hospitals will provide a large number of recreational therapy jobs through the year 2000. Long-term rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals will provide additional jobs. Future changes in the size and age structure of the population mean that there will be many more people with disabilities in 1995 than there are today. Substantial growth is expected for the population age 85 and above, an age group that suffers a very high incidence of disabling conditions.