Recreation Therapy

Certified recreation therapists provide treatment and developmental services that address the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of clients using a variety of techniques, including the use of arts and crafts, play, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings. Recreation therapists help individuals reduce depression, stress, and anxiety. They also help individuals recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities, build confidence, and socialize effectively to enable greater independence, as well as to reduce or eliminate the effects of a wide range of illnesses, disabilities, and secondary conditions.

Indiana State University offers a B.S. in Recreation and Sport Management with an emphasis in Recreation Therapy. Students in this curriculum take courses in the following areas: recreation and leisure theory and administration, recreation therapy, and behavioral and physical sciences. In addition to coursework, students complete 280 volunteer hours and a 15-week internship under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. We provide students with a list of local and statewide agencies for volunteer experiences and have extensive resources to help  students locate a qualified internship.

National Certification is offered through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). Most healthcare and human service employers who hire Recreational Therapists will require this certification. Graduates of the ISU Recreation Therapy program, who have completed required coursework including the internship, and then apply successfully to NCTRC, will be eligible to sit for the certification examination.

Graduates of the Recreation Therapy program commonly find employment in the following areas:

• Physical rehabilitation
• Mental health facilities
• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• Adolescent treatment programs
• Community-based programs

Check out this Power Point presentation on Recreation Therapy!

Also check out our other page on Recreation Therapy.

For more information:

Don Rogers, Ph.D., CTRS
Department of Recreation and Sport Management
Arena B-64
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN 47809
812-237-3210
derogers@indstate.edu