Recreational Therapist : Careers in Mental Health

This video is about Recreational Therapists and is part of a Mental Health Career video series created by the Oregon State Hospital Museum.
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Recreational therapy is a very important part of the recovery process for patients at the Hospital because it provides an outlet for those who need access to therapy types beyond the traditional talk therapy. Recreational therapists provide a space for patients to opt in and out of activities, creating self-motivated patients who are working towards personal goals and the acquisition of skills that can help modify specific emotional, mental, and social behaviors.
Recreational therapists develop a good rapport with their patients and help them look into the future. This may simply be asking about their goals for themselves, or it may be taking the patient into the community that they know they will be discharged into in order to help them find access to resources like leisure activities and events. Recreational therapists also help patients with physical disabilities find ways to be active and successful through adaptations of equipment or by finding activities that best suit them.