My Therapeutic Recreation Degree . . .

PRICELE$$
Presented by Heather Limberg and Sara Grenzow
What is Therapeutic Recreation (TR)?

o Therapeutic recreation is purposeful
intervention designed to bring about
emotional, social, physical, or other positive
changes in individuals with disabilities through
leisure and recreation activities

o Therapeutic recreation seeks to help
individuals increase independence and
develop skills for improved quality of life
What Lights You Up?
o Everyone has a leisure lifestyle, whether we
realize it or not.


o Take time to write down 3 activities that you
enjoy participating in:
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________

What does this activity have to do with TR?
o It is often difficult for individuals with disabilities to
participate in leisure activities, which is where
Therapeutic Recreation Specialists come in . . .

o Difficulties include:
o Reduced awareness of leisure opportunities when
experiencing a disabling condition, illness, or injury
o Lack of transportation to activities
o Limited leisure skills
o Small social network
o Inappropriate social interactions
What does Therapeutic Recreation mean
to UW-La Crosse MAJORS?

o Therapeutic recreation is challenging individual
limitations through positive motivation and
determination.
-Jonathon Blake, Senior



o Therapeutic recreation is learning through your
abilities, not your disabilities.
-Andrew Buchberger, Senior



o Therapeutic recreation is self-healing through
leisure.
-Sara Grenzow, Graduate Student



What does Therapeutic Recreation mean
to UW-L TR Majors?

o Therapeutic recreation offers an unconditional
acceptance that goes beyond the basics to inspire
individuals and help enhance abilities.
-Heather Limberg, Senior



o Therapeutic recreation is adventure, exploring, and
discovering.
-Matt Hendricks, Graduate Student



o Therapeutic recreation is promoting health and wellness
through leisure and recreation activities.
-Christina Schulte, Senior



Therapeutic Recreation is NOT . . .

o The same as physical therapy, occupational therapy,
or sports medicine
o An easy major that only includes playing with little
academic complexity
o BINGO and birthday parties
o A job that anyone can do
o Babysitting
o A position only at camps or nursing homes
o A volunteer opportunity, not a real job

What are important terms to know?

o Leisure: Freedom from time-consuming
duties, responsibilities, or activities

oPlay: To occupy oneself spontaneously
in amusement, or other recreation

o Recreation: Refreshment of one's mind or body
after work through activity that amuses or
stimulates

www.dictionary.com
Where could YOU work?

o Psychiatric Hospitals
o Rehabilitation Hospitals
o Long-term Care Facilities
o Correctional Facilities
o Pediatric Hospitals
o Outpatient Facilities
o Residential Facilities
o Group Homes for persons with
developmental disabilities
o Day Treatment or Recovery Centers
o Schools
o Community Recreation
Departments/Inclusion Programs
o Camps and Wilderness Therapy
Settings
http://www.rogershospital.org/vtour_rmh_Oconomowoc_1.php

Who will YOU be helping?

o Across the lifespan: infants, children,
teens, adults, and seniors with
o Musculoskeletal (bone),
neurological (brain), and
neuromuscular (muscle)
impairments
o Sensory impairments (lights,
noise, sound)
o Cognitive impairments (learning,
memory)
o Psychological impairments
(thinking, acting)
o Social or behavioral impairments
(undeveloped interactions skills,
negative or criminal behavior)

What is the Therapeutic Recreation Process?
o Assessment: gathering information with and about an
individual to discover their dreams and goals and how
functioning can be improved
o Planning: goal setting and creating an individualized plan
focused on learning, adapting, and growing
o Implementation: carrying out the plan through individual or
group programmed activity sessions
o Evaluation: reviewing an individuals progress to see if they
are reaching their goals and dreams
o APIE is a process used by health care providers.
Therapeutic recreation includes the physical, mental,
social, emotional, and spiritual domains in this process.
What are the PHYSICAL benefits of TR?
o Engaging in downhill skiing can improve
coordination and balance; sit-skiing provides the
same outcome for participants with physical
impairments .
o Chair aerobics can help increase cardiovascular
fitness.
o Stretching can increase range of motion and
flexibility.
o Playing wheelchair basketball can
increase arm strength.


What are the COGNITIVE benefits of TR?

o Playing Cribbage can improve sequencing skills.
o Playing Monopoly can increase money management
and counting skills.
o Looking through photo albums can stimulate
memories.
o Participating in Simon Says can increase the ability
to follow verbal directions.


What are the EMOTIONAL benefits of TR?

o Learning and practicing meditation can help reduce
anxiety.
o Engaging in gardening can assist in reducing stress.
o Listening to soothing music can create a calming effect.
o Taking on extreme challenges in wilderness camping can
increase self-esteem and mastery of a challenge.
What are the SOCIAL benefits of TR?

o Participating in team building activities can help build
trust.
o Joining a card club can help people make new
friends.
o Interacting at a holiday party can improve
conversation skills.
o Ordering a movie ticket can increase social initiation.
http://www.rogershospital.org/vtour_rmh_Oconomowoc_8.php

What are the SPIRITUAL benefits of TR?

o Going on a hike can unite one with the natural
world.
o Participating in yoga can connect the mind and
body as one.
o Creating a scrapbook allows a client to visually
see accomplishments or realize their personal
legacy as living a meaningful life.

Staceys Testimonial
17 year old female with a spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia

Before going on the trip, I did not know if I
would be able to ski at all. Amazingly, I was
able to ski just like any other beginner. I
came back with many bumps and bruises,
but also with a renewed sense of
accomplishment, that I can do anything that
I set my mind to.






Bent, L., Johnson, K., Klaas, S., Rathsam, S., Schottler, J. Parks & Recreation, Apr2003, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p58, 5p.
Jeanies Progress Report
Cedar Breaks Academy in Utah is a fully licensed Residential Treatment
Center for Teenage Girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who are
experiencing emotional or behavior problems within their homes,
schools, or society. Their staff includes a
therapeutic recreation specialist.







Life Skills:
This week Jeanie and the other level 4 girls chose to help at the animal
shelter and participate in adopt a pet weekend. Jeanie helped organize
this project and helped find homes for 8 dogs and 12 cats. She and the
other girls were excited and happy with their days work. They were tired
and hungry after 6 hours of helping with the animals. They finished up by
going for hamburgers and milkshakes at Iceberg.



What must YOU do to receive a TR degree from UW-L
and become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist?
o Complete Volunteer Experiences
o 50 hours required prior to program admission
o 3-5 classes require additional volunteer hours beyond course work
o Hands-on contact with clients and gaining confidence helping various populations
gives students insight into which population or setting they may want to focus on
o Finish Required Coursework:
o A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation
o To see specific course descriptions click here:
http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/rmtr/ug_tr_courses.htm
o Participate In a 16-Week Internship:
o One semester at an approved internship site under the supervision of a Certified
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) as a senior-level field placement
o Students are able to put their skills and abilities into practice, while learning additional
job task competencies under the guidance of a CTRS
o Pass a National Certification Exam
o Voluntary exam taken by an individual to ensure quality of services of the CTRS
o Completed after internship and graduation
o National passing rate for 2004: 78% ; UW-La Crosse passing rate: 99%

What is the job outlook for YOU as a CTRS?

o UW-L graduates have over a 93 percent success rate of securing jobs
within the profession immediately upon graduation.

o Salaries vary by service setting with an average annual salary of
$38,956 for the CTRS

o The TR program at UW-L continues a proud tradition of producing
highly competent Therapeutic Recreation Specialists who serve an
increasingly diverse population of persons with disabling conditions in
Wisconsin and throughout the world.
Jessamins Success Story . . .
Working at KidsPeace
jessamin helder [mailto:jessaminhelder@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005


I have accepted a job offer at KidsPeace in
Pennsylvania. I will be going to work at KidsPeace
National Center with youth with behavioral/emotional
needs. Its a residential setting with a school, athletic
centers, ropes course, and 300 acres. I will be able to
lead small 1-2 day outdoor trips, be involved with
equine assisted therapy, adventure
therapy/experiential education, and create a
Therapeutic Recreation program for 16 youth.
Kellys Success Story . . .
Aquatics and Rehabilitation for All Ages
From: Kelly Keskimaki [mailto:k_keskimaki@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:13 AM
Subject: New Job

I wanted to tell you about my new job! I absolutely love it! I am
working at St. Ann's Center for Intergenerational Care in
Milwaukee. I am helping the aquatic program get on it's feet. The
place is a day care for adults and children of all abilities and is
open to the public for rehab and the pool. I will eventually be
splitting my time between aquatics and therapy, but right now I
am just aquatics.

Kelly



Chads Success Story-
Empowering Older Adults in Long Term Care!
From: chad adams [mailto:celebratelife@care2.com]
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 12:52 PM
Subject: New Job!

Hello there fellow Therapeutic Recreation Specialists!!
Just thought I would inform you of my new job. I'm
currently working at a long-term care facility in
Milwaukee, St. Johns on the Lake. The facility has switched
from a medical model to a social/community model,
more holistic and focusing much more on residents' needs
and desires. I just started and already have developed
some amazing relationships with the residents. Today, we
had a singer/songwriter come in and play for the
residents. Of course, you know me, I got the ladies to
dance with me and the fellas to sing their hearts out.
Explore More about Therapeutic Recreation
o American Therapeutic Recreation Association
http://www.atra-tr.org
o National Therapeutic Recreation Society
http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx
?documentId=530
o Therapeutic Recreation Directory
http://www.recreationtherapy.com
o UW-L Therapeutic Recreation Homepage
http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/rmtr/ug_tr.htm

Who can I talk to about TR?
o Call 785-8207 or
visit 128 Wittich
Hall to speak
with the program
assistant or a
UW-L faculty
member who
teaches
therapeutic
recreation