What is A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)?
Professional Role and Purpose
A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) is a qualified professional who provides recreational services to improve the overall well-being of individuals living with illnesses or disabilities. Through structured treatment services and purposeful recreation activities, CTRSs help individuals achieve healthier and more balanced lifestyles.
Recreational Therapists support their clients by assisting, guiding, and maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health. Reducing symptoms of confusion, depression, stress, and anxiety while also building confidence, encouraging socialization, and enhancing self-esteem.
A CTRS demonstrates professional competence by mastering a specialized body of knowledge and successfully passing the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam.
The Benefits of Recreational Therapy
- Improve strength, endurance and physical fitness modified to fit the ability of the individual.
- Support cognitive function and Memory retention
- Enhances fine and gross motor functioning skills
- Brings joy and laughter that will allow individuals to enjoy their leisure optimally
- Increases independence (not for all individuals)
- Prevents social isolation
- Enhancing the quality of life by working on everyday life skills
- Self-esteem booster.
Five Domains of Therapeutic Recreation
Social Domain
Assisting individuals to step outside their comfort zone and have a more well-balanced life being able to mingle/relate to different people promoting an appreciation for life and excepting that happiness heals
Physical Domain
Works on the improvement of engaging in physical adaptations such as but not limited to walking, chair fitness, chair balloon volleyball and more. Working with a CTRS enhances bone density, improves overall good health of the heart, and strengthens and balance.
Cognitive Domain
Helps in reducing Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease improving memory retention and enhancing mental abilities being able to reason within control and refine impulse control through coping skills.
Emotional Domain
Assists in alleviating stress or thoughts of feeling down engaging in a hobby or any Therapeutic Recreational activity of choice and find a newfound meaning in everything. This is a great coping skill to stabilize your emotions.
Spiritual Domain
Attending any type of religious affiliation, praying to self at home, observing nature of a way of healing the mind, body, and soul.
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