Recreation Therapy

Therapeutic Recreation Support Networks & Community Resources

This course will define formal and informal support networks essential to client adjustment and successful social recreation participation. Students will become familiar with community resources and learn how Therapeutic Recreation professionals facilitate education and guided transition to increase access.

Therapeutic Recreation Practice & Professional Portfolio

This course will provide students with a sound understanding of professional and ethical considerations related to therapeutic recreation practice in the province of Ontario. Students will examine current trends and critical issues in the field of therapeutic recreation including the role of various professional organizations, professional standards and the process of professionalization. Students will acquire the foundational knowledge and skills required to pursue internship opportunities in the field of therapeutic recreation, and will begin the process of developing a professional portfolio of learning and experiences which demonstrates essential abilities of a competent practitioner. Students will examine their role in advancing the profession and identify goals and objectives for their ongoing professional development.

Communications for Health

This course, designed for students in the health field, further develops students' communication proficiency. Students create workplace documents and research reports and share their findings through oral presentations. Advocacy and peer education will drive the research and documentation process. Current health issues and research will serve as the impetus for creation of informed research reports and presentations.

Field Placement Seminar 1

This course runs parallel to Field Placement I and is intended to be a forum for students to discuss recurring issues related to the Field Placement experience. Through lectures, class discussions and guest speakers, students will have the opportunity to explore tools and strategies that will allow them to seek out opportunities and address challenges within the Field Placement setting. Through critical reflection, students will identify their personal strengths and areas for growth in preparation for Field Placement II. Guidance and direction will be provided as students prepare for their second field placement.

Field Placement 1

The purpose of the placement is to provide students with the opportunity to begin to understand the values, skills and knowledge required for practice in recreation therapy. The field placement component of the TREC program gives students the opportunity to observe and assist professionals currently working in the field of recreation therapy, while putting to use the theory and skills learned in the classroom. It is designed to provide learning experiences to enable the student to develop professional competence, sound work habits, effective interpersonal communication and teamwork skills.

Human Relations

This course provides a forum for enhancing students' abilities and understanding of the value to human social interaction through communication and connection. This course places a strong emphasis on applied learning in the context of communicating with others, recognizing that personal development evolves from social interaction. Course topics include the study of emotion-focused brain functionality, self-understanding and awareness, understanding the importance of perception skills in relationships, developing strong verbal and nonverbal communication skills, recognizing prosocial leadership skills, understanding and establishing healthy team dynamics, and addressing conflicts in relationships.

General Education Elective

Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation

This course provides an in-depth study of the scope of therapeutic recreation. Students study the historical and philosophical foundations of the professions. The role of therapeutic recreation professionals in the spectrum of health care and human service settings serving clients with a variety of disabilities is explored. A review of the various definitions used by each of the professional TR organizations, a variety of service models of practice as well as the Therapeutic Recreation process is introduced. Students develop an appreciation of the needs of people with different abilities and the barriers to recreation that they face. There is also a focus on approaches to integration within the community and the issues related to this profession. Students are introduced to ethics in the profession of Therapeutic Recreation.

Leisure & Aging

Students will develop their knowledge of various issues related to aging including the aging process, theories on aging, ageism, implications of an aging Canadian society, and the role of recreational and leisure activity in the successful aging process. Included in this will be an exploration of various physical and cognitive ailments and disease processes commonly found in the elderly. With this knowledge, students will develop a variety of recreational and leisure programs that focus on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial elements.

Introduction to Community Mental Health

Effective practitioners begin their work with an understanding of how individuals think, feel, and behave. Included in this knowledge must be the contextual factors that impact wellness, including the following: personal challenges, relationships, environmental stressors, and diversity needs. The goal of this course is to provide future front-line workers with practical examples of how a mental health concern might develop and how they might respond. Examination of the biological and sociocultural determinants of addictions and mental illness, treatment options, and community resources that can be leveraged to enhance wellbeing are the key components of this course. Students will not only apply theory and diagnostic criteria to a presenting problem, but they will also become responsive to the grey areas that are unique to a person's situation.

Adapted Recreation & Program Planning in Therapeutic Recreation

The focus of this course will be on understanding the importance of developing inclusive recreation programs and assisting clients to access activities through adaptive strategies and resources. Students will learn how to conduct activity and task analyses using a systematic approach and will source equipment and opportunities for individuals with a diverse array of interests and needs. Students will have the opportunity to facilitate, participate in, and evaluate a diverse range of adapted activities.

Diverse Abilities in Therapeutic Recreation

This course examines a diverse range of conditions that may result in limitations with varying degrees of severity that have the potential to impact many different areas of life. There will be a focus on the abilities, limitations and characteristics of conditions and their relationship to the five domains of therapeutic recreation and quality of life. Person First language will be introduced to promote a positive attitude toward people with disabilities which will foster an individual, not a categorical, approach to understanding and working with people with disabilities. Legislation supporting persons living with diverse abilities will also be discussed.

Field Placement 2

The purpose of this placement is to provide students the opportunity to apply their recreation therapy knowledge and demonstrate professional skills in practice. By developing therapeutic relationships and applying relevant theory to assessments, and program plans, students will be able to demonstrate a range of recreation therapy interventions which promote the health and wellness of the individuals they are working with.

Leisure Education & Counselling in Therapeutic Recreation

This course will explore the role of leisure education in assisting individuals and groups in leading a fulfilling leisure lifestyle. This course will also introduce students to counselling tools, techniques and strategies common to leisure education. Students will gain an understanding of the practical and theoretical aspects of lifespan development while studying barriers that impact leisure participation. Students will be given the opportunity to apply this theory by developing leisure awareness activities and interventions for individuals and groups in a variety of settings with a focus on therapeutic recreation.

Therapeutic Recreation Assessment

This course focuses on the role of assessment in the design, delivery and evaluation of therapeutic recreation services for diverse populations. Students will have the opportunity to examine, evaluate and apply a variety of therapeutic recreation assessment tools and techniques. This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to write therapeutic goals and objectives and to develop individual and group programming based on research. This course will also provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate empathic interpersonal communication skills and to recognize professional and ethical considerations associated with the administration and documentation of assessments.

Therapeutic Recreation Leadership

This course will provide the student with an in-depth introduction to recreation leadership theory and techniques. Students will examine the diverse leadership roles and responsibilities of therapeutic recreation professionals as group leaders, supervisors and administrators. This course will also emphasize the understanding of group dynamics, motivation, and managing conflict. This highly interactive course will enable students to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to be effective leaders in diverse settings.

Research in Therapeutic Recreation

This course will introduce the student to the research process with a focus on types of research, data collection, and analysis. Needs and issues surrounding research in the field of therapeutic recreation will be explored and consideration will be given to the reasoning underlying the research process. Students will gain an understanding of the importance of a self-reflective practice and the importance of conducting basic research in their professional careers.

Current Concepts in Health & Wellness

This course deals with health promotion strategies needed to make healthy, rational, lifestyle choices, to maintain or improve health and how to approach personal change. Students require an understanding of the bio - psycho -social processes to keep well and knowledge of the interventions that will encourage wellness, promote activity, energy and life, even empowerment. Students will also explore the philosophy of holistic health.

Field Placement 3

This field placement is designed to consolidate all of the academic learning presented during the course of the program. Students will demonstrate competence in all of the Standards of Practice associated with the field of recreation therapy. Students will have the opportunity to integrate theory and philosophy with professional practice. During placement, students will demonstrate knowledge of the therapeutic recreation process. This will include performing an activity analysis and adaptation as required. Students will establish effective working relationships with other disciplines as they work within agencies which offer recreation therapy services.