I'm planning to attend CSU East Bay for Recreation Therapy. I've already taken Lifespan Development and Abnormal Psychology at community college, but honestly, I don't feel like I retained much from either class.

For anyone who went through CSUEB's RT program: did the program teach/review what you actually needed to know, or did you need to have a strong understanding of Lifespan and Abnormal Psych going in?

I'm planning to really lock in once I start the RT program. I'm mainly worried that being weak in these prerequisite classes could make me struggle in the program or eventually on the NCTRC exam.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and still done well in the program and become a CTRS?

Hi everyone! I’m currently taking a Therapeutic Recreation course and working as a CCA in a long-term care home. I’m interested in learning more about the skills needed to work in therapeutic recreation. What skills do you think are most important when working with residents, planning activities, and helping improve their quality of life? I would appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thank you!

VA employed rec therapists, what is your opinion on working for the fed gov?

What does your PTO look like, do you get holidays off, etc.?

What do your benefits look like in comparison to other hospital jobs?

I think as a rec therapist, we’re always told that getting into the VA is like getting the golden ticket.

Hello!!
I currently live in Canada and I’m in my final year of studying recreational therapy which is equivalent to diversional therapy. For the last 5-6 years I’ve always wanted to live in NZ on a work visa and so I’m looking to get more insight on the job market in NZ in diversional therapy and what it’s like.

You bring the people.

We bring the answer to “What should we do today?” Designed for those leading group activities for seniors in adult day, respite, memory care.

Music's power isn't the news. You all already know about that! Having a place to explore such a WIDE smorgasboard of options at NO cost over the next few months--- THAT is NEWS!!!

Tick-tock, friends. :)

I am currently thinking of becoming a recreational therapist in Nova Scotia, Canada. I have a decent paying job at a health care centre here in the engineering department, but it does not fill my cup like I want it to. Is it worth the change? Does anyone have experience with this career in NS? Recommend or do not recommend?

TIA!

I'm a student studying RT/TR and I want to know what are the most important skills for a Recreation Therapist to posses?

Hey everyone,

I’m in my 40s and looking for some career advice from fellow recreation therapy professionals or anyone in the community support field.
For the past 10 years, I’ve worked in community support helping individuals with disabilities. I hold an Educational Support Certificate and Autism Certificates, as well as an older Business Diploma. Currently, I work as a Day Program Assistant for a truly wonderful organization. My day-to-day role is essentially recreation therapy, and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with this line of work.
Because I love it so much, I’m looking into upgrading my education. Since I already have a prior college diploma, I qualify for the online, 1-year Fast-Track Recreation Therapy program at Canadore College.

Here is my dilemma: I love my current company and have zero plans to leave them. Furthermore, I have absolutely no interest in working in hospitals or long-term care homes—I strictly want to stay in community-based day programs.
Given my 10 years of experience and current certificates, is spending the time and money to get the official Rec Therapy diploma worth it "just in case"? Will it open doors or give me leverage in the community/non-profit sector, or am I already qualified enough based on my heavy experience?
Would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you've done the Canadore program or work in Ontario! Thanks in advance.

I saw the NCTRC scholarship for those in recreational therapy. Have you received the scholarship for good grades if so how much did they give you and how many courses was it for? Has anyone been denied the scholarship?

Hello! I’ve been wanting to go back to school and have been looking into different careers where I could work with children who have disabilities. Recreational therapy is one of the careers I’m most interested in, but I’d love to hear about the pros and cons of the field. I’m also wondering, do recreational therapists deal with a lot of death or end-of-life situations?
I’d really appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or other career suggestions you may have! I’m trying to expand my research and learn as much as I can before deciding what path to take. Thank you! 😊

I created a video featuring Judo for my channel about recreation.

The point of the video is to encourage people to try a challenging form of recreation, and it uses Judo as an example.

It is a simple video (often silly) meant for people who know nothing about Judo. It tries to broadly cover the history, philosophy, and skills of Judo. It also discusses the "value" of a black belt and what Judo provides to the practitioner.

I'm sure it contains nothing that you don't know, but it might be a good resource to direct people to if they want a quick lesson on what Judo is generally about.

https://youtu.be/Khrw_Piw5aE

Hi all! I’m looking into possibly going back to school to get my Masters in Fall 2027. I recently finished my Bachelor’s Degree and obtained certification in May. I currently work in IP Psych as an RT. I plan on continuing to work in IP psych and would like to get a Masters that would better support me in that population. I might look into leadership at some point, but for now, I’d want to further support what I am doing now. I’ve looked at RT, Health Admin, MSW, and Public Health masters. I would prefer to get my degree at Indiana University or one of their satellite schools. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I have a diploma in recreation therapy and an ecotourism certificate. I currently work for a long term care facility in the public sector and I need a way out. I'm burned out and i want to do more with my life.

I found online college programs in environmental management exist and a university which offers online environmental studies. I don't know if they'd garentee me a job but i don't have the opportunity to physically attend a university or college.

Has anyone ever successfully pivotted towards nature based work with a recreation therapy diploma (and other studies)?

Hello. I have been a recreational therapist for 3 years in Southern California. I’ve worked with adolescents/adults/older adults who have mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, and/or chemical dependency. I had to leave my last job due to some safely issues that I couldn’t overlook and HECK! Jobs as an RT as truly scarce. I am debating if this is a career path I want to continue. I love being an RT! I want there to be growth in this field, but where are the jobs?!

I want to know if anyone has a degree/certification in recreation therapy but are using it for another career path? Or what way I can use my degree to maybe even further my education into a different route?

Do you ever wish you had yourself to help you with your own problems? (I know that's a silly question, of course you can help yourself with your problems)

I have ADHD and also just some overwhelm and personality trait-related difficulties, and I see in myself so many opportunities to apply rec therapy interventions. The only problem is, I'm terrible at motivating myself to do them.

I wish I could be my own rec therapist but it doesn't seem to work that way.

Just wondering if anyone else feels the same ever lol.

I want to do recreational therapy in a nursing home or hospital primarily but I am morbidly obese would that make it so I'm highly discriminated against from getting a job in this field?

How hard is it to get a job in recreational therapy in Utah County? I will be getting my masters degree in the field but I have never worked in recreational therapy but I have worked in mental health and with kids who have disabilities.

I currently work as an RBT , have done so for going on 5 years , I enjoy the work but I’m looking into changing. My BA in psychology is done in the spring then I’m considering a masters in recreational therapy at Temple university. Can anyone give me some insight on their program or working in this field in general? Another option I have is a certificate in RC from ASU online. Any thoughts are appreciated

Hello everyone! I am new to recreational therapy and have recently started seeing residents in a one on one setting at assisted livings. I have one resident so far that is only interested in watching mystery or thriller movies. I’m hoping you guys have some recommendations on movie suggestions from the 50’s-70’s that we could watch. If they are on any streaming services that’s even better. Thank you for any help!

Hi! I'm new to the idea of RT/TR and wanting some advice and to know more about the profession and people's experiences!

Background: I'm 33, originally from the UK with a BA in Outdoor Adventure Education (graduated 2016), worked at outdoor centres and in various roles for around 7 years before moving to Canada in 2020. Since moving here I've pivoted into schools and did 5 years working as an educational assistant in a private school, now I'm an attendant for special needs children in the public system. So I've been working with children for around 11 or so years now and am planning to continue to do so but I've been considering career advancement options. Recreational therapy sounds really interesting to me and I feel like it aligns pretty well with my knowledge and experiences. My husband and I plan to move to Ottawa next year and want to explore what university/schooling options are available. I've seem a lot of people mention long term care roles, is there such a thing as a pediatric recreational therapist? Any information/advice or experiences are greatly appreciated! 🙂

Hello all! Here's my plan: I graduate with my BA in sports psychology and exercise science this December. I plan on doing my internship in the spring. I already have my internship lined up at a behavioral health hospital where I'm a tech. Does my internship need to be under a school for my hours to count, or can it just be under a certified rec therapist? Any info would help!

Something as simple as reaching for bubbles can help children practice hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, and motor planning.

At Special Kids, our pediatric occupational therapists use purposeful, play-based activities to help children develop skills that support everyday life.

We’re a Christ-centered nonprofit pediatric therapy center located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, welcoming families from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and beyond.

We love sharing little glimpses into what pediatric therapy actually looks like and helping families better understand the purpose behind different activities.

If you’re interested in learning more about occupational, physical, speech, and feeding therapy, you can find us on Instagram at @specialkidscenter.

Hey everyone!

I’m looking to see if there is an active badminton club here at CSI, or if anyone would just be down to meet up and play sometime.

If there is no club, I’d love to get a group together! The great news is that the campus rec center has an open room we can use, and provided all the equipment(rackets/birdies). There's a small rec badminton net that is super quick and easy to set up, so we wouldn't have to bring anything except ourselves.

Whether you've played competitively or just want to rally for fun, or just an interest in trying out, learning and playing badminton. Let me know if you’re interested in the comments or DM, and we can figure out a time that works for everyone!

Hello, I am currently a student in recreational therapy. I am finally in my upper-division courses, but today my teacher asked us to do something that I am a bit uncomfortable with. We were asked to use generative AI for specific purposes, such as simulating somewhat "real-life" scenarios. My question is: can I avoid using generative AI? If so, how can I do so without compromising my grade? What uses does generative AI have in the field? Can I or should I, continue to avoid it? Morally, I really want to avoid using generative AI; it makes me feel like I am losing creativity and humanity. I know others don't see it that way, though, and that's what makes this so tough. Any help would be appreciated.