Therapeutic Recreation at Algonquin College

Turn your passion for wellness into a career helping people.

This Ontario College Graduate Certificate program prepares you for a career in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. Therapeutic Recreation Specialists work with individuals who, due to illness, disability or other life circumstances require assistance to meet their individual goals and dreams. In this program, you develop a strong foundation of skills and knowledge to facilitate purposeful, quality leisure experiences. You use the tools of recreation and leisure to provide client centred, strengths-based therapeutic recreation services, which lead to happiness, well-being and quality of life.

Develop advanced knowledge of how to complete participant assessments, create individualized and group programs and document participant outcomes. Apply a variety of facilitative techniques to promote inclusive and meaningful recreation and leisure experiences, and advocate for participants across a variety of service settings to maximize environmental resources that are essential for well-being. Through collaboration, teamwork, research and professional involvement, you learn to adapt, implement and evaluate recreation activities to meet the needs of people in a wide range of settings. Develop your professional identity and goals to prepare you for placement and employment, which may include private practice. Your placement consolidates the skills and learning that you have attained throughout your coursework.

Graduates may work with people of all abilities that may include physical or developmental disabilities, seniors, children with diverse learning needs, youth at risk, as well as individuals with addictions, mental illness or head injuries. Specifically, you may find work in recreation, health or social service organizations such as:

• long term care facilities
• adult day programs
• hospitals and health care agencies
• rehabilitation centres
• senior residential facilities
• centres for independent living
• mental health agencies
• addiction services
• municipal community-based programs
• group homes
• outreach community health and wellness agencies
• private family care, and forensic and youth services

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are open minded, compassionate and caring.
• Enjoy learning about, and working with people with physical, cognitive, social and emotional challenges.
• Excel working as part of interprofessional teams and independently.
• Are enthusiastic, creative and innovative.
• Have strong problem solving and brainstorming skills.
• Possess strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

Careers

Graduates may find employment as recreational therapists, recreation/restorative aides, recreationalists, activation therapists, recreation program coordinators, recreation facilitators, recreation programmers, recreation assistants, therapeutic recreation coordinators and community program facilitators.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Provide for the safety of clients, self and others in compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, standards and ethical practices.
2. Assess individual needs, strengths, challenges and interests of people experiencing barriers to healthy leisure lifestyle in order to assist them in meeting their goals.
3. Maintain accurate documentation in accordance with ministry guidelines, professional standards of practice and organizational policies and procedures.
4. Plan, implement and evaluate holistic individual and group recreation therapy programs which respond to identified needs, align with assessment results and adhere to current best practices.
5. Provide individual and family therapeutic functional intervention, leisure education support, and opportunity for recreation participation.
6. Research, analyze and evaluate recreation therapy activities and programs using evidence based practices.
7. Plan, implement and evaluate community, private and institutional programs and/or services and processes to enhance quality of life for clients.
8. Collaborate with individuals, caregivers, interprofessional teams, volunteers and community service providers using a person-centered approach to promote personal, social, economic and the health-related benefits of recreation therapy services.
9. Develop and plan for ongoing personal and professional growth and development.
10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree or equivalent credential in a health-related or human services field.

• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 88, with a minimum in each component: Reading 22; Listening 22; Speaking 22; Writing 22.
• International Applicants:
  International applicants who meet the program eligibility requirements are required to complete preparatory courses (4-months in duration): Introduction to Canadian Health Studies (ICHS). Students who successfully complete the introduction will then proceed to their original health program of choice. The ICHS requires applicants to submit an academic IELTS score.