Introduction and Definition of the Recreational Therapy Facilitation Technique
Recreational Therapy or Therapeutic Recreation Is When Trained Providers Use Recreational Activities to Improve or Maintain a Person’s Cognitive, Emotional, Social, or Physical Functioning. People Who Receive This Therapy-Sometimes, Called Patients-Are, Are Often Ill, Have Disabilities, or Are Elderly. The Therapist Provides Adapted Recreational Opportunities to Help Patients Develop Independent Living Skills and Improve Their Quality of Life. Recreational Therapy Can Help Reduce Stress and Depression and Help Improve the Patient’s Physical and Emotional Well-Being. For Some, It May Even Be Used to Help Support or Restore Basic Reasoning or Motor Skills.
History, Description and Purpose of the Facilitation Technique
Recreational Therapy Can Take Many Forms. Therapeutic Activities Can Include Sports, Crafts, Dancing, Time Spent With Animals, Stress Reduction Techniques, Music, Games, and Social Activities. These Activities Can Provide Mental and Physical Stimulation, and Some Exercises Can Help Patients Develop Specific Skills. Sometimes Recreational Therapy Is Used to Help the Patient Gain Confidence, Improve Social Skills, and Even Integrate More Into Their Community. Patients Receive Recreational Treatment in a Variety of Places and Settings (Austin, 2018). For Example, a Therapist May Be Employed in an Assisted Living Facility, and Patients May Participate in Therapy in That Facility.
Theoretical Foundations of the Facilitation Technique
The recreational therapist usually completes an assessment of each patient to determine areas of focus. The therapist may use direct observation of the patient, judgments, medical notes, and conversations with the patient and family members or medical staff. After completing the assessment, the therapist can create an individualized treatment plan based on the patient’s interests and areas for improvement (Austin, Mccormick, & Marieke Van Puymbroeck, 2018). Typically, most entry-level positions for recreational therapist require a bachelor’s degree with a specialization or concentration in the field.
Explanation of the Effectiveness of the Intervention for Different Populations
This Method Has the Most Negligible Effect on Young Children, Namely, Preschool Children. This Is Because They Most of Their Free Time Playing and They Do Not See the Differences From the Usual Pastime. Older Children, and Teenagers, Have Already Begun to Understand the Difference and Appreciate Such Therapies More. It Is Impossible to Say With Certainty How Effectively This Methodology Works Since This Kind of Metric Is Individual. The Third Category, the Older, Namely, the Retired, Are the Most Suitable for This Therapy (Porter, 2017). This Is Due to the Need to Lead a Quiet Life, Which This Methodology Provides.
Implementation of the Exercises Using the Facilitation Technique
The development of an exercise for this type of activity should take into account the individual characteristics of each person. For this example, we will use a group of people with sleep problems over 60. It is necessary to concentrate one’s attention on the fact that people of this age need peace. In addition, it is crucial to understand that with age, the perceptual organs lose their strength, and it is necessary to concentrate on this aspect as well. That’s why the decision was made to create a good therapy session to calm down with the help of calm classical music.
Thus, carrying out this technique affects not only healthy sleep but also the organs of perception, which deteriorate significantly with age. This therapy will also positively affect one’s general well-being and improve one’s mood. It may also be noted that there is an opportunity to select thematic music for each person, which encourages additional interest in therapy. Often these are melodies that bring back vivid memories from the past and help to recall the times close to the person in question.
References
Austin, D. R. (2018). Therapeutic recreation processes and techniques: Evidence-based recreational therapy. Urbana, Il: Sagamore-Venture.
Austin, D. R., Mccormick, B. P., & Marieke Van Puymbroeck. (2018). Management functions in recreational therapy. Urbana, Il: Sagamore Publishing.
Porter, H. R. (2017). Recreational therapy basics, techniques, and interventions. Enumclaw, Wa: Idyll Arbor Inc.