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RECREATIONAL THERAPISTS

Occupation Description:

Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity. Excludes �Recreation Workers� (39-9032).

Career Video:

Recreational Therapists

Specialized Occupations:

Art Therapists (ONET code: 29-1125.01)

Music Therapists (ONET code: 29-1125.02)


	Occupation Description:

	Plan, organize, or direct medically prescribed music therapy activities designed to positively influence patients' psychological or behavioral status.


	Typical Tasks:

	Apply current technology to music therapy practices. Collaborate with others to design or implement interdisciplinary treatment programs. Participate in continuing education. Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs. Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches. Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy. Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.


	Skills:

	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.. Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.. Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.. Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.. Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.. Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.. Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things..


	Knowledge:

	Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.. Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.. Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.. English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.. Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.. Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.. Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects..

Typical Tasks:

Develop discharge plans for patients.
Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.

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Education & Training:

Bachelor's degree

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site

Wage Information:

Region	Average Annual	Average Hourly	Entry Level (hourly)	Mid-Range (hourly)
Statewide	$60,480.00	$29.08	$30.08	$17.35 - $37.14
Bridgeport/Stamford	$49,857.00	$23.96	$25.81	$17.33 - $30.59
Hartford	$59,775.00	$28.73	$29.23	$16.53 - $36.51
New Haven	$65,843.00	$31.65	$33.93	$22.56 - $41.28

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Occupation Outlook:

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