Recreation therapy programs prepare people to use leisure activities to promote health and healing in patients. Students learn counseling and leisure program planning. They also learn about human growth and ways to work with people with special needs

When you hear the word "recreation," you probably think of something you do to relax and have fun. You might think of outdoor activities such as fishing or gardening. Or, maybe you think of hobbies such as painting or knitting. But have you ever considered that activities like these can help people overcome physical or mental disabilities? For example, a person who recently suffered an arm injury may have difficulty using her left hand, so a recreational therapist might use an activity such as playing the piano to increase muscle control.

Recreational therapists plan leisure activities to promote people's mental and physical health. As a recreation therapist, you can work at hospitals, mental health clinics, or nursing homes. You can also work for community organizations, psychiatric hospitals, or adult day-care centers. In addition, you can work at substance abuse treatment centers. Furthermore, you can work with patients of all ages, from babies to older people. You can also work with patients with different kinds of mental, physical, or developmental disabilities.

In recreation therapy programs, you take courses in psychology, anatomy, and physiology. You also take courses in statistics and research methods. Many courses focus on technical skills, such as interacting with patients and creating therapeutic activities. Overall, you learn how to create therapies that reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.

Over 50 four-year schools in the U.S. offer bachelor's degrees in recreation therapy. Many schools also offer certificates in recreation therapy. Certificates are usually offered to those who already have a bachelor's degree in another field. In addition, a few schools offer graduate degrees in recreation therapy. These typically take two to five years after you finish your bachelor's degree. Most people with graduate degrees in recreation therapy become professors or administrators.