RCPT 344
PROGRAM APPLICATION IN RECREATION THERAPY

1. Catalog Entry

RCPT 344. Program Application in Recreation Therapy
Two hours lecture; two hours laboratory (3).

Prerequisites: RCPT 342

Provides laboratory experience in recreation therapy.  Emphasizes program design and evaluation, activity analysis and facilitation techniques. Students conduct programs for individuals with disabling conditions in the community.

2. Detailed Description of Content of the Course

This course is designed to integrate the material from several previous courses in the actual practice of recreation therapy programming. Students will be asked to analyze activity offerings, leadership and intervention techniques, disability characteristics, and agency focus and need. They will have the opportunity to develop a recreation therapy program for RU Recreation Therapy Services. Emphasis will be placed on client assessments, specific goals and objectives, activity adaptation, program and client evaluation and documentation as it applies to quality assurance and standards applied by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. This course will address material included in the examination for certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.

• Social psychological basis (perceptions) of recreation therapy
• Intrinsic motivation
• Locus of control
• Social influence
• Socialization
• Genetic structure
• Theories of human behavior change
• Social learning
• Self-efficacy
• Attribution model
• Learned helplessness
• Theories which contribute to an understanding of leisure and TR
• Sociological theories
• Symbolic interactionism
• Social constructionism
• Psychological theories/therapies used to structure recreation therapy
• Psychoanalytic/existential interventions (e.g., Adlerian, person-centered, gestalt, transactional analysis)
• Cognitive-behavioral interventions (e.g., rational-emotive, behavior modification, reality therapy, cognitive therapy)
• Systemic interventions (e.g., family therapy, multimodal therapy)
• Leisure educational/counseling
• Service models (e.g., leisure-ability, Mundy/Odum, health protection/health promotion, ecological, McDowell, Hultsman, et al.)
• Assessment in designing leisure education programs
• Systems design of leisure education program
• Intervention/facilitation techniques in recreation therapy
• Physical activity and health promotion (e.g., wellness, fitness, stress management and relaxation techniques)
• Cognitive activity interventions (e.g., cognitive retraining, sensory stimulation, reality orientation, remotivation, reminiscence and life review)
• Psycho-social activity interventions (e.g., assertiveness training, values clarification, validation, social skills training, adventure/challenge activities, horticulture/pet therapy, bibliotherapy, drama therapy, play therapy)
• Group program development
• Assessment
• Goal and behavioral objectives
• Program mission
• Content and process
• Activity sequence
• Evaluation and discharge planning

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of the Course

Students will first be asked to review the text and discuss the program theory presented. The previously stated knowledge and skills will be discussed. Students will be asked to develop a recreation therapy program for RU Recreation Therapy Services including the assessment, goals and objectives, activity offerings, and evaluation. There will be group and individual work during the semester. Students will meet individually with the instructor.

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Develop a program plan for a specific client population including:

a. statement of purpose
b. goals
c. behavioral objectives
d. appropriate activities
e. sequence of activities
f. leadership/intervention methods
g. evaluation technique

2. Participate in providing a recreation therapy program in a treatment setting.
3. Develop an assessment tool for a specific population.

5. Assessment Measures

Students will be evaluated on a comprehensive examination, a program proposal, conducting an assessment, and documentation skills.

6. Other Course Information

None

7. Review and Approval

DATE ACTION APPROVED BY
November 2005 Reviewed Susan R. Van Patten, Curriculum Chair