Recreation therapy uses purposeful, goal-oriented recreation and leisure opportunities that build on your strengths to overcome challenges and achieve optimal well being.
Recreation therapists use leisure and recreation to support your recovery from illness, injury or disability — rebuilding your life, resulting in increased life satisfaction and mental wellness.
Services you can expect from a recreation therapist:
Leisure assessment
- Explore your interests, unique abilities and skills
- Develop an individual leisure plan and wellness goals
- Explore your social, mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
Leisure education
- Discover how leisure can provide meaning and a sense of purpose in your life
- Learn how the benefits of leisure can motivate change
- Learn and develop skills to engage in a healthy leisure lifestyle
- Increase your awareness of how leisure can be used as a coping skill and support you in your recovery
Community integration
- Explore your community resources
- Overcome challenges that prevent you from accessing your community
- Become comfortable accessing community resources independently
Connection
- Participate in opportunities to create social connections, develop social skills and create peer relationships
- Feel empowered to live a healthy leisure lifestyle and experience increase quality of life
- Discover a renewed sense of belonging in your community
Recreation therapy is a vital restorative and rehabilitation tool.
Access
Eligibility
Recreation therapists provide services in tertiary, inpatient, acute and community programs.
Talk to your Mental Health and Substance Use Centre team, hospital therapist or case manager to connect you with a recreation therapist.