Are you currently on your journey to becoming an exceptional recreation therapist?
Great. You are in the right place. There isn’t a cookie-cutter formula to being an exceptional recreation therapist, but there are some common traits you can cultivate.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with several exceptional recreation therapists. They all had different passions, personalities, skill sets, and unique approaches to their work. The good news is that we don’t have to re-invent the wheel.
Through the cumulative knowledge of my many experiences, and with the help of the amazing online community of recreation therapists, I have crafted a list of these shared traits.
Without further ado, let’s dive into 7 Traits of an Exceptional Recreation Therapist.
1. Innovative
Definition: Introducing new ideas; original and creative in thinking.
Innovation shows up in many ways.
Perhaps it’s an idea for a brand-new facilitation technique that isn’t currently being offered at your site. Or maybe you found a solution to a common problem that your clients are facing.
Whenever you do something original or creative, you, my friend are innovating.
Recreation therapists and I cannot stress this enough, have a unique approach to health and wellness. Like every other member of the interdisciplinary team, you bring to the table a very valuable point of view.
If you have an innovative idea, challenge yourself to speak up and share it! What’s the worst that can happen? As the field of Therapeutic Recreation in on the cusp of a major come up (#glowup), innovative ideas are crucial. Check out my previous post on energizing and innovating through TR Month 2019.
2. Adaptable
Definition: Able to adjust to new conditions, to be modified for a new use or purpose.
“Make sure you have a plan. But also be prepared, because nothing will go as planned.”
This is my favorite pieces of advice I received during my first few weeks of work as a recreation therapist. Many years later, I now understand how truly accurate this confusing piece of advice is.
Adapting is a skill that takes time and an open mind. The extremely challenging, but beautiful part of working with humans is that we never know how others will react. We may think our programs are spot-on amazing, but your participants won’t always agree #sorrynotsorry
Relax – it’s okay, just take a lesson from the experts. Like those we admire, be ready in a moment’s notice to switch up your game plan to meet the needs of those they serve.
Pro-Tip: Always have a back-pocket, engaging activity you can pull off with minimal to no supplies.
3. Empathy
Definition: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Ever heard the saying, “Walk a mile in their shoes”? Empathy is the ability to walk a mile in their shoes, and then walk back to the person so you can shift the way you interact with them based on your deeper understanding of what they need.
For exceptional recreational therapists, empathy means seeing the whole person. Not only their diagnosis, age, or medication list. They go the extra step to understand other relevant information such as:
- What their family/home life is like
- What other stressors they currently experiencing and,
- How they processing this challenging season of their life
It’s this big-picture approach that makes all the difference in developing the rapport needed for trust and change to occur.
Exceptional recreation therapists have empathy on lockdown.
Pro-Tip: If you love Brene Brown as much as this kid, check out this super cute 2.5 min video on empathy. It could also be used as a great Leisure Ed. resource on teaching empathy.
4. Patience
Definition: The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Exceptional recreation therapists demonstrate patience daily. As the saying goes, “patience is a virtue”. What could this virtue show-up in your practice?
- With your clients who continue to show very challenging behaviors.
- With the family members who react emotionally towards you because of their loss.
- With your co-worker who prefers to work in a silo as opposed to as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
- With yourself when a group flops and you feel like a failure (Sidebar – You are amazing, don’t be so hard on yourself.)
I’m not going to lie, patience is hard. But if you can hone this skill over time, it will become easier to call upon when desperately needed.
5. Compassion
Definition: Sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Compassion is the act of kindness, thoughtfulness, and understanding towards others and ourselves. It is the driving force that makes our work as recreation therapists so meaningful and life-giving.
For an exceptional recreation therapist, it compassion looks like bringing their residents the newspaper because they know this simple morning routine helps regulate and bring meaning to their day.
I have a feeling you are already a pretty compassionate soul if you have decided that your life calling is to serve others as a recreation therapist.
Pro-Tip – Exceptional recreation therapists are also aware of the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue. Please educate yourself!
6. Playfulness
Definition: The quality of being light-hearted or full of fun.
Recreational therapist’s work is all about helping people improve their lives.
One of the best ways to do this is through mindfulness, also known as being present in the moment. When we do this, we can experience flow and connect to the world around us on a deeper level. Playfulness is a clear path flow.
It’s the ability to see problems and challenges with a light heart. To find pleasure in the small things, and to truly live in the moment we are given. More than just fun and games, playfulness is a way of life.
Exceptional recreation therapists have a light, giving and, playful heart. Their presence radiates love and they inspire playful moods in those around them.
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw
7. Knowledgeable
Definition: Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
We are currently living in the knowledge era. With just a few clicks of a keypad, we have a world of knowledge at our fingertips. 2019, what a time to be alive.
Exceptional recreation therapists have a deep hunger for evidence-based knowledge. Not for the sake of passing an exam or to appear smart to those around them. Rather, their motivation to learn is propelled by their innate need to better serve those around them.
What do you think it takes to be an exceptional recreation therapist?
Please comment and share it with the community below 🙂
