Recreational Therapist - Licensed

Position Summary

The Recreational Therapist provides therapeutic recreation services for patients participating in the Military Support Program. This position develops and facilitates structured, clinically appropriate recreational activities designed to support recovery, resiliency, healthy coping, social connection, stress management, and overall wellness. The Recreational Therapist works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary treatment team to integrate recreational therapy into each patient's individualized treatment and recovery goals. Programming should be responsive to the unique experiences and needs of active-duty military personnel, veterans, and other individuals served by the Patriot Support Program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess patients' recreational interests, strengths, abilities, needs, and barriers to participation and incorporate findings into therapeutic programming.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate structured individual and group recreational therapy interventions consistent with patients' treatment goals.
• Provide therapeutic activities that promote resiliency and recovery, healthy coping skills, stress reduction and emotional regulation, physical wellness, self-esteem and confidence, social interaction and teamwork, and development of healthy leisure interests.
• Facilitate a variety of therapeutic recreational activities, which may include fitness and movement-based activities, mindfulness, relaxation techniques, outdoor recreation, creative activities, team-building activities, and yoga-based activities when clinically appropriate.
• Adapt recreational interventions based on patients' physical abilities, behavioral health needs, treatment status, and identified goals.
• Collaborate with clinical, nursing, medical, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Participate in treatment planning and communicate relevant observations regarding patient participation, progress, strengths, and barriers.
• Complete required assessments, progress notes, treatment documentation, and other clinical records accurately and within established timeframes.
• Maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries and provide services in a professional, respectful, trauma-informed manner.
• Maintain recreational supplies and equipment and promote safe use of therapeutic recreation spaces.
• Assist with development of recreational programming specific to the Patriot Support population.
• Participate in departmental and hospital meetings, training, performance improvement, and other assigned activities.
• Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Recreational Therapy, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience providing recreational therapy services in a behavioral health, psychiatric, substance use, rehabilitation, military/veteran, or other healthcare setting preferred.
• Experience working with military service members, veterans, first responders, or trauma-affected populations preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential preferred.
• Experience developing or facilitating therapeutic programming focused on resiliency, recovery, wellness, stress management, and healthy coping.
• Experience or training in yoga, trauma-informed yoga, mindfulness-based movement, or similar mind-body wellness activities strongly preferred.
• Yoga instructor certification or comparable formal yoga training is preferred but not required unless needed for independently provided yoga services.
• Knowledge of military culture and the behavioral health needs of military and veteran populations preferred.
• Experience working within an interdisciplinary behavioral healthcare team preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong therapeutic communication and group facilitation skills.
• Ability to establish professional rapport with patients while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to develop engaging, goal-directed therapeutic activities for patients with varying levels of functioning.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and recovery-oriented treatment.
• Ability to recognize patient safety concerns and communicate them promptly to the appropriate clinical team member.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment environment.
• Demonstrates professionalism, dependability, flexibility, and sound clinical judgment.

Physical Requirements

Ability to perform the physical functions necessary to facilitate recreational and wellness activities and to meet the established physical requirements of the position and facility.