Therapeutic Activities

Recreation and Leisure Activities

There are thousands of recreation and leisure activities that can be used in recreation therapy to bring physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional benefits to participants. The therapeutic activity is selected based on the participants needs, strengths and interested. Some possibilities are outlined below.

Art

Many therapeutic goals can be achieved through art including increased self efficacy, stress relief, and improved fine motor skills. Painting, drawing, crafting and other activities can be modified so that anyone can participate. For example, a person with visual impairment can paint a sun catcher by feeling the raised edges, or a person with limited fine motor movement can use a marble paint technique to create beautiful works of art and enjoy the benefits of creativity and flow that can be found in making art.

Yoga

Yoga can bring many physical and mental benefits to participants. Participants experiencing mental health concerns and substance abuse may especially benefit from yoga because it can offer relief of anxiety and depression. Yoga can be modified to fit all ability levels. Chair yoga can provide a great opportunity for physical exercise that anyone can participate in.

Horticulture/Gardening

Bringing something to life and watching in grow can cause growth in an individual as well. Many participants find gardening to be an excellent means of stress relief and learn new problem solving skills from working with mother nature. It can also lead to improved social skills, motor skills and even a healthier diet.

Sports/Adapted Sports

Physical rehabilitation, increased social skills and coping skills, depression relief and community re-integration are just a few therapeutic goals that can be achieved through participation in sport activities, which can all be modified (including special adaptive equipment for individuals with physical disabilities) so that everyone can participate.

Pet Therapy

Individuals recovering from an illness or injury, or who experience mental health conditions, dementia, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and others can benefit from spending time with and interacting with a therapy animal.

Meditation

Healthcare professionals are finally acknowledging the benefits of holistic health, including the mind-body connection. Guided meditation and mindfulness practices can bring mental benefits of stress and anxiety relief, improved coping skills, and anger management which in turn lead to improved physical health.

Games

Recreational therapy uses games to help a variety of populations including: group games to promote behavioral change and social skills for participants with developmental disabilities such as Autism, reminiscence games for dementia and hospice care and games requiring dexterity to improve fine motor skills of participants recovering from an injury.

Music

Listening to music can be soothing and cathartic for individuals with mental health conditions and many other groups. Also, making music- such as learning to play the guitar (or even teaching someone else how to play) or participating in a drum circle can be very empowering and combat symptoms of depression, including low self-esteem. This can also be a healthy leisure skill for someone who is learning how to participate in leisure with a newly acquired disability or a substance abuse patient who needs new leisure associations.

Outings

The quickest improvement in mood I have seen in participants occurs during outings. Many individuals seem to open up and feel more at ease when they go out into nature or the community with a group or individual they feel safe with. Outings can be an opportunity to achieve goals in the areas of behavior modification, coping skills, community re-integration, mobility, problem solving skills and overall sense of well-being and independence.

Walking and Hiking

Spending time outdoors is amazing for anxiety relief because it brings a participant's awareness into the present (as opposed to worrying about the past or future). Being in nature creates a heightened awareness and even a sense of purpose and contentedness. A walk or hike of appropriate difficulty can be an opportunity for an individual to challenge themselves and realize their strengths and abilities.