Like any other sort of therapy, Recreational Therapy is a competitive field. Most schools have a lengthy application process to ensure devotion and passion in the field. At ECU for example, students must complete a minimum of 25 shadowing hours, a cover letter, a resume, and a ten question interview. Then, a few are picked from the many applicants.
As this was my first time applying to an educational program with these requirements, I was left with a multitude of questions about the process: Who should I address in my cover letter? What should I include in my resume? What will they ask me in the interview? I wanted answers, and good answers at that.
In this post, I’m going to provide answers to as many questions about applying as possible, that I’ve learned through my own experience, and hope that this can serve as a sort of guide for other RT applicants. What follows is a list I’ve compiled on what RT administrators really want from students and potential students in their program.
- Dedication
As previously stated, RT is a competitive field. This is due to it being a rigorous Bachelor’s degree, filled with medical classes, 40 credit hours specific to the program, and required shadowing and internships. Administrators and employers want to see high student involvement in the field; shadowing and volunteering at multiple locations related to the field. The more hours, the better.
2. Passion
One of the questions asked in my interview was: What is recreational therapy to you and what do you hope to do as a therapist? Recreational therapy requires a lot of patience and commitment to each individual patient. You’ll be working with individuals with special needs, in geriatrics, hospital patients, or veterans. Each of these individuals will have their own set of physical and mental barriers that they need to overcome. It will take time and not everyone will move at the same pace, but the goal should be to keep engaging them in activities that will boost their overall state of wellness.
3. People-Skills
Recreational Therapy absolutely requires one to be able to work very well interpersonally. The entire profession is based upon one’s ability to engage and interact with people. Strong leadership skills are also essential, as you will be directing groups of people to perform different activities
4. Creativity
Many RT’s are required to formulate their own fitness plan for patients, based on their individual needs and abilities. For example, when working in Geriatrics, activities cannot be too intense or strenuous; they must be simple to perform. On the other hand, if one is working with children or veterans, the activities will need to be more engaging and tedious, so as to properly physically challenge them.
The following article highlights the keys to success in becoming a recreational therapist: https://www.atra-online.com/page/BecomeAnRT
Merely Recreational Therapy 