Recreational Therapy
What is recreational therapy?
Why recreational therapy at OSU?
Career Paths
Our graduates go on to work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, day programs, nursing homes or other public or private health care settings as:
- Recreational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Physicians
- Health care administrators
- Activities coordinators
Highlights
Warm Water Therapy
Each semester, students gain practical experience by participating in OSU’s Warm Water Therapy Lab at Stillwater Medical Center. Student therapists provide therapy to children with behavior, physical and psychiatric diagnoses and disabilities through assessment, development of a treatment plan, delivery of interventions as part of the treatment plan and evaluation of progress. This is the first of three clinical rotations required for the recreational therapy program.
Internship Experiences
Our students complete two internships totaling 1,000 hours under the direction of a nationally credentialed and state licensed recreational therapist. During their junior and senior year, students work closely with site recreational therapists to conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, deliver interventions and report during treatment team meetings. Internship sites may include behavioral health or psychiatric treatment facilities, physical rehabilitation facilities, home-health settings, public schools, private practice or community-based facilities.
Student Perspective
“My internship allowed me to practice recreational therapy in a variety of leisure activities. Treating patients through activities like painting, pottery and aquatics let me apply classroom knowledge to real care.”
Recreational Therapy student