Position Paper Available from NCTRC

NCTRC has published a position paper entitled “NCTRC Position Paper on the Legal Regulation of the Practice of Recreation Therapy.”

The NCTRC paper advocates the legal regulation of RT practice. I certainly support this position.

Within the paper a number of terms are defined, including recreaton therapy. The definition put forth in the paper follows:

"Recreation therapy: a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions based upon the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions. The purpose of the RT process is to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full participation in life."

Is this a good definition of RT? It seems good as far as it goes but it lacks any mention of optimal health and wellness -- or health promotion. What do you think?

You may go to the NCTRC website, http://www.nctrc.org/ to download a copy of NCTRC's position paper.