Recreation Therapist

Recreation Therapist

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm#tab-2

Duties and Responsibilities:

The recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment program for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.  They use a variety of modalities including arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games, and community reintegration field trips; they use the field trips to help maintain a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being. Some duties that the recreation therapist does are:

·         Evaluating interventions for effectiveness

·         Help patients learn social skills needed to become or remain independent

·         Record and analyze a patient’s progress

·         Engage the patients in therapeutic activities, such as games

Salary: $42,280 per year   $20.33 per hour

Education:

Most therapists need a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy. Some recreational therapists can get an associate’s degree, master’s, or a doctoral degree. Courses include assessment, human anatomy, medical and psychiatric terminology, characterizes of disabilities, and the use of assistive devices and technology. A bachelor’s degree program usually includes an internship.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I think I would like to become one because I get to help patients with their injuries and I get to have fun with them. I would also like to become one because this job would bring a great experience to me.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist

http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/car1a.html

Duties and Responsibilities:

The occupational therapists help patients who are mentally, emotionally, and physically disabled. They help their patients adjust to handicaps and help them regain abilities like daily living and self- care skills. They part of the physicians, counselors, and physical therapist team.

They design therapy programs and work closely with the patients to observe them and monitor their success. They design special equipment to aid the patients and them with therapy. They even teach patients how to adjust to work and home life abilities after becoming disabled. Most work at hospitals, and many work at nursing homes. Others work at schools for the handicapped, rehabilitation centers, or adult daycare centers.

Salary: $26,000-$45,000

Education:

Students should take Math, Science, and English courses in high school to become an occupational therapist.

Every state requires that they should have either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree. This includes clinical experience and a successful national examination to become certified.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I would not like to become a therapist because I would not enjoy having to see disabled patients every day.

Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/car1a.html

Duties and Responsibilities:
	Physical Therapists help patients restore bodily functions, prevent permanent disability, and relieve pain after an injury or illness.  This therapy can include work and massage to increase strength, coordination, and range of motion.  Therapists also apply traction and heat, cold, light, and water treatments to the patients.  They even train patients to use prosthetic and othotic appliances.  Physical therapists work in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, and physicians' offices.
Average Salary: $25,000-$45,000
Educational Requirements:
	Students should take math, science, and English courses.  To become a licensed physical therapist, most states require students to earn a master's degree and pass a certification examination.

Reflection: Answer-Do you think you would like to be a Physical Therapist? Why? Why not?

I would not like to be a physical therapist because it would be something would not like to enjo