Understanding Recreation Therapy in British Columbia

Recreation therapy is a person-centred, evidence-informed allied health profession that uses purposeful, goal-directed recreation and leisure-based interventions to support recovery, participation, engagement, and quality of life across diverse care and community environments. Delivered across clinical, community, and private practice settings, recreation therapy contributes to improved functional outcomes, strengthens engagement in care, and enhances overall service quality.

In British Columbia, Recreation Therapists and Recreation Therapy Assistants work in complementary roles across a range of practice environments, including settings where services are delivered independently or in collaboration with other professionals, with role responsibilities and oversight aligned to the practice context. This page provides an overview of the profession, practice contexts, and role contributions to support shared understanding among employers, practitioners, and partners.

Therapist watching young girl build blocks during recreation therapy
Therapist doing completing a recreation therapy intake assessment with a young adult
Older man and woman playing badmonton as part of recreation therapy

Clinical Healthcare Settings

In acute care, rehabilitation, mental health, corrections, and long-term care, Recreation Therapists support individuals with complex health needs as part of interdisciplinary teams. Their work focuses on participation, psychosocial well-being, functional engagement in care, and quality of life across both recovery-oriented and long-term support environments.

In clinical settings, Recreation Therapists:

  • Design and deliver purposeful, goal-directed interventions that reinforce rehabilitation objectives while supporting recovery, adjustment, functional participation, and carryover into daily life
  • Support emotional adjustment, coping, and identity following illness or injury, helping individuals find meaning and maintain a sense of self during difficult health experiences
  • Address psychosocial, motivational, and behavioural barriers that impact treatment engagement and recovery, including through non-pharmacological approaches to distress and anxiety
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to align care goals and support coordinated transitions

These services improve patient engagement, reduce distress, support discharge readiness, and contribute to effective use of health-care resources.

Community & Primary Care Settings

Within community and primary care models, recreation therapy supports health promotion and social prescribing by linking clinical care with meaningful participation in everyday life. Recreation Therapists assess strengths, participation goals, and environmental barriers, and support individuals to engage safely and effectively in community-based activities

Community-based recreation therapy promotes recovery, sustained participation, and overall well-being by:

  • Enhancing confidence, self-management, and functional skills
  • Strengthening social connection and protective factors for mental health
  • Reducing isolation and the health impacts of disengagement
  • Supporting community reintegration following illness, injury, or hospitalization
  • Supporting individuals living with chronic conditions through adaptive strategies and meaningful activity engagement
  • Providing education and support to caregivers
  • Facilitating connections to community resources and ongoing support

This work enhances continuity of care, supports discharge follow-through, reduces preventable service re-entry, and promotes long-term health and participation beyond formal care environments.

Private Practice

In private practice, Recreation Therapists provide flexible, individualized services across home, community, assisted living, and long-term care settings. These services may support independent living, caregiver education, leisure re-engagement, and functional participation.

Private practice increases access to recreation therapy, particularly where community programs are limited, and supports individuals – especially older adults – to remain connected to their communities, reduce social isolation, and maintain purpose through meaningful routines and relationships.

Supporting Safe, Effective Service Delivery

Safe, effective recreation therapy practice depends on clear professional roles, appropriate qualifications, and strong accountability frameworks. Employers play a critical role in ensuring services are delivered by practitioners with the preparation, credentials, and scope of responsibility required to meet the needs of increasingly complex client populations.

Recreation Therapists (RecTs)

  • Hold accountability for the full recreation therapy clinical process
  • Conduct individualized assessments and interpret findings to identify client strengths, needs, and limitations
  • Develop and evaluate recreation- and leisure-based therapeutic interventions aligned with client goals
  • Provide clear clinical direction, expectations, and oversight to Recreation Therapy Assistants when delegating aspects of intervention delivery
  • Remain accountable for therapeutic decision-making and outcomes
  • Should hold the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS®) credential, which verifies education, competence, and ongoing professional accountability through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

Recreation Therapy Assistants (RecTAs)

  • Support service delivery under the professional direction and supervision of a Recreation Therapist
  • Implement assigned activities and components of interventions as directed by the RecT
  • Observe, document, and report client responses to support evaluation and continuity of care
  • Contribute to client engagement and therapeutic experiences within defined role expectations
  • Do not independently conduct assessments, apply clinical judgment, or design therapeutic interventions

When Recreation Therapist and Recreation Therapy Assistant roles are clearly defined and implemented as intended, employers can support high-quality, ethical, and accountable recreation therapy services across clinical, community, and private practice settings.