Jamaica Hospital Rehabilitation
Recreational therapy (also known as therapeutic recreation) is a treatment approach focused on improving patients’ psychological and physical well-being through recreational activities such as art, games, music, or dancing. The specific activities involved in recreational therapy are tailored to each patient’s preferences and interests, making this kind of treatment a highly personalized process.
Some of the goals of recreational therapy are to:
- Reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, or other chronic mental health conditions
- Improve patients’ self-confidence
- Improve patients’ ability to socialize
Adequate physical, mental, and social development are critical elements of an individual’s ability to fully and independently pursue activities of their own choosing; recreational and leisure activities are a necessary part of this development. As a component of each patient’s treatment plan, these kinds of activities are part of what makes recreational therapy unique compared to other forms of therapy.
At JHMC, Recreational therapy is provided in the inpatient acute rehabilitation unit and is an integral part of the rehabilitation process.