RECREATION: AN ESSENTIAL PART OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Presenters: Lauren Sirkin, CTRS Melissa Lachanski, B.S

It's time to play a game :) STAND UP! It's time to play a game :) Egg Chicken Eagle dinosaur

WHAT IS RECREATION THERAPY Recreational therapists assist clients to develop skills, knowledge and behaviors for daily living and community involvement. The goal of recreational therapy is to restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability Social Emotional Physical Cognitive

Certification Four years of college Pass a certification test, soon to be licensure in NYS Activities coordinator: Someone who organizes activities for clients Recreation therapist: Someone who organizes recreation therapy for clients

Why add Recreation therapy to the medical modalities now? It uses the same medical model as other therapies It has a strength based focus People try harder when they are having fun It creates an atmosphere to succeed People should be able to enjoy the therapy they are receiving to help them get better, and feel happy!

ASSESSMENT Why did we play that game a moment ago? What did you notice about each other? What is the difference between an assessment written by a psychologist, and an assessment written by a recreation therapist? Goal of assessment: To help a person discover their strengths and use those to discover a person’s aspirations for recreation, health, and life.

PLANNING Once you assess a patient/client, you must plan. Creating client identified goals

Development of plan What is the participant’s current situation? What are the participant’s internal and external strengths and resources? What are the participant’s goals, dreams, and aspirations? Where does the participant want to be? Development of plan http://colfax.cortland.edu/

IMPLEMENTATION Here is where you put your plan into action This could be individually or in groups! My therapy groups have been things such as: ninja training, relaxation, The Sharks (a house wide team building group), Iron Chef

EVALUATION As with all events, you must evaluate your process after it ends. Did it go the way you planned? If not, why, and was that okay?

SCENARIO #1 An elderly lady is admitted into your nursing home. She is confused, and shows signed of mild dementia. She is upset with her family's decision, but is willing to tell you about it. When she was younger, she worked in a bookstore. She and her husband had three children together. What could a goal be, and what activity would you do to help her reach that?

SCENARIO #2 An average functioning 14 year old female, who cuts her thighs while in the shower. She rarely reports the incidents, and gets upset/ defiant when people find out. She likes to hang out with her friends, take walks, and watch tv. Her family would like her to decrease self harming behaviors, be truthful to those around her, and go to school on a regular basis in order to return home.

SCENARIOS 1 AND 2 Elderly woman: My goal would originally be to make her feel comfortable. After that, I would have her come up with the idea to create program revolving around books Teenager: The goal would focus on self esteem. In order to increase her self esteem, I would involve her in a volunteer activity of her choosing.

Research is limited but evolving Wounded Warrior Project Still very little research, however... Participants continue to report that the program works!

STRIDE CREATE opportunities and provide outlets for individuals with special needs and wounded warriors to make friends, increase self-esteem, develop life skills, realize their potential and become productive members of society. “Stride has been an inspiration, a stepping stone and incredible program that not only gives us veterans a chance at feeling normal and whole; it gives us our lives back. It gave me a way to open up to people, get my life back on track and gave me a sense of purpose. It's something all veterans long for after we leave the military.” Jeremy Walton

Our Programs

Why Volunteer? Making new friends and connections Being involved in your community Building confidence and self esteem Feeling needed and important Getting active and healthy by reducing stress

According to Psychologytoday.com, “Even when medical history, age, socioeconomic status, social support network, marital status, and physical/emotional health were taken into consideration, volunteering appears to reduce risk of death by 25 percent” The full study is on the desk if you would like a copy

Caregiver’s systems model Helping leads to feelings of perceived usefulness and provides social integration and support. Oxytocin and progesterone are released as a result which regulate stress. Older volunteers are potentially better able to resist disease and can live longer as a result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-_9WUliYog

Is it possible, that through volunteering and recreation, we can help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and ultimately, suicidal ideations?

Psychologytoday.org Public.asu.edu Pbskids.org Recreationtherapy.com References http://colfax.cortland.edu/ http://www.public.asu.edu/~iacmao/Handbook_of_Resilience_chapter_Brown%20_Okun.pdf Psychologytoday.org Public.asu.edu Pbskids.org Recreationtherapy.com Stride.org