Amanda Zakka

LEI 4720
Prof. Santiago
Module 15 Journal: Where do we go from here?
1. Using the articles on the opera and dolphin assisted therapy, make an argument for why or
why not RTs are a good fit for both of those settings.
Opera
Enjoyment is defined as something that gives keen satisfaction. The benefits that an
individual receives from participating in something he/she enjoys are important to recognize like,
providing a chance to take a break, engage in a pleasurable diversionary activity, and induce
positive emotions. Enjoyable activities can also act as restorers that assist the individuals
recovery from stress by replenishing the individuals spirits and even allow the individual to feel
protected or cared for. A period of relaxation leads to increased positive emotions.
Recreational therapists oversee and assist individuals participate and engage in
recreational activities to experience enjoyment. Based on the foundational concepts and goal of
RT, I believe that RTs are a good fit in an opera performance at Correctional Institutions, as
individuals are provided an opportunity to engage and benefit from recreational opportunities
(opera) as an outlet from their situation provided through participation in the Opera program.
The Opera program has provided inmates more than an outlet to feel a sense of escape and
liberation, but also has provided them with a sense of humanity, one that helps some to
temporarily forget the confines that restrict them to the facility.
Although some may question the reasoning behind providing individuals who have been
incarcerated a chance of enjoyment, it is important to remember that behind the prisoneris a
person, a person who deserves a second chance to demonstrate the potential to do the right thing.
This could be a possibility through recreational rehabilitation. RTs can demonstrate to these
individuals the potential recreation has to nourish what is good in him/her. The inception of the
Opera club at this correctional facility verified the impact one person can have on the lives of
others. Through recreation, we can impact the lives of others within diverse populations of the
community, including more controversial settings.
Dolphin-Assisted Therapy (DAT)
For a long time, animals have been an important part of society. Besides providing
companionship, animals have been found to provide individuals therapeutic benefit. It is noted
that the strength of using animals in therapy resides in the feelings that are often elicited by
using animals in therapeutic contexts, the diversity of settings and populations where animals can
be used therapeutically where the effects have been shown to provide a sense of normalcy
and well-being and aided in the social development of individuals. One theory presented in
Thinking Outside the Box is that particularly dolphins are uniquely sensitive to the needs of
people with disabilities and seek to help them through playful expressions of concern. As
recreational therapists, it is important to recognize behaviors of clients and understand the benefit
of working with animals, such as dolphins through allowing a child to interact with the dolphin
following a correct cognitive, physical, or social-emotional response. Recreational therapists
are involved in assisting individuals participate and engage in recreational activities with one
goal being functional improvement. RTs would be beneficial to this setting as they could help
create and target specific goals for a child with a disability in the DAT program.
Although this form of therapy is not supported by scientific evidence, the change in
behavior and benefits that clients receive from participating in this form of therapy should not go
unnoticed. Dolphins are gentle, graceful, appear friendly and communicative. These
characteristics have shown to be beneficial as an animal to work with people with disabilities.
Clients who participated showed an overall an increase in the clients correct responses, newly
emergent kindness, improved attentiveness, initiating play, maintaining eye contact, and self-
control, however this is not supported by scientific evidence. Regardless of the scientific
research yet to be completed on the benefits dolphin-human interaction can provide, DAT is a
great setting for recreational therapists, even if it is just to create awareness that individuals with
disabilities can and should participate in a rewarding activity. Rewarding in the simple fact that
both children and adults can find enjoyment participating and spending time with dolphins.
2. Now that you are at the very end of your RT education program, you should have some ideas
of what is working and what needs to be improved to prepare you as practitioners. Using the
Keller article, write one paragraph summary of your thoughts on that topic.
Recreational Therapy has experienced some growth as a profession, however there are
still more areas that the field could use some improvement in. Kellers Looking Forward: The
Future of Recreation Therapy/Therapeutic Education published article in the Therapeutic
Recreation Journal presents and discusses the future of RT. As a graduating Recreational
Therapy student who intends to sit for the NCTRC certification exam, I find myself considering
the future of our profession where are areas that we could grow? How could I contribute to the
growth of the practice? What is the best way to advocate for the services I will provide? One way
that Recreational Therapy programs are benefiting is their history of accreditation with the
Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COARPT).
This demonstrates the professions commitment to quality undergraduate education by focusing
on student performance and continuous improvement in curriculum development and delivery.
Another area that is working for the profession is the requirement of students to have clinical
experience through enrolling in internships. This provides students with real life experience on
the job in different settings for them to observe what is benefitting certain areas of practice and
what is not. A key issue that needs to be considered is educational reform to enhance teaching
effectiveness that can lead to an increase in graduation rates and the development of competent,
caring, and workforce-readied professionals. As well as, ensuring that programs have appropriate
and continuing accreditation to demonstrate to the consumer the hallmark of quality services.
Accreditation provides comfort to the consumer that an organization is committed to
encouraging feedback, continuously improving services, and serving the community. Our goal
for the future of the profession needs to involve looking forward to new opportunities and
developing guidelines for learning outcomes for TR education among higher education
universities.
3. Finally, this requires thinking deeply and creatively. It also requires that you take a leap of
faith, as discussed in the assigned video. Is that you? What can the profession do better?
Professions only evolve when creative thinkers and hard workers work to continually improve on
what we have, and bring about new ideas. What can we do to better market ourselves? Secure
reimbursement? Provide more and better services to the same and different populations? Dream.
Create. Be part of change.
How My Patients Teach Me How To Live by Dr. Benjamin LaBrot engages his audience
to take a leap of faith. He encourages them to strive to live out loud knowing that sometimes this
means you will fall. One of the reasons why I love what recreational therapy stands for is the
possibilities and opportunities we have as professionals to engage clients in an enjoyable
experience regardless of his/her background. It is about encouraging each of them to take that
leap of faith and live out loud through engaging in a previous activity once enjoyed or finding a
new one, even if it means that they may fall during the process. We should share our personal
experiences and encourage our clients to take their own Leaps of Faith.
Although at the time it may not have been recognizable, I have taken a few leaps of faith.
One being choosing recreational therapy as a major, as I had not truly done much research or
known about the field. Starting my freshman year of college with 60 credits had me on a fast
track to graduation. I soon realized that this fast track I was on seemed to cause me more anxiety
than relaxation as it was time for me to decide on a major. During this time, recreational therapy
was a degree program suggested to me that I get more information on. From that point on, I
seemed to make little connections within this small field that made me take a leap of faith of my
own to declare recreational therapy as my major. It was in this moment that I can connect to Dr.
LaBrots message Dont doubt yourselfleap anywaysDrop your baggage take a good
long running leap and hurl yourself screaming out I am a recreational therapy major.
Social psychologist, Amy Cuddys Ted Talk on body language highlights a very
important aspect of how we communicate with one another and it doesnt involve speaking.
Instead, our body language plays an important part in how other people think and feel about us.
She shares that there are two types of body postures powerful and powerless ones. Powerful
poses are open, arms and legs spread, and shoulders are back. Less powerful poses are closed,
shoulders shrugged forward, and legs are curled. Promoting and advocating our services is more
than just what we can present on paper. As we look to advance the profession, it is important that
each of us carries a presence when interacting with colleagues and other allied professions.
Cuddys message is powerful. Power poses allow us to bring presence, whether it be a
one-on-one meeting, an interview, a group gathering, or a professional conference. It is
important to have a signature voice (confident, effective, and authentic) to be authentic and
true to who you are, to demonstrate your value to other people, and to share your unique talents
with the community to help provide more meaningful and effective services and most
importantly to create strong relationships.
As a profession, I think it is important to consistently strive to improve our services.
Essentially suggesting that the learning never stop. By attending conferences, meeting with other
RTs, and connecting with other professionals in different professions, we can share experiences,
learn new ideas, and innovate. As professionals, we must bring a presence that demonstrates to
others our professional competence and convince them to buy in to what we are selling.
Under advocating for our services, we also have a professional obligation to continue to work
towards having our services financially reimbursed or covered by insurance. Through having a
professional organization, like ATRA spread the knowledge and CARTE accredit services, we
are building a foundation towards receiving reimbursement but professionals still need to help.
Another way that we can market our services is at our fingertips. Social media sites, like
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat can be free invaluable services to get the word out.
By following other health professionals, schools, and parks, sharing daily pictures and videos,
and using hashtags we can place our services in categories that others can easily come across
or find. Through utilizing these mainly free resources to get the word out and market our services
we are given the opportunity to reach a wider population of diverse individuals.