The Therapeutic Recreation program is a 12-month Ontario College Graduate Certificate program which will prepare students for a career in the growing field of Therapeutic Recreation/Recreation Therapy. The practice of Therapeutic Recreation is based on the belief that play, recreation and leisure are essential to achieving an individual's optimal health and sense of well-being. Students will learn to adapt recreation activities so individuals with a variety of disabling conditions can participate and to use recreation as a therapeutic tool to improve and restore health and wellness. Therapeutic recreation provides services to a variety of populations including pediatrics, adolescents and geriatrics. Services are provided in a wide range of settings including hospitals, long-term care, rehabilitation centres, correctional facilities and day/residential programs. During a supervised 560-hour internship, students will further develop their ability to complete client assessments, develop and evaluate group and individualized programs, and use a variety of facilitation techniques to assist individuals to participate in meaningful recreational activities. Resulting in enhanced health, improved functional ability, and increased quality of life.

Graduates of the program may find employment working with individuals of all ages in health, recreation or human service organizations. Specifically, graduates may find work in long term care, adult day programs, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, mental health agencies, addiction services and community agencies. While the majority of agencies will hire either college or university graduates, there are some employers that do ask for a university degree as a hiring requirement for Therapeutic Recreationist positions. The Program Coordinator of respective agencies will be able to provide detailed information about hiring requirements.