Hire a Recreation Therapist

Recreation Therapy is a distinct and identifiable health care profession in Canada and internationally.

The work of recreation therapists differ from other health care professionals as evidence based leisure activities and the client’s enjoyable and rewarding interests are used as intervention to meet the client’s psychological and physical health, recovery and well – being.

Recreation therapists who are professional members of ATRA:

• Have entry to practice educational qualifications verified.
• Participate in a mandatory continuing competence program.
• Support individuals to draw on their strengths and abilities to reduce or eliminate functional, societal or attitudinal barriers that obstruct or prevent them from optimal participation and engagement in meaningful, purposeful and constructive leisure behaviours.
• Work with clients to enhance motor, social and cognitive functioning, build confidence, develop coping skills, and integrate skills learned in treatment settings into community settings. These processes support the goal of assisting the individual to maximize their optimal levels of independence, productivity, optimal health, well-being and the highest quality of life.
  • Are valuable members of the health care team and collaborate with other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.
  • Provide organized and team-oriented approach to care delivery.
  • Work in urban and rural settings throughout the continuum of health care including rehabilitation, addictions and mental health, acute care, community, home care, adult day programs, continuing care and private practice. 
  • Provide services to a broad range of clients with a complexity of health conditions across the age continuum that includes children, youth, adults and seniors
  • Are trained in group-oriented processes to enhance cost effectiveness and efficiencies in service delivery.
  • Minimize health-care costs by empowering individuals to build healthier lives through meaningful leisure activity and facilitate community reintegration.

The Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association(ATRA) is the provincial body representing the profession since its inception in 1985.  It is a voluntary association that in the absence of regulation has provided governance to its members through establishing standards of practice, a code of ethics, entry to practice requirements and a continuing competence program. ATRA is registered under the Societies Act and is currently pursuing regulation under the Health Professions Act. 

Although membership in ATRA is voluntary, the majority of recreation therapists choose to be professional members and many employers, including Alberta Health Services, make it mandatory to ensure that they are hiring recreation therapists with proper training, education and competency.

Make ATRA Professional Membership a requirement of employment.

Membership with ATRA assures Albertans, your agency, clients and families, that your recreation therapist has met entry to practice requirements, follows a code of ethics, standards of practice and is committed to maintaining competent evidence based practice through completion of a Continuing Competence Program.