Name games: The need for our titles and professional philosophies to coincide

Authors

  • David R Austin, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2014.0068

Keywords:

therapeutic recreation, recreational therapy, leisure, professional philosophy

Abstract

The central thesis of the article is that the time has come to end the “name games” that have too long occupied our profession. The two philosophical positions that exist within our profession are presented and it is suggested that neither philosophy endorses the term “therapeutic recreation.” It is further suggested that each philosophical position should adopt a more appropriate title to represent its philosophy and that both should be recognized as unique professions.

Author Biography

David R Austin, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana

References

The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification: NCTRC Position Paper on the Legal Regulation of the Practice of Recreation Therapy. New City, NY: The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, 2007: 1-17.

Richter KJ, Kaschalk SM: The future of therapeutic recreation: An existential outcome. In Sylvester, C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. II. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1996: 86-91.

Austin DR: Lessons Learned: An Open Letter to Recreational Therapy Students and Practitioners. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing, 2011.

Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. 1. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1987.

Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. II. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1996.

Hemingway JL: Building a philosophical defense of therapeutic recreation: The case of distributive justice. In Sylvester C, Hemingway JL, Howe-Murphy R, et al. (eds.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. 1. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1986: 1-16.

Mobley RE: Therapeutic recreation philosophy revisited: A question of what leisure is good for. In Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. II. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1996: 57-70.

Lehey MP: The ethics of intervention in therapeutic recreation. In Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. 1. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1986: 17-26.

Lahey MP: The commercial model and the future of therapeutic recreation. In Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. II. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1996: 20-27.

Sylvester C: A virtue-based approach to therapeutic recreation practice. Ther Recreation J. 2009; 43(3): 9-25.

Peterson CA: The dilemma of philosophy. In Compton DM (ed.): Issues in Therapeutic Recreation: A Profession in Transition. Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing, 1989: 21-33.

McEwen M: Overview of theory in nursing. In McEwen M, Wills EM (eds.): Theoretical Basis for Nursing, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007: 24-49.

Parker ME: Introduction to nursing theory. In Parker ME (ed.): Nursing Theories & Nursing Practice, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company, 2006: 3-13.

Meleis AI: Theoretical Nursing, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams, & Wilkins, 2007.

Reed PG: A treatise on nursing knowledge development in the 21st century: Beyond postmodernism. Adv Nurs Sci. 1995; 17(3): 70-84.

Alligood MR: Philosophies, models, and theories: Critical thinking structures. In Alligood MR (ed.): Nursing Theory: Utilization & Application, 4th ed. Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby Elsevier, 2010: 47-71.

Austin DR: A third revolution in therapeutic recreation? In Austin DR, Dattilo J, McCormick BP (eds.): Conceptual Foundations for Therapeutic Recreation. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, 2002: 273-287.

Austin DR: Therapeutic Recreation Processes and Techniques: Evidence-Based Recreational Therapy, 7th ed. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing, 2013.

O'Morrow GS: Therapeutic Recreation: A Helping Profession. Reston, VA: Reston, 1976.

Meyer LE: Philosophical Alternatives and the Professionalization of Therapeutic Recreation. Arlington, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1980.

Sylvester C: Therapeutic recreation and the end of leisure. In Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. 1. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1987, 76-89.

Gunn SL, Peterson CA: Therapeutic Recreation Program Design. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1978.

National Therapeutic Recreation Society: Philosophical Position Statement of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1982.

Austin DR: ATRA—famous since 1983—founded in 1984: The early history of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. Ann Ther Recreation. 2010; 18: 1-11.

Austin DR: The therapeutic relationship. In Austin DR, Dattilo J, McCormick BP (eds.): Conceptual Foundations for Therapeutic Recreation. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc., 2002: 115-132.

Shank J, Coyle C: Therapeutic Recreation in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc., 2002.

Peterson CA, Gunn SL: Therapeutic Recreation Program Design: Principles and Practices, 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1984.

Austin DR, Lee Y: Inclusive and Special Recreation: Opportunities for Diverse Populations to Flourish, 6th ed. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing, 2013.

Zoerink DA, Rosegard EJ: Social justice through inclusive leisure services. In Compton DM (ed.): Issues in Therapeutic Recreation, 2nd ed. Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing, 1997: 17-37.

Dattilo J: Inclusive Leisure Services: Responding to the Rights of People with Disabilities, 2nd ed. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc., 2002.

Shank J, Kinney T: On the neglect of clinical practice. In Sylvester C (ed.): Philosophy of Therapeutic Recreation: Ideas and Issues, Vol. 1. Alexandria, VA: National Recreation and Park Association, 1987: 65-75.

Anderson L, Brown C, Soli P: Inclusion: Including People with Disabilities in Parks and Recreation Opportunities. Bismark, ND: Rural Recreation Integration Project, 1996.

Donnelly P, Coakley J: The Role of Recreation in Promoting Social Inclusion. Toronto, ON: Laidlaw Foundation, 2002.

Smith RW, Austin DR, Kennedy DW: Inclusive and Special Recreation: Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 4th ed. Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark, 1999.

American Therapeutic Recreation Association: American Therapeutic Recreation Association Web site, 2009. Available at http://www.atra-online.com/. Assessed February 26, 2014.

Smith RW, Austin DR, Kennedy DW, et al.: Inclusive & Special Recreation: Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Published

04/01/2014

How to Cite

Austin, PhD, D. R. (2014). Name games: The need for our titles and professional philosophies to coincide. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 13(2), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2014.0068

Issue

Section

Articles