The Recreational Therapy/Creative Expressive Arts (RT/CEA) Therapies Department provides quality integrated treatment services that contribute to the wellness of the whole person while adapting to meet the changing needs of the patient.  We creatively utilize resources towards the empowerment of our patients and staff. Recreational Therapists assess each patient's functional abilities and needs to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized psychosocial interventions (PSI’s) and structure enhancing interventions. Therapists facilitate a wide variety of interventions in various settings including treatment malls, on wards, in classrooms, gymnasium, outdoors, and in the community. PSI’s  include, but are not limited to, Social Skills, Communication and Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills, Initiatives, Horticulture, Pet Therapy, Community Reintegration, Life Management, Reminiscence Therapy, Validation, Reality Orientation, Exercise/Body Image, Relaxation, Self Image, Leisure Education, Anger Management, Stress Management, Coping Skills, Health and Wellness, Sensory Stimulation, Aquatics, Money Management, Arts/Crafts/Ceramics, Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation, and Adventure/Challenge programs such as Alpine Tower and Indoor Climbing Wall.  RT services are based on the Gunn and Peterson continuum model of treatment, leisure education, and recreation participation. Our goal is to restore or improve overall functioning and independence, as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability for all patients.

The mission of the Recreational Therapy/Creative Expressive Arts Therapies Department is to provide a safe environment in which to assess an individual's needs and interests in order to provide opportunities and experiences with one's self, others, and the larger community. Our aim is to contribute, through treatment modalities, education, and leisure services, to the promotion of health, prevention of illness, or further disability, and enhance the rehabilitation process of persons with physical, cognitive, social and/or emotional disabilities. These services, integrated with other components of active treatment, operationalize the hospital's mission, enabling the individual to re-establish him or herself in the community as a productive citizen.

The RT/CEA Therapies Department is composed of qualified Recreational Therapy professionals with varied backgrounds and training experiences, including nationally Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists and North Carolina State Licensed Recreational Therapy Assistants. Creative/Expressive Art (CEA) Therapies is a treatment component of the Recreation Therapy Department.

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