Patient and Family Resources
Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation Hours

Monday - Friday: 8 am - 4:30 pm (except for holidays)

Therapeutic Recreation at a Glance

Therapeutic Recreation helps patients engage in structured activities that are focused on education and social and leisure skills. At Cincinnati Children’s this makes it possible for patients with injuries, medical conditions, physical challenges, mental health needs, and/or developmental disability to engage in leisure activities.

The Team and their Care

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) are skilled professionals who work with the medical team to help patients restore social, motor, and cognitive functioning, build confidence and self-expression, and establish healthy coping skills using therapeutic leisure interventions. Their care is person-centered, relationship-based, and includes individual and group therapy approaches. Structured outings to reintegrate patients into their communities may also be part of the goals of care.

Inpatient Medical

Therapeutic Recreation is provided for Inpatient Rehabilitation, FIRST Program, Transitional Care Center, and other specialty care areas. Typical goals include the use of therapeutic recreation-based activities to improve physical and psychosocial functioning for patients in their care, including coordination of community outings and connection to community resources, based on individual needs.

Inpatient and Residential Psychiatry

Therapeutic Recreation team members are core members of the psychiatric treatment teams in the Residential Treatment Center, and Inpatient Care settings at our College Hill Campus. Recreational therapy interventions are focused on helping patients develop positive coping and healthy self-expression, social and leisure skills, and improved ability to function in the community. Supervised, structured community reintegration experiences are often used to support achievement of these goals.