Interviews with Rec. Therapists

Jan. 2011
Angela Diventi

Congratulations Angela DiVenti. She passed the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam this month!














Angela gave me permission to re-post this picture that she had on her facebook page prior to taking the exam. She has a great Therapeutic Recreation Library.



I decided to feature her as our January 2011 Recreational Therapist because of that picture.

Let's see what she has:

-- The big red book of assessments. We in TR/RT know that book.

-- Rec. Therapy Handbook of Practice

-- Dr. Austin's Therapeutic Rec. Procecess and Techniques (5th ed.)

-- a therapy dictionary

-- a person center approach. Carl Rogers?

-- Perspectives in Rec. Therapy

Angela says she felt “truly fortunate to stumble into the profession of recreation therapy back in 2002.” She had landed a job working as a part-time Activity Director while pursing her undergraduate degree (looking to pursue computer graphic arts.)
After working with older adults, providing recreation, she knew then and there she loved it and wanted to do more! It wasn’t until looking for extra hours within the company that she found out about recreation therapy. She realized that she needed to discover more. Of course, she was hooked.

Unfortunately the assisted living facility has closed. She has been working as a recreation leader in an Adult Day Health Care for the past six years.
She hopes to one day serve as the Recreation Director for an assisted living/ independent residential care program.


Angela says, “I would be grateful to work in any type of service for those who are in need, but my heart goes out to the young, middle-aged and older adult population. They tend to be the ones who are over looked in today’s society.”
Angela has had experience with community re-entry outings, creative/ expressive arts, social skills training, intergenerational programs, leisure education, reminiscing, sensory stimulation, reality orientation (RO), horticulture, relaxation training, aromatherapy, physical activities, and many more.

What do you like best about being a Recreational Therapist?

She says “everything!”

Angela says, “It’s a rewarding job to know I help improve the quality of life for others and to help them live happier, more fulfilling and possibly longer life.” She enjoys it when the participant looks to her and gives her the biggest smile or hug and says how wonderful of a day they had because of what she had done for them.

Angela’s degree is in Parks and Recreation Management with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona. Angela says “Go Devils!” She is currently a member of the Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association.

I’d also like to express my sorrow for those who had lost their lives in the recent tragedy in Tucson, Arizona.



Did you just pass your certification exam?
Want to be acknowledged at this blog? If so, send Danny an email with a short bio and he’ll post your name at the blog.