Student questions

There was a question and answer panel with a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) at the Great Lake Recreational Therapy Student Conference.

I  was very pleased to be one of the CTRS on this panel.

I heard there were over 100 students present! What a great bunch of enthusiastic people! I validated to them that the fact that they made it to this event. Most of the people I met were from Indiana or Michigan. 

Other CTRS on the panel included: Shawn Geise, Jake Newhand, Brittany Hook, Kaitlyn Smith, Tommy Means, and Lori Schwyer. 

Those CTRS are great people. They worked in various different fields and I was so happy and pleased to be on stage with them and to hear their experiences. One woman (and I regret to say I can't recall who) provides services for people with traumatic brain injury. I told her that I am a CTRS, but I would not feel fully competent working in that position. She told me she had worked in mental health before switching. She informed the audience that we can and do get harmed by clients in mental health, which I agreed is true. 

Jared Allsop (conference co-chair) lecturer at Indiana University had called on student hands in the audience. They asked questions and the CTRS answered!

I can’t recall the exact questions asked. I wish I would have had a student to write them down.

Some questions I vaguely recall some of the questions.

Should you take an internship in an area you want to work or reach out and try something different to broaden your horizons?

I disagreed with one of the other CTRS on this one. I suggested go for the area you want to get more of a focus/ experience in an expertise area. I also suggested being open-minded to at least trying out other jobs when you’re ready to get hired. Why? I did my training mostly with elderly and seniors in skilled nursing (internship) and rehabilitation hospital (practicum), and even a nursing home (practicum). My first job offer was in mental/ behavioral health working with children and teens. I took the job and I’ve worked there since August 2002.

·         

What do you look for in an intern for your facility? 

My answers: passion, interest, eager to learn, well-groomed/ appropriate to work in a hospital setting, and easy-going. willing to grow and learn. I informed them that they will make mistakes (as well all have). 

·         What do you like most about your job?

Seeing kids grow and change and become successful. Of course, I let them know there are a lot of work place stressors to be prepared for that as well.

·         

Where do you get new updates and information?

My answer: being a member of our professional association (ATRA) and reading.

Does a Master's degree help? 

I may have been the only CTRS with a master’s degree on the panel. I’m not sure. I don’t recall any members strongly advocating for getting a master’s degree. I argued that many of our professional colleagues in social worker, physical therapy, mental health counselling, occupational therapy are the process or have already moved their entry-level as having a Master’s degree.

Based on my understanding, the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) had created the specialty certification certificates to help increase the number of CTRS with a graduate level degree. 

How do you get a new intervention at your facility?

 My answer: if you’re working at a facility that does not offer an activity-based treatment intervention, then you could ask someone who is trained and experienced to come and give a presentation. That individual could help provide resources and connections to help your facility to open up a program.

 Feel free to Ask Danny questions and he’ll post them at his blog for others to read as well. 

Please nominate DannyPettry.Com

Dear fellow Rec Therapist:

 

Are you an ATRA Member?

 

ATRA has asked members to “show the love” and nominate people and organizations for the 2016 annual awards.

 

There is an “Excellence in Education” award.

 

I feel that my online continuing education program, DannyPettry.com would be a great nomination (see information below)

 

I’m boldly asking my fellow ATRA friends to nominate my program for this award.

 

Please send a quick reply and let me know if you’re an ATRA member who might be interested in nominating my program for this award.

 

I'd appreciate it a lot.

 

Best wishes.

 

Your friend,

 

Danny. 

 

P.s. I beleive I am a very humble individual. One who often lacks the interpersonal effectivness skills to be assertive and ask for things I want. I thouhgt I'd go for it and ask you.

 

 

 

Some information about my program that you may or may not know:

a.) Danny Pettry has been a good-standing member of ATRA since 2001.He loves ATRA!

b.) DannyPettry, LLC was founded in 2007 as the first online continuing education program created specifically for recreational therapists. The big 10-year anniversary is in 2017.

c.) DannyPettry has consistently recommend ATRA conferences and webinars for continuing education. However, for those who are not able to attend ATRA conferences, DannyPettry.Com is there as a Plan B backup resource.

d.) Over 1,000 students have completed a self-study course from DannyPettry.com since it opened in 2007.

e.) DannyPettry.Com provides a free email newsletter and blog, titled: Rec Therapy Today that provides interesting articles, career posts and other information that might be of interest to Recreational Therapist. His Recreational therapy newsletter predates his business, which was started in 2005.

f.) DannyPettry.Com has paid for several students ATRA memberships to help introduce the professional association.

g.) Danny Pettry avidly advocates for the profession by giving free trainings and workshops to the public annually at his place of employment and at other agencies in his state: West Virginia.

h.) Forty DannyPettry.Com sessions have been pre-approved by NCTRC for CE credit.

i.) Danny Pettry has had articles published in the ATRA newsletter and other branches of ATRA newsletters

j.) Danny Pettry served as the ATRA representative for the West Virginia branch of ATRA for several years before WVTRA closed.

k.) Danny Pettry has self-published several books in relation to Rec Therapy, leisure, recreation, activities, etc.

• Activities for Children 2006
• Lessons for Life and Leisure: 2005
• A Recreational Therapist System on How You Can Become Great at Anything: 2009
• Building Character with Sam, Izzy, and Many Other Dogs: 2010
• Magical Inspirational Quotes for Motivation: 2011
• Cinema Therapy card game: 2013

 

Rec. Therapy in Public Schools.

I had the great privilege and opportunity to attend the “Recreational Therapy in School Settings: Current Status and Future Directions” at the 2011 American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) conference.

It was provided by: Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., CTRS (of Kansas City area), Kathy Coyle, Ph.D., CTRS, and by one practitioner: Thea Kavanaugh, CTRS (New Mexico).

Note: Thea claimed that she found her position via the RecreationTherpay.Com job page. That web-site is operated by my good friend and fellow West Virginian Charlie Dixon. Here is the link: http://www.recreationtherapy.com/jobs

Okay, let me get back to the session. Sometimes I get off on tangents when I’m writing.
The purpose of this session was the take a look at the current status of Recreational Therapy in the school systems. There are Recreational Therapists in a number of schools throughout the United States. Several states were shared aloud. My state “West Virginia” was not one of them. I already knew this.

Recreational Therapists could work in three different positions for schools

These could include:

• Full-time staff



• Consultant



• Contractual employee. I think any real go-getter could create businesses and start providing services as a contractual employee.

Overall it will take strong advocacy! A Rec. Therapist could attend a local Board of Education meeting!

A Recreational Therapist can’t just go in and do anything in the school setting.

There are regulations.

• Recreational Therapists in community settings must follow the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).



• Recreational Therapists in behavioral health and rehabilitation must follow Medicare.



• Recreational Therapists in Schools must follow the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No School Left Behind.

The good news is that “Recreation and Therapeutic Recreation” is a covered service under IDEA. A child with special needs has the right to these services when they can help a child to function more independently in a school setting.

IDEA mandates: zero rejection, non-discriminatory evaluation, appropriate education, and least restrictive environment.

The services must be listed on the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). It might not specify for a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) to provide the services. The rules vary from state to state. Most states will claim the highest qualified person. Naturally, a person with CTRS credentials would be the most qualified to provide Therapeutic Recreation (TR) a.k.a. Rec. Therapy services. This would be an easy argument to make if interpretation of the best qualified was an issue.

It is important that the IEP is written in a way that demonstrates the child will function more independently in the educational setting.

Thea had shown several examples of her IEP goals, quarterly progress reports, and annual progress reports for students. I think she is very through and she is setting a good example for recreational therapists in all settings. I felt very inspired by the picture slideshow of the things she is doing to help the children in her school district! It looked awesome! I’m so glad the students there have her.

There are four things that a Recreational Therapist in a school setting can do:

• Assessments



• Planned Therapeutic Recreation (TR) interventions



• Social skills training/ Activity skills training, Leisure Education



• Recreation opportunities/ Community

It is important that Recreational Therapists are using interventions that are based on research. Evidenced-based practice is important. It shows that interventions have been proven to be effective. The school system calls this Scientific Evidence Practice.

There are several laws that RTs should know about:

• Clarion-Goldberg, Comm. School Dist. (1994) showed that leisure goals can be on an IEP



• Re Child with Disabilities (1993) showed that social skills can be on an IEP



• Franklin # 5 School Dist. (1985): a child with autism had been banned from afterschool program due to disruptive behaviors (which is typical for a child with his diagnosis). This law showed that a child can’t be denied services due to his (or her) disability.
  

Two more to look up and know about are:
Montgomery Co. Public Schools (1998) and Silsbee Independent School District (1997).
Information can also be found at:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/

I work in a residential behavioral health treatment setting. We have an on-campus school. Sometimes a child will arrive to our facility with an IEP. I’ve never seen one that identified a Recreational Therapist as a “Service Provider.” I think that would be awesome!

There are many things that I provide at the facility that could be on an IEP for a child with special needs. Some of the interventions that I provide include: assertiveness training, social skills training, conflict resolution skills, community re-integration, opportunities for physical fitness, leisure education, and recreation/ activity task skills.

I don’t do much with fine-motor skills or transition skills. There have been a limited amount of children with these needs.

You can get in touch with Thea Kavanaughat the ATRA site here. Note: you must be a member of ATRA to access this forum:

http://atra-online.com/forumviewmessage.cfm?forumnbr=6775&topicnbr=13582&discussionnbr=786585

ATRA also offers a good book Therapeutic Recreation in Special Education. Here is a link for that book:

http://atra-online.com/storelistitem.cfm?itemnumber=85

Networking

Looking for great ways to network with other professionals in our field?

Look no further. Here are four great ways to network:

• The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) offers several great ways to network. First, “Friend” ATRA on Facebook. You don’t have to be a member of ATRA to be their friend on Facebook. Go here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/americantherapeuticrecreationassociation

• Second, Join the ATRA ListServ. Again, you don’t have to be a member of ATRA to join this. Go here to subscribe. It is easy to do: http://www.atra-online.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=98

• Third, participate in the ATRA forum online. I think you might need to be an ATRA Member to participate in this online forum. You can post questions and get answers! http://www.atra.affiniscape.com/forum.cfm

• Fourth, participate in one of the treatment networks that ATRA has. They’ve got several, including: behavioral health, geriatrics, physical rehab and medicine, and pediatrics. I believe you need to be an ATRA member to participate in this one.

NCTRC question

Here is an email I received today:

Hi I was just wondering how many CEU's I need to renew my certification. And does NCTRC send something in the mail letting me know a deadline to turn them in?

Thanks for the help,
xx

Here is my reply:

Dear xx --

Thanks for writing.
I’m not an official spokesperson for NCTRC. I am a CTRS!
Right now they require 50 clock hours (which is 5.0 CEUs) in a five year period.

NCTRC has a new post at their web-site about completing recertification information online at this link:

http://nctrc.org/recentnews.htm#Notice

You can log on to the NCTRC website at this link:

https://www.nctrc.org/source/Security/Member-Logon.cfm

I hope that information helps you.

ALSO ---
I offer several self-study courses that people can complete for CEU credit. It consists of reading a book on your own time and completing a quiz online. Students are allowed to retake the quiz as often as they wish, too.
Here is my web-site:
http://www.dannypettry.com/Courses.htm

your friend,

Danny.

Question About Documentation

Mandy asks:


Hi Danny! I'm a CTRS that works in a psych facility with children and adolescents. Recently, standards have changed for our dept. to be documenting as Expressive Therapy instead of TR. I'm really struggling with finding the best way to document our activities according to the insurance companies specifications. The providers mentioned that many of our activities are suitable, but they need to be documented better. (It was even said that it was like "creative documentation"). Do you have any suggestions to help get us started? Any books or websites that give examples? I keep hearing/seeing what NOT to do, but haven't seen any good examples to follow. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Dear friend,

I've moved my response to the TR Directory Forum so more people can post their response here:

http://recreationtherapy.com/forum/index.php?topic=110.msg292#msg292

Here is the link.

Question about CEUs

Email Question

Hello Danny!

My name is T.R. [Real Name Changed] and I am a Recreation Therapist in
California. I have my CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist) credential fron NCTRC and my RTC (Recreation Therapist
Certified) from CBPRPC (California Board of Parks and Recreation
Certification).

Your website states that "The National Council for Therapeutic
Recreation Certification (NCTRC) does not pre-approve any continuing
education activities at this time." Does that mean if I take a class
from you that NCTRC will not give me credit for the CEU you issue?
Is that true of CBPRPC too?

Also, how long would it take to get one of your books to accompany
your online class? Please let me know.

Thanks,


T.R. [Real name changed].
==========================

Danny's Feedback:

Hi there T.R.,

Thanks for writing. I'm always glad to meet another CTRS.

NCTRC requires all CEU providers to make that claim. NCTRC won't pre-approve sessions provided by national associations or state associations either. However, NCTRC does accept a variety of courses if they fall into one of the TR Knowledge Areas. All of my courses focus on at least one or more of these areas.

You can read an interesting hand-out by NCTRC on the different types of courses they do accept at this link:

http://www.nctrc.org/documents/NCTRCContEd013110.pdf

For more information, you may want to send a quick email to NCTRC.

Recreational Therapists with the CTRS credential have taken my online self-study courses for their CEU needs from nearly all 50 states, Canada, and New Zealand. One Recreational Therapist completed courses from Germany while her husband was stationed there in the military. You can read some of their testimonials at this link:

http://dannypettry.blogspot.com/2010/06/testimonials.html

I regret to say I am not sure about the California Park and Rec. Certification Board.

You can sample one of my self-study courses. It has an online reading that you can download instantly. Just fill in your name and email in the form at my blog. This form is on the right side of the blog in a red box. Go here:

http://www.dannypettry.blogspot.com/

You may wish to sign-up for several of the online self-study courses. Go here to see the full course library:

======> http://www.dannypettry.com/Courses.htm <=======


Some of the courses include the book with them. Some of them don’t. The book is shipped in a day or two for courses that do include the book. I ship by two-day method.

I hope this answers your questions.
Email me back if you have more.

Your friend,

Danny.

Question About CEUs

Danny,

My name is R.T. [real-name changed], and I have came across you web sight about CEU's for CTRS's.

I have 3.9 as of now...but my 5 year certification period is up in May...June 30th at the latest.

Of course I need 1.1 CEU's to have my 5 points.....Do you have any advice for me? Im interested in your studies for possible CEU's.
Thanks for you time,
R.T.

Danny's Reply

Dear R.T.,

Thanks for writing. I always enjoy meeting a Rec. Therapist!

First, I like to recommend getting extra CEUs to be on the safe side.

There are several ways you can get CEU credits.

NCTRC lists all the ways to earn CEUs at their link here:
http://nctrc.org/documents/NCTRCContEd013110.pdf

I've provided self-study courses online since 2007.

You can read some of the testimonials for these courses here:
http://www.dannypettry.com/main/page_read_top_10_testimonials.html

You can sample a one clock hour course 0.1 at my web-site.
Just complete the form on the right side of my blog and then check your email.
Here is the link:
http://www.dannypettry.blogspot.com/

In case you didn't know, NCTRC also offers a pre-approval CEU process.
I think this is really great.
This is a great way to make sure your courses count for re-certification.
Here is the link for information on it:
http://www.nctrc.org/documents/CEUPreapprovalform.pdf

You may want to consider taking one of my self-study courses.
Go here to see the full course library:

http://www.dannypettry.com/Courses.htm

I hope this information helps.

Email me back if you have more questions.

Your friend,

Danny.