What is a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or Recreational Therapist? A therapeutic recreation specialist (TRS), sometimes referred to as a recreation or recreational therapist (RT), works with individuals who have mental, physical, emotional and/or developmental disabilities.  Activity modalities or recreation mediums are used to treat or maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of consumers served.  Interventions are selected that will assist to remediate the effects of illness or disability and/or enable an individual to increase personal independence. For example, a TRS may use a knitting activity to help a consumer increase fine motor dexterity. Or a TRS may train a consumer to use an adapted fishing reel to enable the consumer to continue motivation for activity involvement in a lifetime passion. Similarly, a TRS may lead an anger management group to teach aggressive consumers alternative coping skills, lead a reminisent group to aid aging adults to cope with memory changes or teach consumers to overcome environmental barriers (stairs, curbs) in order access their community confidently and independently. In North Carolina, "recreational therapist" and the initials, "LRT," also designate individuals who have been granted a license from the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure. Only individuals who received this license may use these credentials and practice in North Carolina.  Individuals who use the credentials, "LRT/CTRS," are licensed by the North Carolina Board of RT Licensure and certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Minimum requirements to become licensed include: a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation or a Recreation degree with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation, an internship under a licensed LRT (or CTRS if outside North Carolina) and a satisfactory score on a certification exam.