Definition of Recreation Therapy & Therapeutic Recreation What is Recreation Therapy? The term, "recreation therapy," refers specifically to treatment services provided by qualified therapeutic recreation professionals. The North Carolina Recreational Therapy  Association defines recreation therapy as: ...the provision of planned treatment or therapy (i.e. health restoration, remediation, habilitation, rehabilitation), which uses recreation and activities as the primary medium of treatment for persons who are limited in theirs functional abilities due to illness, disability, maladaptation, or other conditions (NCRTA, 1992). Sometimes therapeutic recreation specialists or therapeutic recreation assistants who provide recreation therapy are called recreation or recreational therapists and recreation or recreational therapy assistants.   What is Therapeutic Recreation? The term, "therapeutic recreation," refers to a continuum of services provided by qualified therapeutic recreation professionals.  Recreation therapy is often included as a component of therapeutic recreation.  The American Therapeutic Recreation Association defines therapeutic recreation as: ...the provision of treatment services and the provision of recreation services to persons with illness or disabling conditions.  The primary purpose of treatment services, which are often referred to as recreational therapy, is to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.  The primary purpose of recreation services is to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well-being.  Therapeutic recreation is provided by professionals who are trained, certified, registered, or licensed to provide therapeutic recreation (ATRA, 1988). Similarly, the National Therapeutic Recreation Society defines therapeutic recreation as: Practiced in clinical, residential, and community settings, the profession of therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education, and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, independence and well-being (NTRS, 1994).