Therapeutic Recreation Leadership and Programming

Equip students with the knowledge and tools to engage in therapeutic recreation.

Therapeutic Recreation Leadership and Programming, Second Edition, is the only textbook that places leadership at the core of therapeutic recreation (TR) programming. It conveys the synergy between the roles of therapist and recreation specialist—two interconnected functions that promote personal growth and create meaningful leisure experiences for clients.

This second edition aims to equip students with a comprehensive framework for carrying out daily responsibilities in therapeutic recreation, guided by the highest ethical standards, risk management practices, and cultural considerations.

Incorporating the latest research from leading researchers worldwide, along with current regulations, legal mandates, and updated standards of practice, the second edition includes all-new chapters that detail the four steps of the TR process and offer practical guidance on promoting the profession through grants, marketing, and advocacy.

Additional new content featured in the second edition includes the following:

• A chapter on balanced programming, helping specialists better understand how to address the needs of diverse client populations in various settings
• Separate chapters dedicated to the therapeutic recreation process and promoting the profession
• A section on societal innovations affecting program planning, the spiritual domain, and trauma-informed care
• Suggestions for a therapeutic recreation toolkit, including arts, cognitively oriented programs, health programs, nature-oriented programs, and social activities, to engage clients in meaningful and productive actions to reach their personal goals.

Additional features—including chapter objectives, sidebars, case studies, and new chapter wrap-ups—make Therapeutic Recreation Leadership and Programming a more approachable and engaging read for students and a helpful reference for those pursuing the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) designation. Part I sets the stage for the practitioner to design and deliver TR programs. Included are core values and principles underlying TR practice and the components of 10 models for TR program design. Part II examines clients, programs, and methods through which students learn to match the needs of clients with the appropriate programs and select strategies to facilitate the achievement of predetermined client outcomes. Part III covers leading group and individual TR programs, advocating for and marketing TR services, and pursuing professional leadership opportunities.

Inspire students with the power and positivity of therapeutic recreation through Therapeutic Recreation Leadership and Programming, Second Edition.

Robin Kunstler, ReD, CTRS, FDRT, is a professor emerita of the department of health sciences at Lehman College of the City University of New York. Kunstler holds the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential and has over 50 years of experience as a TR educator and practitioner. In addition to multiple other awards, Kunstler received the Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Recreation and Park Society in 1994 and from the New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association (an organization of which she was a founding member) in 1997. In 2018, she was awarded the prestigious honor of being named a fellow of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART).

Kunstler has served as a board member and committee chair for several national and state organizations, including the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS), Society of Park and Recreation Educators, New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association (NYSTRA), and New York State Recreation and Park Society (NYSRPS). She is the author of many journal articles and book chapters on TR topics and has held editorial positions with ATRA Annual in Therapeutic Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation Journal, and SCHOLE. She has presented at numerous local, state, national and international conferences. She is currently certified in water fitness and land exercise and is a volunteer docent for the St. Augustine Art Association.

Frances Stavola Daly, EdD, CTRS, FDRT, is a retired professor and chair of the department of health and human performance at Kean University in New Jersey, where she has been the recipient of the Alumni Association Teacher of the Year Award and the Presidential Distinguished Service Award. With more than 50 years of experience as both a practitioner and a professor in the field, Stavola Daly served as the president of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) and was a founding member of New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association (NYSTRA). An active member of national, state and local professional associations, Stavola Daly was a member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) higher education committee from 2015 to 2019, a grant reviewer for the Alzheimer’s Association, and a member of the New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Association. During her esteemed career, Stavola Daly received several honors, including the Presidential Citation from NTRS in 2007, the Distinguished Service Award from NYSTRA, and the Temple University Alumni of the Year Award in 2015. She was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) in 2017. She has presented both internationally and on a national level on various TR topics.