Play in therapeutic recreation with adults

Play is mentioned throughout Therapeutic Recreation (TR) literature as a dynamic and subjective concept with clear therapeutic benefits. However, play literature focuses on children with limited insight into how TR uses play in practice with adults. This research sought to fill this knowledge gap through investigating concepts and use of play by TR practitioners across British Columbia. An anonymous, online qualitative survey was distributed via email to British Columbia Therapeutic Recreation Association (BCTRA) members. Sixteen TR practitioners participated. Four overarching themes were found: practitioners had similar conceptions of play, with some being more prominent than others; there was no correlation between any of the demographic data and participants’ ideas or use of play; play was viewed as an integral part of quality of life; and data showed similarities between practice and theory about play in TR. This research indicated that TR practitioners used play in their work with adults. Due to its ambiguity, the concept of play allowed for flexibility in use with clients. Results indicated a need for further investigation into the role of play in TR because of the communicated importance of the concept and activity but limited scope of this study.