An Analysis of Therapeutic Recreation Models

The models in therapeutic recreation have provided both philosophical and pragmatic orientation to advance both the theory and practice of the profession. Thus models play at least three roles about the developments of therapeutic recreation. First, they describe and define the purpose and scope of therapeutic recreation. Second, they identify key elements and theory about therapeutic recreation. And third, they allow theorists and practitioners to research and practice in a reasoned manner. A more specific framework for analysis of models of therapeutic recreation has been presented. Analysis involves reviewing all writings by the authors of models. A number of issues should be used to guide the analysis as applied to models in therapeutic recreation. Issues may be grouped under three areas: (1) central ideas ; (2) related theory ; (3) scope of model ; (4) characteristics. Through the last two decades, the centrality of models in therapeutic recreation is changed from leisure oriented approach to health oriented approach. The structure of models are based on social psychology and education theory. The development of model is critical to the establishing a basis of therapeutic recreation.