Table of materials for drawing, knitting, social tea, journaling, block printing, and other crafts.
Therapeutic recreation is a clinical discipline that engages people with practical skills to improve mental well-being and belonging. Recreational therapists provide engaging activities to boost confidence, increase independence, build skills and social connections, and help find a renewed sense of purpose.
Activities are categorized by one of five domains of well-being—physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual. For example, a client who lives with chronic physical challenges after a stroke may work with our physiotherapist to regain range of motion in their limbs. Meanwhile, a recreational therapist may be integrated into their care plan to find physical adaptations for playing a sport they love.
At Casey House, clients access recreational therapy through both drop-in group programming and individual appointments. Rec therapy group programs are offered every weekday, with at least one program related to each domain available each season. Programs range from athletic activities, creative pursuits like journaling or art, life skills including cooking workshops, social discussion groups, and leisurely relaxation such as sound baths. Also, sometimes there are special pop-up events often in partnership with community organizations, like clinics to get reduced-priced eyeglasses, mobile dentistry, hair grooming and make up, or free clothing.
The recreational therapy group program calendar, updated quarterly on our website, offers programs each day. These programs range across the five domains.
Recreation to strengthen mental resilience
Anyone can benefit from therapeutic recreation. However, clients who experience social exclusion, or live with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders can significantly benefit. And, while boredom may be mildly unpleasant for some, it can lead to harm for others. For people with abundant free time– due to injury, unemployment, or retirement — a lack of schedule or purpose can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression. In other instances, boredom may be an escape for someone looking to reduce or stop using legal or illicit substance.
For instance, those looking to stop a nicotine habit, Casey House has partnered with the Centre of Addictions and Mental Health’s nicotine replacement therapy program. Our recreational therapists can dispense nicotine alternatives like gum or inhalers.
Engaging in activities, especially new ones, can be daunting. Barriers can include trying to figure out how to get started, feeling emotionally capable of learning a new skill, or even being physically able to commit. In these instances, recreational therapists can start with one-on-one appointments with a personalized approach.
“You can go to a doctor and they’ll write you a prescription for your problem, but they don’t always consider the means to achieve those goals—like the availability, affordability, or accessibility of the solution relative to the client. That’s [one of the ways] where recreational therapists come in, to help bridge those gaps and make those goals more obtainable.”
– Recreational therapist at Casey House
Taking the lead
Our recreational therapists work closely with clients to build trust and discover their interests. For many clients without a stable social support system, Casey House staff, peers and volunteers may be some of the only people they interact with regularly. With time and sustained practice, many clients gain enough confidence to demonstrate their progress. Sometimes the next step means joining group sessions, and other times, it can even mean leading them with their own ideas Group environments can foster bonding and bring up fond memories of the past while making positive new ones too. Not only do clients feel more independent, but they also achieve a sense of pride in improving their abilities.
Participants in group programs are encouraged to lead a gathering with their own expertise, like tie dying or origami for the art studio, or bringing in a recipe for the cooking workshops.
Progress often leads people to explore options outside of Casey House. Recreational therapists encourage clients to seek other programs within the community in addition to their participation here. Recreational therapists can also assist in finding external groups that are affordable or accessible. It comes down to keeping the momentum and engagement going as it transitions beyond Casey House.
Recreational therapy can bring clients a newfound purpose in their lives and assist them in finding strategies tailored to their needs to see it through. Clients are empowered to try new skills and explore opportunities for growth. Success can look like many things: a slam dunk, a watercolour painting, a pleasant group gathering in the park, over even a homecooked meal. With recreational therapy, the real work happens intrinsically, and it’s more than meets the eye.
September 23, 2026
Inside outpatient care: Recreational therapy
Table of materials for drawing, knitting, social tea, journaling, block printing, and other crafts.
Therapeutic recreation is a clinical discipline that engages people with practical skills to improve mental well-being and belonging. Recreational therapists provide engaging activities to boost confidence, increase independence, build skills and social connections, and help find a renewed sense of purpose.
Activities are categorized by one of five domains of well-being—physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual. For example, a client who lives with chronic physical challenges after a stroke may work with our physiotherapist to regain range of motion in their limbs. Meanwhile, a recreational therapist may be integrated into their care plan to find physical adaptations for playing a sport they love.
At Casey House, clients access recreational therapy through both drop-in group programming and individual appointments. Rec therapy group programs are offered every weekday, with at least one program related to each domain available each season. Programs range from athletic activities, creative pursuits like journaling or art, life skills including cooking workshops, social discussion groups, and leisurely relaxation such as sound baths. Also, sometimes there are special pop-up events often in partnership with community organizations, like clinics to get reduced-priced eyeglasses, mobile dentistry, hair grooming and make up, or free clothing.
The recreational therapy group program calendar, updated quarterly on our website, offers programs each day. These programs range across the five domains.
Recreation to strengthen mental resilience
Anyone can benefit from therapeutic recreation. However, clients who experience social exclusion, or live with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders can significantly benefit. And, while boredom may be mildly unpleasant for some, it can lead to harm for others. For people with abundant free time– due to injury, unemployment, or retirement — a lack of schedule or purpose can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression. In other instances, boredom may be an escape for someone looking to reduce or stop using legal or illicit substance.
For instance, those looking to stop a nicotine habit, Casey House has partnered with the Centre of Addictions and Mental Health’s nicotine replacement therapy program. Our recreational therapists can dispense nicotine alternatives like gum or inhalers.
Engaging in activities, especially new ones, can be daunting. Barriers can include trying to figure out how to get started, feeling emotionally capable of learning a new skill, or even being physically able to commit. In these instances, recreational therapists can start with one-on-one appointments with a personalized approach.
“You can go to a doctor and they’ll write you a prescription for your problem, but they don’t always consider the means to achieve those goals—like the availability, affordability, or accessibility of the solution relative to the client. That’s [one of the ways] where recreational therapists come in, to help bridge those gaps and make those goals more obtainable.”
– Recreational therapist at Casey House
Taking the lead
Our recreational therapists work closely with clients to build trust and discover their interests. For many clients without a stable social support system, Casey House staff, peers and volunteers may be some of the only people they interact with regularly. With time and sustained practice, many clients gain enough confidence to demonstrate their progress. Sometimes the next step means joining group sessions, and other times, it can even mean leading them with their own ideas Group environments can foster bonding and bring up fond memories of the past while making positive new ones too. Not only do clients feel more independent, but they also achieve a sense of pride in improving their abilities.
Participants in group programs are encouraged to lead a gathering with their own expertise, like tie dying or origami for the art studio, or bringing in a recipe for the cooking workshops.
Progress often leads people to explore options outside of Casey House. Recreational therapists encourage clients to seek other programs within the community in addition to their participation here. Recreational therapists can also assist in finding external groups that are affordable or accessible. It comes down to keeping the momentum and engagement going as it transitions beyond Casey House.
Recreational therapy can bring clients a newfound purpose in their lives and assist them in finding strategies tailored to their needs to see it through. Clients are empowered to try new skills and explore opportunities for growth. Success can look like many things: a slam dunk, a watercolour painting, a pleasant group gathering in the park, over even a homecooked meal. With recreational therapy, the real work happens intrinsically, and it’s more than meets the eye.
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