Recreational Therapist resume examples
This page has 11 one-page recreational therapist resume examples, from a therapeutic recreation aide and a recreational therapy assistant to CTRS-level therapists, a coordinator and a director, plus activity, music, hospice music and art therapists and a child life specialist. Each one is checked against US job postings, and the note under each sample explains which credentials, caseloads and outcomes it puts first.
Recreational Therapist Resume Example
Recreational therapist postings ask for a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy, the CTRS credential and strong communication, and this resume lists all three before the first job. The bullets follow what employers write most, such as individualized treatment plans, interdisciplinary team meetings, coping skills groups and timely clinical documentation, each with a number.
Why this resume works:
- Assess 12 to 15 new admissions a week with leisure and functional interviews, completing each within 72 hours.
- Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable goals and report progress in daily interdisciplinary team meetings.
- Facilitate 18 groups a week on coping skills, stress management and anger control for units of 20 patients.
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Resume Example
Therapeutic recreation specialist postings ask for the CTRS credential, a recreational therapy degree, about 2 years of experience and strong communication, and this resume shows 5 years across clinical and community settings. Each bullet ties a core duty, from assessments and care plans to adapted programs and staff training, to a measured result.
Why this resume works:
- Assess 80 participants with disabilities a year and write inclusion plans for camps, sports and fitness classes.
- Run adapted recreation for about 150 participants a week, including wheelchair basketball, adaptive swim and social clubs.
- Train 45 seasonal camp staff each spring on behavior support, seizure response and inclusion techniques.
Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator Resume Example
Therapeutic recreation coordinator roles ask for the CTRS credential, a recreational therapy degree and about 3 years of experience, and this resume shows 6 years with the last role running a whole program. Survey results, staff and volunteer numbers, the budget and the monthly calendar prove the coordination work the title is hired for.
Why this resume works:
- Direct therapeutic recreation for 300 residents across 3 levels of care, building a 120-event monthly calendar.
- Oversee staff supervision and scheduling for 4 recreation assistants and 25 volunteers, with only 1 staff departure in 2 years.
- Review leisure assessments and care plans each month, finishing 2 state surveys with zero recreation citations.
Therapeutic Recreation Director Resume Example
Therapeutic recreation director postings look for the CTRS credential and a leader who can run staff, budget and compliance, and this resume opens with 12 years and 5 years in charge of a 14-person department. The bullets prove it with budget size, chart audit scores, intern pass rates and survey results.
Why this resume works:
- Lead a department of 14 therapists and assistants serving 250 beds across 2 campuses, 7 days a week.
- Manage a $1.1M budget and staffing plan, adding 3 CTRS positions as census grew 20% from 2022 to 2025.
- Build clinical standards for assessment, treatment planning and outcome measures, lifting chart audit scores from 82% to 97%.
Recreational Therapy Assistant Resume Example
Recreational therapy assistant roles want someone who can run groups, observe and report patient behavior and keep records under a CTRS, and this resume shows 2 years of that on psychiatric units. Crisis intervention training, CPR and a recreational therapy degree in progress cover the safety and education items employers check first.
Why this resume works:
- Lead 15 groups a week in fitness, art, games and coping skills for units of 20 to 25 patients.
- Record attendance, participation and behavior observation notes for 40 patients in the EHR each shift.
- Run evening and weekend activity programming 2 weekends a month, adding 3 scheduled hours a day for patients.
Therapeutic Recreation Aide Resume Example
Therapeutic recreation aide jobs need someone who can run simple groups, move residents safely and keep accurate participation records, and this resume shows all three with weekly session and resident counts. The CNA certificate and BLS card answer the safety and hands-on care questions employers ask of aides.
Why this resume works:
- Run about 20 sessions a week, including chair exercise, bingo, music and reminiscence groups.
- Manage wheelchair transfers and escorts for 25 residents a day to and from programs, using gait belts for resident safety.
- Record participation and mood for each resident in PointClickCare so the recreation director has complete care plan data.
Activity Therapist Resume Example
Activity therapist postings name activity assessment, creativity, flexibility and communication skills, and this resume shows timed assessments and a creative group schedule that raised attendance. The CTRS and crisis intervention credentials sit up front, where psychiatric hospitals look first.
Why this resume works:
- Complete activity assessments for 10 to 12 new patients a week within 48 hours of admission.
- Facilitate 20 groups a week in art, movement, leisure education and relapse prevention skills.
- Increase adult unit group attendance from 55% to 78% after rebuilding the schedule around patient choice.
Music Therapist Resume Example
Music therapist postings ask for a music therapy degree from an accredited program and MT-BC board certification, and both appear here along with the 1,040-hour internship. The bullets match the duties employers list, such as assessing patients, writing individualized music therapy plans and documenting progress, with numbers on caseload and outcomes.
Why this resume works:
- Assess and treat about 30 patients a week on oncology, cardiac and NICU units with individualized music therapy plans.
- Lead procedural support sessions during IV starts and dressing changes, lowering average pain scores by 2 points.
- Teach progressive relaxation and breathing to music before surgery, with 85% of teens reporting lower anxiety.
Hospice Music Therapist Resume Example
Hospice music therapist postings ask for MT-BC certification, an understanding of the hospice philosophy and the ability to work independently, and this resume shows a 32-patient field caseload run from the car. Legacy work, IDG updates and vigil sessions match the duties hospices write most, and each job carries numbers.
Why this resume works:
- Manage a caseload of 32 patients, driving to about 25 home and facility visits a week across 4 counties.
- Assess pain, anxiety and spiritual needs and set music therapy goals that match each plan and focus of care.
- Create legacy recordings and heartbeat songs with 60 families a year, delivered as keepsake audio files.
Art Therapist Resume Example
Art therapist postings ask for a master's in art therapy, board certification and a state license, plus compassion and strong communication, and this resume lists the degree, ATR-BC and the Oregon license up front. The bullets show caseload size, group load, assessment deadlines and team coordination, the work employers describe for the role.
Why this resume works:
- Counsel a caseload of 28 children, teens and adults with trauma, anxiety and depression in weekly art therapy.
- Run 6 groups a week, including a teen grief group and an adult DBT skills group built on art directives.
- Complete art-based assessment and treatment planning within 30 days of intake, meeting 98% of audit deadlines.
Child Life Specialist Resume Example
Child life specialist postings ask for CCLS certification, a degree in child development or child life, and skills in therapeutic play, medical play and family centered care, and this resume shows each in real procedures and outcomes. The 600-hour internship and BLS card cover the other items hospitals check before an interview.
Why this resume works:
- Guide about 40 children a week through IVs, port access and scans using medical play and age-based teaching.
- Lead therapeutic play and normalization groups in the playroom for 12 to 20 inpatients each afternoon.
- Teach coping skills and stress reduction techniques that cut MRI sedation requests for ages 6 to 10 by 18%.
Check your recreational therapist resume against a real job posting
- Paste a recreational therapist job posting into the job match score tool to see which of its skills your resume is missing.
- Upload your resume to the ATS resume checker to read the text an applicant tracking system gets from it.
Recreational Therapist resume sample (text you can copy)
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Recreational Therapist resume sample
HANNAH WHITAKER
Recreational Therapist
Philadelphia, PA · (215) 555-0143 · [email protected] · linkedin.com/in/hannahwhitaker
SUMMARY
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with 5 years of recreational therapy in inpatient psychiatric and physical rehabilitation settings. Assesses 12 to 15 patients a week, writes individualized treatment plans, and runs coping skills and stress management groups that tie leisure activity to discharge goals.
EXPERIENCE
Recreational Therapist, Schuylkill Behavioral Health Hospital, Philadelphia, PA | 03/2023 - Present
- Assess 12 to 15 new admissions a week with leisure and functional interviews, completing each within 72 hours.
- Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable goals and report progress in daily interdisciplinary team meetings.
- Facilitate 18 groups a week on coping skills, stress management and anger control for units of 20 patients.
- Apply crisis intervention techniques during escalations, part of a unit effort that cut restraint use 22% in 2025.
Recreational Therapist, Delaware Valley Rehabilitation Center, Bryn Mawr, PA | 06/2021 - 02/2023
- Treated a caseload of 14 patients after stroke, spinal cord injury and brain injury, rebuilding leisure skills for home.
- Led 2 community outings a month to restaurants and stores to practice wheelchair mobility, transit and money skills.
- Documented progress notes and outcome scores in the EHR within 24 hours, following patient confidentiality and HIPAA rules.
- Trained 6 nursing assistants on adaptive equipment so weekend leisure programs could run without a therapist.
Recreational Therapy Intern, Main Line Senior Care Center, Wynnewood, PA | 01/2021 - 05/2021
- Planned and ran 40 sensory, reminiscence and exercise sessions for residents with dementia.
- Completed 25 leisure assessments under CTRS supervision and wrote clinical documentation for quarterly care plan reviews.
- Designed a 6-week gardening group for 10 residents, used by the center after the internship ended.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Recreational Therapy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | 05/2021
SKILLS
Recreational Therapy, Treatment Plans, Leisure Assessment, Coping Skills, Stress Management, Crisis Intervention Techniques, Clinical Documentation, Patient Confidentiality, Communication Skills, Interpersonal Skills
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (07/2021)
Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider, American Heart Association (02/2025)
How to write a recreational therapist resume
Write a recreational therapist resume summary
- Put your credential in the first line: CTRS, MT-BC, ATR-BC, CCLS or a state license.
- Name your setting and population, such as inpatient psychiatry, physical rehabilitation, skilled nursing, hospice or pediatrics.
- Give your caseload or group load, such as patients assessed a week or groups run a week.
- Add one or two methods you use, such as coping skills groups, adapted sports, medical play or songwriting.
Recreational Therapy Assistant summary (entry level)
Recreational therapy assistant with 2 years on adult psychiatric units, running leisure and coping skills groups under a CTRS, with current training in crisis intervention and CPR. Leads 15 groups a week, records participation for 40 patients, and is finishing a bachelor's in recreational therapy at Eastern Kentucky University.
Recreational Therapist summary (mid level)
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with 5 years of recreational therapy in inpatient psychiatric and physical rehabilitation settings. Assesses 12 to 15 patients a week, writes individualized treatment plans, and runs coping skills and stress management groups that tie leisure activity to discharge goals.
Therapeutic Recreation Director summary (lead level)
Therapeutic recreation director and CTRS with 12 years in rehabilitation and long-term care, the last 5 leading a 14-person department across 2 hospital campuses. Sets clinical standards, budgets and staffing, built a community reintegration program with physical and occupational therapy, and keeps documentation ready for CMS and Joint Commission surveys.
Write recreational therapist experience bullets
- Count assessments, groups and caseload, and say how fast you complete assessments after admission.
- Show patient outcomes where you have them, such as lower pain or anxiety scores, higher attendance or less restraint use.
- Mention treatment plans, team meetings and same-day documentation, since employers list all three.
- For coordinator and director roles, add staff and volunteers supervised, budget and survey or audit results.
Recreational Therapist experience bullets
- Assess 12 to 15 new admissions a week with leisure and functional interviews, completing each within 72 hours.
- Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable goals and report progress in daily interdisciplinary team meetings.
- Facilitate 18 groups a week on coping skills, stress management and anger control for units of 20 patients.
- Apply crisis intervention techniques during escalations, part of a unit effort that cut restraint use 22% in 2025.
Pick the skills for a recreational therapist resume
- Show communication, interpersonal skills and organizational skills in team meetings and family work.
- Show the ability to work independently and compassion; home visit caseloads and end-of-life work prove both.
- Add your clinical methods and systems by name, such as leisure assessment, crisis intervention, Epic or PointClickCare.
Do's and don'ts
Do this
- List your credential, degree and internship hours near the top, where employers check first.
- Match the credential to the job: CTRS for recreational therapy, MT-BC for music therapy, CCLS for child life.
- Give every main bullet a count: patients, groups, assessments or families.
- Include your driver's license and transportation for home health and hospice roles.
Avoid this
- Don't describe your work as "planning activities"; show the therapy goal behind each group.
- Don't bury the CTRS or MT-BC credential at the bottom of the page.
- Don't leave out documentation and team meetings, since employers describe both as core duties.
- Don't list soft skills such as compassion without a bullet that shows them with patients or families.
Related resume examples
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Mental Health Technician
- Registered Nurse
- Medical Assistant
Recreational Therapist resume questions
What should I put on a recreational therapist resume?
Your credential, your degree, your setting, your caseload and patient outcomes with numbers. Employers ask for a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation or recreation therapy and the CTRS credential. Bullets should cover assessments, individualized treatment plans, groups, team meetings and documentation.
How much experience do recreational therapist jobs ask for?
It depends on the role. Aide and assistant roles are entry roles, while coordinator and director roles ask for more years in the field. Count your internship hours and say how much of your experience is with the population the posting names.
How do I write a CTRS or therapeutic recreation specialist resume?
Put the CTRS credential and your recreational therapy degree in the first lines. Then show leisure assessments, care plans with measurable goals and the adapted programs you run, with counts and results. Add the populations you serve, such as people with disabilities, older adults in skilled nursing or psychiatric patients.
What should a music therapist resume include?
Your music therapy degree, MT-BC certification and internship, then your setting, caseload and the methods you use, such as live music, songwriting or guided relaxation. Employers ask for a music therapy degree from an accredited program and MT-BC, and they describe assessing patients and writing individualized music therapy plans, so show that in a bullet.
What goes on an art therapist or child life specialist resume?
For art therapy, list your art therapy degree, board certification such as ATR-BC and any state license, then caseload, groups and assessment work. For child life, list CCLS and a degree in child development, child life or psychology. Show procedures supported, play groups and family work with numbers.
How do I write a recreational therapy assistant or aide resume?
Show the groups you lead, the residents or patients you work with each day and the records you keep for the therapist or director. Add safety training such as CPR, BLS, CNA or crisis intervention, and say if you are working toward a recreational therapy degree.