Other Therapy and Assessment Professionals

Nature of work

This group includes specialized therapists not elsewhere classified who use techniques such as athletic, movement, art or recreational therapy to aid in the treatment of mental and physical disabilities or injuries. They are employed by establishments such as hospitals, rehabilitation centres, extended health care facilities, clinics, recreational centres, nursing homes, industry, educational institutions and sports organizations, or they may work in private practice.

Job duties

Therapists and other professionals in this group perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assess patients and review reports from physicians, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, counsellors, teachers and other professionals to determine patients' current and potential functioning level.
• Prepare individualized and group treatment plans either independently or through a multidisciplinary team approach, based on health concerns and on recommendations from physicians or other health professionals.
• Design specialized therapy programs to maintain, rehabilitate or enhance movement, musculoskeletal functioning and performance in sports, work and recreation.
• Implement treatment plans by carrying out specialized therapy sessions employing approaches and techniques such as art, drama and music therapy or dance, recreational, sports or other movement therapy.
• Observe, record observations, and analyze patients during treatment sessions, write progress reports on patient outcomes and consult with other health professionals to evaluate treatment plans.
• May provide education to clients regarding health promotion and injury prevention, management and treatment.
• May conduct research in respective field of specialization.

Sample job titles

• art therapist
• certified athletic therapist (CAT)
• exercise physiologist
• kinesiologist
• movement therapist
• music therapist
• recreational therapist
• registered dance therapist (DTR)
• remedial gymnast
• remedial therapist

Skills

To work in recreational therapy, you must have a genuine and sensitive interest in people and their ability to achieve. You must be able to communicate effectively with people and demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility, good judgement, patience, and self-discipline. Therapists must be creative and unique in their approach to each client. The ability to inspire confidence and to motivate clients is important. A strong sense of responsibility, good judgement, and communication skills are also necessary.

Job requirements

• Kinesiologists usually require a master's degree in kinesiology or human kinetics.
• Certification for kinesiologists is available through the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance.
• Sport therapists require a bachelor's degree in sport therapy, or a degree in health sciences with a specialization in sports injury management.
• Art therapists require a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in art therapy.
• Music therapists require a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in music therapy.
• Dance therapists require a bachelor's degree in psychology, and usually require a master's degree in art, drama or movement therapy.
• Recreational therapists usually require a bachelor's degree in recreation with a specialization in therapeutic recreation.
• Certification or membership with the appropriate national professional association or provincial counterpart may be required.

Other considerations

Those not employed with public institutions or agencies are often self-employed in a private or group practice. There is a distinct training path for each of these professions and no movement between these jobs. Supervised practical training is usually required for jobs in this group. Creative or technical ability in the field of specialization is usually required.

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