Therapeutic Recreation
According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), therapeutic recreation services, also referred to as recreational therapy, use art, 
nature/gardening, music, and dance to help individuals living with an illness or disability to improve functioning and/or attain independence, health and well being.
Click on the links below to learn more about therapeutic recreation services.
Animal-Assistive Therapy
Art Therapy
Bibliotherapy
Cinema Therapy
Dance Therapy
Drama Therapy
Horticultural Therapy
Music Therapy
Poetry Therapy
Therapeutic Humor
Recreation/Sports
ANIMAL-ASSISTIVE THERAPY (AAT)
Click here to read an article about Animal-Assisted Therapy.
DELTA SOCIETY
425-679-5500
www.deltasociety.org
The Delta Society is an international organization which promotes the human-animal bond. Their mission is to improve human health through service and therapy animals. This organization offers a number of different programs which include Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). According to the Delta Society, AAT is a goal-directed intervention where an animal is an integral part of the treatment process. AAT is designed to promote improvements in human physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning. AAT can be provided to individuals and/or groups and can be provided in a variety of settings.
THERAPY DOGS, INC.
877-843-7364
www.therapydogs.com
Therapy Dogs Inc. provides registration and support for members who are involved in volunteer, animal-assisted activities. The objective is to form a network of caring individuals who are willing to share their animals and bring joy to others. Therapy Dogs, Inc. offers a quarterly newsletter and a comprehensive bibliography list of books available on pet therapy.
THERAPY DOGS INTERNATIONAL, INC (TDI)
973-252-9800
www.tdi-dog.org
Therapy Dogs International, Inc (TDI) is a non-profit, volunteer group that provides qualified handlers and their therapy dogs for visitation. The primary goal of TDI is to provide comfort and companionship. Contact TDI directly for more information and/or to locate a program in your area.
AMERICAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION, INC. (AATA)
888-290-0878
www.arttherapy.org
The American Art Therapy Association, Inc. is a national, non-profit organization that is dedicated to the belief that the creative process involved in art-making is healing and life enhancing. To locate your state chapter and an art therapist in your state, visit the website’s homepage.
ARTS AND HEALING NETWORK
www.artheals.org
Arts and Healing Network is an international online resource which celebrates the connection between art and healing. This website provices a number of links to different art organizations, artists, books, videos/DVDs, classes and workshops. Arts and Healing Network also offers an art and healing center forum and several blogs that feature the work of healing artists.
VSA ARTS
800-933-8721
www.vsarts.org
VSA Arts is an international non-profit organization for individuals with disabilities which offers programs in art, music, drama, dance and creative writing. VSA Arts administers a number of different programs through a network of local, state and international organizations and affiliates. VSA Arts also provides educators with resources and tools to support art programming in the community.
HEALING STORY ALLIANCE (HSA)
www.healingstory.org
The purpose of HSA is to promote the use of story-telling (bibliotherapy). HSA provides access to stories on a variety of topics such as peace, self and community, and children in crisis. Visitors to the website are able to discuss these stories by posting comments/opinions. Also provides an email listserv, searchable resource database and links to other creative arts websites.
CINEMATHERAPY.COM
510-919-6943
www.cinematherapy.com
Cinematherapy.com is a website dedicated entirely to cinema therapy. According to the website, cinema therapy can be a powerful catalyst for healing and growth and can provide inspiration and emotional release. The website offers a FAQ section, movie reviews and guidelines for choosing and watching films. There is also a cinema therapy listserv and bibliography list available. Personal stories inspired by movies can be submitted to the website as well.
AMERICAN DANCE THERAPY ASSOCIATION (ADTA)
410-997-4040
www.adta.org
As defined by the ADTA, dance/movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, social, cognitive and physical integrations of the individual. ADTA provides a wide variety of information on dance/movement therapy which includes an FAQ section, research section and bibliography listing. ADTA also offers a number of publications and a listserv.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DRAMA THERAPY (NADT)
888-416-7167
www.nadt.org
NADT is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting the profession of drama therapy through information and advocacy. According to NADT, drama therapy is the systemic and intentional use of drama/theatre processes and products to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration and personal growth. On the NADT website, there is a FAQ section to learn more about drama therapy. NADT also offers a listserv and comprehensive bibliography list. Contact NADT directly to locate a drama therapist in your local area.
AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION (AHTA)
484-654-0357
www.ahta.org
AHTA is the only U.S. organization that focuses on the promotion and development of horticultural therapy programming. According to AHTA, horticultural therapy is the engagement of a person in gardening-related activities, facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific treatment goals. On AHTA’s website, there is an informative FAQ section as well as a number of publications available. AHTA also has state chapters throughout the United States.
To learn more about Horticultural Therapy, please click here to read a position paper from the American Horticultural Therapy Association.
GARDENING FOR GOOD
508-801-8473
www.gardening4good.org
Gardening for Good is a national, non-profit organization that serves as an educational resource for professionals, individuals and caregivers which provides ideas and programs that help older adults continue to enjoy nature and gardening. Gardening for Good provides suggestions/ideas for garden therapy programs, an email newsletter and workshops/events.
AMERICAN MUSIC THERAPY ASSOCIATION (AMTA)
301-589-3300
www.musictherapy.org
AMTA’s mission is to advance public awareness about the benefits of music therapy and to increase access to music therapy services. AMTA describes music therapy as an established healthcare profession that uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapy can help to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain and express feelings. AMTA’s website provides a FAQ section, fact sheets on the effects of music therapy on specific populations and research bibliographies. Contact AMTA directly to locate a music therapist in your local area.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR POETRY THERAPY (NAPT)
866-498-1843
www.poetrytherapy.org
NAPT is a world-wide community of poets, writers, journal keepers, helping professionals and educators. According to NAPT, poetry therapy encompasses bibliotherapy (the interactive use of literature), journal-therapy (the use of life-based reflective writing), therapeutic story-telling, the use of film in therapy and other language-based modalities. NAPT offers several publications which includes an online newsletter. The NAPT website also provides links to NAPT members, poetry resources, and other creative arts organizations.
ASSOCIATION FOR APPLIED AND THERAPEUTIC HUMOR (AATH)
888-747-2284
www.aath.org
AATH is a national, non-profit organization which focuses on advancing the understanding and application of humor and laughter for their positive benefits. According to AATH, therapeutic humor is any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life’s situations. Therapeutic humor may be used as a complementary treatment of illness to facilitate healing or coping, whether physical, emotional, cognitive, social or spiritual. AATH offers a “Humor Resources” section which includes a discussion forum, humor library, humor articles/papers and links to other organizations.
THE CANCER CLUB
800-586-9062
www.cancerclub.com
The Cancer Club is the first organization to offer hope and support to cancer patients, their families and friends through the healing power of humor. The Cancer Club offers a free e-newsletter, humorous cartoons/books and an inspirational section called, Attitudes.
THE HUMOR COLLECTION
919-544-2370
www.thehumorcollection.org
The Humor Collection is a clearinghouse of humor resources that is dedicated to promoting humor and happiness in health care, in the community and in personal lives. The website was created by a cancer survivor and includes information on movies, tapes, CD’s, radio programs and books. The website also includes articles on health and humor and links to other organizations/humor resources.
AMERICAN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION ASSOCIATION (ATRA)
601-450-2872
www.atra-online.com
ATRA is the largest national membership organization that represents the interests and needs of recreational therapists. According to ATRA, therapeutic recreation remediates or rehabilitates in order to improve functioning, independence, health and well-being. ATRA’s website provides articles about therapeutic recreation and a FAQ section. ATRA also offers a number of publications, a blog and links to other recreational therapy organizations.
DISABLED SPORTS USA (DS/USA)
301-217-0960
www.dsusa.org
DS/USA’s mission is to provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity through participation in sports/recreation. DS/USA is a nationwide network of community based chapters which offer a wide variety of recreation programs to anyone with a permanent disability.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR ACCESSIBLE GOLF
703-296-4296
www.accessgolf.org
The mission of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf is to ensure the opportunity for all persons with a disability to fully engage in a game of golf. The Alliance offers a toolkit for golf owners, operators and golfers and offers a program called GAIN. GAIN (Golf: Accessible & Inclusive Networks) is a national research and development project funded through the U.S. Golf Association Foundation, the PGA tour and the PGA of America Foundation. GAIN involves individuals with disabilities in the physical game of golf and in the social and community aspects of the game.
NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED (NSCD)
970-726-1540 or 303-316-1540
www.nscd.org
NSCD’s mission is to provide quality outdoor sports and therapeutic recreation programs that positively impact the lives of people with physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral diagnosis. NSCD is one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies in the world. Specially trained NCSD staff teaches a variety of winter and summer sports/activities to individuals with disabilities. Provides links to adaptive sports programs in your state. On the website homepage, click “Links & Resources.” Then click the link to locate a local program.
NATIONAL THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SOCIETY (NTRS)
NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION
800-626-6772
ntrsnrpa@nrpa.org
www.nrpa.org
The National Therapeutic Recreation Society is a branch of the National Recreation and Park Association. NTRS specializes in the provision of therapeutic recreation services for persons with disabilities in clinical facilities and in the community. NTRS provides articles about therapeutic recreation, an e-newsletter and a therapeutic recreation journal.
UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION OF BLIND ATHLETES (USABA)
719-630-0422
www.usaba.org
USABA is a community based organization of the US Olympic Committee that provides athlete and coach identification and support, program and event management and international representation. The mission is to increase the athletic opportunities for Americans who are blind or visually impaired. Provides links to sports education camps, sports events and scholarship information.
ABTA's Licensed Healthcare Professionals
ABTA's Licensed Healthcare Professionals are available by telephone and/or email to help answer questions or provide further assistance. Please contact us at 1-800-886-ABTA(2282) or email ABTAcares@abta.org if you have questions, comments or suggestions. We encourage you to share your input with us.
Last updated November 1, 2011
8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Ste 550
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: 773-577-8750
Fax: 773-577-8738
CareLine: 800-886-2282
E-mail: abtacares@abta.org