At Nationwide Children's Hospital, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs) partner with children, teens, young adults and their families to improve health, independence and quality of life through recreation and leisure.
As part of an interdisciplinary care team, you'll use evidence-based therapeutic recreation interventions to support each patient's physical, social, cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Every day, you'll help patients build skills, confidence and independence through meaningful recreation experiences.
At Nationwide Children's Hospital, our Therapeutic Recreation team partners with departments and programs across the organization to help children, teens and young adults participate more fully in recreation, leisure and everyday life.
Our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists design individualized, evidence-based interventions that support physical, emotional, cognitive and social wellbeing. Through meaningful recreation experiences, we help patients build skills, confidence and independence while supporting recovery, adjustment and long-term quality of life.
Our team helps patients develop skills related to:
Therapeutic Recreation Specialists also provide specialized evaluation and intervention services, including:
You'll collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across a variety of clinical programs, supporting patients through many stages of care and recovery.
As a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Nationwide Children's, you'll have opportunities to work across a variety of clinical settings while collaborating with physicians, nurses, therapists and other specialists to help children reach their goals.
Support children and adolescents as they develop coping skills, build resilience and strengthen social connections through therapeutic recreation.
Help normalize the hospital experience by engaging patients in meaningful recreation activities that promote wellbeing during hospitalization.
Partner with children and families throughout rehabilitation to build confidence, restore independence and prepare for a successful return to everyday activities.
Provide ongoing therapeutic recreation services that help patients develop skills, participate in community activities and improve overall quality of life.
Join more than 20 Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists who work across one of the nation's leading pediatric health systems. You'll have opportunities to collaborate with experts from many disciplines while building a rewarding career serving children and families.
We're committed to helping you continue learning throughout your career. You'll have opportunities to:
Our Therapeutic Recreation Specialists provide care across a variety of clinical settings, including:
You'll also have opportunities to develop specialized skills in areas such as:
As your career grows, you'll have opportunities to:
We know that supporting our team helps us provide the best care for patients and families. Depending on your position and eligibility, benefits include:
You'll also be part of one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals, recognized nationally for clinical excellence and as a great place to work.
Our Therapeutic Recreation team is committed to preparing the next generation of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists through meaningful clinical education experiences.
As a student, you'll have opportunities to:
Clinical Therapies Evidence Based Practice Coordinator,
Therapeutic Recreation and Behavioral Health
Recreational Therapist,
Clinical Therapies Behavioral Health Pavilion
Recreational Therapist,
Inpatient Therapeutic Recreation
I support clinical therapists by helping them achieve outcomes related to learning, program development, knowledge sharing and knowledge translation. I provide resources and guidance tailored to each team member's goals, which empowers them to advance their practice and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Valerie Lazzara Mould
Recreational therapy plays a vital role in behavioral health because it helps patients build real-life skills through meaningful, hands-on experiences. It's inspiring to watch someone discover strength, calm or connection through moments that feel simple but truly matter.
Brooke Peters
We have one of the most incredible therapeutic recreation teams in the U.S. I continuously have opportunities to explore different perspectives from the other recreational therapists on my team, which helps me enhance my quality of care and improve patient outcomes.
Allie Altman
