Recreation Therapy at CAMH

Therapeutic Recreation is a process that utilizes treatment, education, and recreation participation to enable persons with physical, cognitive, emotional and/or social limitations to acquire and /or maintain the skills, knowledge and behaviors that will allow them to enjoy their leisure optimally, function independently with the least amount of assistance and participate fully as possible in society. (Therapeutic Recreation Ontario, 2003)

Recreation Therapists at CAMH assess individual interests, abilities and attitudes surrounding leisure; plan and develop treatment plans with clients to assist them in reaching their leisure goals; implement leisure based programs and; evaluate clients’ treatment plan and goals and programs. Recreation therapists assist clients in finding ways to enjoy meaningful leisure time.

Recreation Therapists can be found as members of the Interdisciplinary Teams within the following areas: Law and Mental Health Program, Metabolic Clinic, Schizophrenia Program, Geriatric Psychiatry Program, Dual Diagnosis Program, Addiction Program, Cocaine Program, Rainbow Services, Women’s Program, and the Mood and Anxiety Program. Recreation Therapists provide their services on both inpatient and outpatient treatment teams.

We place students from post-secondary institutions that have an accredited Recreation or Recreational Therapy Program. Some of our former students have been recruited as full or part time recreation therapists between the CAMH sites.

All Recreation Therapists at CAMH follow the Standards of Practice for Therapeutic Recreation, which were developed by our provincial organization Therapeutic Recreation Ontario and published in 2003.

The Therapeutic Recreation Council at CAMH is overseen by the Recreation Therapist-In-Chief and all Recreation Therapists are members of this council. The council meets monthly and rotates sites and chairs of the meetings. Meetings serve to disseminate information, share resources and also involve a professional development component.

Contact Information

Brad Keech
Recreation Therapist-In-Chief
(T) 416-535-8501, Ext 2434
E-Mail: brad_keech@camh.net