Recreational Therapy-Youths
Introduction
Therapeutic recreation entails the incorporation of physical and intellectual activities into a structured program aimed at improving the emotional functioning, cognitive, and well-being of a person (Falk, 2016). Therapeutic recreation restores and enhances the level of functioning and independence in everyday activities. It is also involved in promoting health and wellness, as well as eliminating the restrictions towards participating in certain activities in life.
Besides, recreation therapists can use a variety of modalities and techniques in ensuring their patients are attended to accordingly. The therapists have adopted methods such as the use of music, art, and outdoor recreation activities to support their undertakings. Therefore, art therapy has proven effective in addressing anger-based issues among the youths, while also becoming the most used modality by recreational therapists.
Art therapy involves the use of art media by therapists. The clients use this media and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reduce anxiety, and enhance self-esteem.
Anger in Youths
Intervention: Performed Arts
Description of Population: Anger-related cases have been on the rise among the youths, especially those in the adolescent stage. Such rising cases of aggression have led to the adoption of a more radical method of combating anger, with the conventional techniques proving ineffective. The therapy program takes place at a youth training camp, involving a group of 10 youths from the locality.
Activity name and description: Martial Arts. Martial arts involve codified systems and traditions of combat that are practiced for various reasons, including self-defense and recreation. Research indicates that movement-based therapies are effective in combating aggressive youths (Burt, 2012). Besides, those who practice martial arts have been traditionally perceived to be self-discipline. However, this intervention method requires commitment, respect, and self-control. The therapists must ensure that the clients involved practice self-awareness in enhancing effectiveness. Generally, martial arts enable aggressive youths to rethink normal patterns of anger while reducing aggression.
Goals:
- To reduce overall aggression
- To increase self-efficacy
- To promote self-discipline, respect, and togetherness
Space and time: Effective implementation of martial arts will require a social hall since the activity involves extensive physical movements. Besides, a group of ten youths means that the activity will be conclusive and elaborate. On the other hand, the therapeutic session will require two weeks to ensure the program is fully implemented.
Equipment:
- Punching bags
- Body Opponent bags
- Fighting music
Environmental needs: Medicine balls. Since the activity is vigorous and the involved group is also aggressive, there is a need for medicine balls for first aid purposes. Besides, the room should be properly ventilated to allow for free circulation for refreshing air.
Procedures:
- Facilitate a conversation with the group on martial arts.
- Discuss whether the group has been involved in martial arts activities before.
- Discuss how it is possible to let aggression control the individuals.
- Brainstorm, of different ways in which anger can be expressed and controlled.
- After the discussions, encourage the group to display self-control in combating aggression.
Evaluation: To evaluate the effectiveness of the modality, the following questions can be used;
- Have martial arts achieved its intended purpose of reducing aggression within the group?
- Do individuals portray self-efficacy and discipline?
Conclusion
In summary, art therapy remains an efficient method in addressing anger-related issues among the youth. Recreational therapists have increasingly adopted this modality. Although martial arts is a radical method of combating aggression, it is more effective than conventional methods.
References
Falk, E. (2016). Therapeutic Recreation Interventions and Multidisciplinary Teams in Long-Term Care Settings. http://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1577&context=msw_papers
Burt, I. (2012). An innovative approach to working with angry adolescents using therapeutic principles and martial arts. VISTAS 2012. https://www.counseling.org/Resources/Library/VISTAS/vistas12/Article_55.pdf