Therapeutic Recreation Processes and Techniques.

Abstract

This is an expanded version of Austin's earlier book which he describes as an explanation of how to practice therapeutic recreation. Essentially clinical in approach, the second edition brings to the student and practitioner up-dated information relevant to therapeutic recreation service. Given the profession's strong swing towards clinical aspects of service, this volume will undoubtedly be warmly received. The book is divided into ten chapters. Each is introduced by statement of purpose, key terms, and objectives, and concluded by a summary and a list ofcomprehension questions. I must confess to a problem with the comprehension questions. They seem to imply that readers might not grasp the material on their own, and they tend, actually, to restrict the range of insights that can be gained from reading the chapters. While such "aids" might facilitate discussion for an introductory class, I suspect that advanced students and professionals will find them extraneous and distracting. Although the book is not subdivided into sections, the first four chapters form a natural unit, providing an introduction and three chapters on theories and therapies, facilitation techniques, and the therapeutic recreation process. Chapter two, on theories and therapies, presents comprehensive synopses of psychoanalytic, behavioristic, and growth therapies, indicating the implications ofeach for therapeutic recreation practice. This section serves to familiarize clinicians-in-training with the approaches and language of colleagues from other disciplines, and also provides a background for the development of their own clinical approach. Although the wealth of material presented here is a rich resource, those working with beginning practitioners may want to issue a caveat that the summaries do not supply a full grounding in the therapies described. Chapter four, on therapeutic recreation process, describes the fundamental steps in the delivery oftherapeutic recreation service. In my opinion Austin is unexcelled at presenting the process of the profession, combining simplicity and clarity with a fine sense of dignity and purpose. Starting from the humanistic/holistic perspective, he describes a number of conceptual models in therapeutic recreation, then takes the reader through the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Each step is thoroughly discussed, but I found the section on assessment particularly informative, and especially pertinent to the health care industry's increasing emphasis on establishing solid client data bases. The very thorough case example and the appendix of open-ended questions are important additions to this chapter which, for me, is the heart of the text. In a somewhat different reading, David Compton, in his foreword, identifies the next five chapters as the heart ofthe text. Although I don't share his view, I certainly found these chapters most instructive and consistent with the author's focus on the therapeutic recreation specialist's role as helping professional. The chapters in this section deal with helping others, communication skills, leadership, and clinical supervision. These essential components of any human service profession are carefully presented. Ofparticular value are the section on communicating with clients who have special needs, and the exercises appended to chapters five and six which provide opportunity to develop the skills described. The topic of leadership, addressed in chapters seven and eight, includes much material which did not appear in the first edition of the text. Especially notable here is the section on leisure counseling. Also new to the second edition is chapter nine, on clinical supervision, with descriptions ofspecific models, and definitions ofthe roles ofclinical supervisors. This is an area of increasing importance, as cost-containment measures oblige health care professionals to provide more and better service with less staff. A final chapter by Joan Austin and Martha Price offers the advantage of a nursing perspective on some common physical conditions which may threaten clients' health and safety. These authors provide the therapeutic recreation,practitioner with basic knowledge about the special needs of patients who have seizure disorders, who are diabetics, who are being treated with psychotropic medications, or who require mechanical assistance in order to be mobile. This chapter's focus on the care of clients with chronic illnesses is especially notable. Since therapeutic recreation has tended to follow the health care system's narrow fixation on acute care, while neglecting the growing need and complex dimensions of chronic care, it is reassuring to find a therapeutic recreation textbook addressing chronic care issues. The author identifies the goals ofthis book explicitly: to expand the knowledge base and enhance the technical abilities of therapeutic recreation students and practitioners. These goals have clearly been met. In an easily readable style, Austin provides his readers with a broad array of materials which serve as a strong foundation, enabling therapeutic recreation professionals to improve the quality of their service.