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And still, for all the years that have passed and all the goodbyes you've said and all the beautiful and devastating and wonderous days you've lived - there is still so much life ahead of you. And there is still so much love here for you. And some of your best days, haven't even come yet. Some of your favourite people, you haven't yet met. Some of your greatest chapters - they're still being written. And one day, you're going to look back and see that life was guiding you and preparing you for something more stunning than you ever knew existed. Something beautiful and honest and fulfilling and true. And I promise, you're on time. The universe doesn't miss. And what's coming - you won't need to force it. Because it's going to settle deep inside your bones and just flow. And you're not just going to survive the years to come - you're going to flourish (Keithley, 2024, p. 146).

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Internal Character Strengths & Virtues: 

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Internal Character Strengths & Virtues: 

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I preface with that poem because it deeply resonates with a few of my internal character strengths. Through the VIA Character Strengths Survey Tool, I discovered three of my top five strengths: spirituality, hope, and appreciation of beauty and excellence – three virtues I believe share a common thread. I have always been appreciative and in awe of nature – something so beautiful and vast – that it makes me feel connected to something divine. With that connection comes an overwhelming sense of meaning, purpose, and comfort. In momentary times of adversity, nature is my safe hideaway. I experience an overwhelming presence of peace when I am walking through a forest or sitting next to a lake. This sense of meaning, comfort, and connection amid hardships is something that has always interested me. Moreover, in the face of adversity, I am unmoved by the “why question – ‘why did this horrible thing happen’? However, the what question – ‘what new meaning is going to arise from this pain’; what happened after that, what those losses led to” (Bell, 2020, p. 30), those questions always fascinate me. As people navigate painful and existential experiences, they discover meaning within them, leading to a sense of comfort and peace and fostering hope even in the darkest of times. I firmly believe that everything anyone ever experiences is part of a larger design, and with time, something so profound and beautiful always reveals itself from these experiences. Life unfolds exactly as it is meant to, with each experience shaping who we are and where we are headed. The poem beautifully captures the essence of spirituality, hope, and appreciation of beauty and excellence in a way that resonates deeply with my strengths and beliefs.

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I believe therapeutic recreation is a deeply relational and holistic practice, rooted in the transformative power of human connection. Therapeutic recreation – at its core – is walking alongside individuals in their journey – not to “fix” them, but to support them in restoring a sense of wholeness. This wholeness – is not defined by the absence of illness or disability – but rather by the presence of profound meaning, purpose, connection, and joy – qualities that can exist in the face of hardships. Working toward wholeness transcends rigid binaries – such as healthcare provider/patient, unhealthy/healthy, or able/disabled – that often separate individuals further from human connection. Instead, therapeutic recreation is grounded in relational care, empathy, and understanding, embracing the universal nature of the human experience. Therapeutic recreation is about holding space for vulnerability – to listen, to share, and to learn from one another. Rooted in this understanding, therapeutic recreation is practiced through a person-centred and strengths-based approach – honouring each individual’s unique life story, along with their strengths, interests, needs, fears, values, and aspirations. Therapeutic recreation is co-creating and engaging in leisure experiences that are meaningful to the individual. Through meaningful leisure experiences, individuals are provided the space to harness their strengths, reflect, and connect with their inner and outer worlds, and make sense of their life experiences. These meaningful leisure experiences not only cultivate purpose and joy but also help individuals rediscover the essence of what breathes life into their existence, guiding them back toward human flourishing. Lastly, I believe therapeutic recreation is special in its ability to offer glimpses of hope, grounded in its innate commitment to social justice. Therapeutic recreation acknowledges how health is shaped by broader systemic forces – social, cultural, political, and environmental. It advocates for diversity, access, inclusion, and equity, striving to challenge the barriers that prevent individuals from fully engaging in their lives and from flourishing in their environments.

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TR is often practiced within healthcare settings that follow the medical model, and the overarching goal is to “fix” individuals. This can inadvertently lead TR professionals to conform to dominant, hegemonic ideologies, and in turn, perpetuate a superior/inferior binary between the TR professional and the participant. The TR professional can "subconsciously develop a clinical gaze, becoming culture-blind and viewing individuals as undifferentiated objects" (Teles, 2021, p. 77). Given that “assessment is the cornerstone of the TR process” (Anderson & Heyne, 2013, p. 90) – setting the foundation for the therapeutic relationship and directing the trajectory of care – it is so important that assessments are performed in ways that reinforce person-centred care. I aim to be part of a paradigm shift that moves from standardized practices, “superficial inquiry, or selective data gathering” – often the case in traditional TR assessments – toward “creating a more authentic picture of those I support, with as little distortion as possible” (Tronto, 1998, p. 16). As O’Keefe (2005) suggests, this shift involves moving from “taking assessments” to “inviting individuals to share their stories” (p. 78). With this as my starting point, I can grasp a more holistic understanding of an individual’s lived experience, needs, strengths, and desires, allowing myself to better understand “their heart and spirit, the source of their motivation and actions, and their philosophy of life” (O’Keefe, 1997, p. 4). Undoubtedly, my philosophy of TR assessments aligns with Anderson & Heyne’s (2013) strengths-based principles, which emphasize that assessments be “strengths-based and person-centred, based on participants’ perspectives and worldviews, and focused on their aspirations and goals” (p. 95). An assessment tool I can use to facilitate these principles is the Personal Leisure Profile, which embodies five open-ended questions – such as, “what do you enjoy doing?” and "what may be stopping you from enjoying that activity”? These sorts of questions are not only a more natural, back-and-forth, conversational dialect (Teles, 2021, p. 76) but also enable the participant to guide the direction of their care. Through this effort, I aim to overcome power dynamics, foster trust within the therapeutic relationship, and prioritize the hopes and dreams of those I support.

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Throughout REC 455, I have learned about the various challenges faced by the TR profession, which I have compiled into the following bullet points:

Practicing TR in healthcare settings rooted in the medical model

Practicing TR in healthcare settings where care is primarily approached through a deficits-based lens

Practicing TR in healthcare settings where the dominant discourse emphasizes individualism

Practicing TR in healthcare settings that emphasize outcome-oriented models, which focus too narrowly on functional outcomes and limit the scope of holistic and meaningful leisure experiences

Adhering to the ATRA, CTRS, and TRO code of ethics when faced with ethical dilemmas

A lack of recognition – placing TR care as secondary to that of other healthcare professionals

A lack of formal designation – leading to feelings of marginalization by other credentialed professionals

Navigating hierarchies within healthcare settings - feeling subordinated in decision-making processes

A lack of awareness of the role and benefits of TR among other stakeholders

Troubles with role clarity and defining boundaries - leading to confusion among healthcare teams

Limited funding and resources

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Understands care through a holistic lens, recognizing the interconnectedness of individuals’ physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being in shaping their overall health, similar to that of the Five Ways to Well-being Model (Mental Health Ireland, 2019)

Recognizes leisure as a fundamental human right

Uses meaningful and inclusive leisure experiences to foster human flourishing

Embodies person-centred care - recognizes individuals beyond their deficits and supports their health holistically, rather than seeking to "fix" them

Adopts a strengths-based approach to care – focuses on individuals’ strengths and abilities rather than their limitations

Recognizes leisure can serve as both a means and an end goal – does not merely ground the TR process in a rigid, outcome-oriented model

Acknowledges existential, relational, and ecological factors – considers the broader context of an individual’s life in shaping their health

Ensures individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities by providing resources and support within their home, work, and social environments

Values individuals as equal – embraces the perspective that individuals be valued as human beings, with equal status to that of the TR professional

Embraces reflexivity – the TR professional recognizes their privileged position of power and critically examines their biases and assumptions, ensuring they approach care with non-judgement, unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathetic understanding

Empowers individuals to guide the direction of their care, which promotes mastery, a sense of autonomy, and a sense of relatedness

Promotes equity, diversity, and inclusivity – ensures care is equitable and accessible for all individuals

Embraces cultural competence and cultural humility

Altogether, these strengths put the TR profession in a unique position to advocate for equity and eliminate the systemic injustices that marginalize individuals from experiencing meaningful leisure experiences within healthcare settings

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The Five Ways to Wellbeing - Mental Health Ireland

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"Therapeutic recreation is defined as being a holistic approach practiced in clinical, residential, and community settings, where recreation and leisure interventions improve one’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Therapeutic recreation also embodies the individual as an active role in their care process, utilizing a strengths-based approach that focuses on their strengths, abilities, and leisure preferences, rather than their limitations".

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Though my former definition of TR does not explicitly acknowledge the dominant discourse of individualism, I now recognize that it was grounded in that framework. When I created my TR definition, I emphasized the use of leisure interventions to treat individuals and improve their health, well-being, and quality of life. While I mentioned the importance of a strengths-based approach – one that does not define individuals by their limitations – my understanding of TR paradoxically reflected a top-down, functional outcome model. In this model, treatment is provided through interventions aimed at helping individuals regain independence and become “healthy” again. Within this context, the absence of illness, disorder, or disability, along with self-descriptors like self-actualization, are seen as paramount treatment goals for achieving health and well-being (Fish, 1996). Notably, this model fails to consider broader ecological and relational layers – such as environmental, community, and systemic factors – that also play a pivotal role in shaping one’s overall health and well-being.

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I now understand therapeutic recreation as a relational practice that is much more profound and personal – a beautiful invitation to "share in one’s pain, realize our interconnectedness, see beyond the binary of unhealthy and healthy, right and wrong, and us and them, embracing instead the universal nature of the human experience" (Arai & Tepylo, n.d., as cited in Briscoe & Arai, 2015, p. 196). It involves supporting individuals in exploring their innermost desires, fears, and aspirations while facilitating meaningful leisure experiences that help them process and work through these innate feelings, ultimately bringing them profound purpose and joy. Within this context, health is not defined by the need to necessarily rid an illness, disorder, or disability but rather by restoring a sense of life that is fulfilling and meaningful to an individual. While achieving functional goals may be meaningful and suitable for some individuals in their care, it should not be understood as a blanket approach for all individuals. Therapeutic recreation is personalized to individuals’ unique contexts, needs, and values. Moreover, therapeutic recreation recognizes that an individual’s health and well-being are shaped not only by their strengths, abilities, and leisure interests but also by social determinants of health. Therefore, it involves advocating for opportunities that allow individuals to fully engage and flourish in their environments, taking into consideration the ecological layers that significantly contribute to their overall health, well-being, and quality of life.

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(Dispenza, n.d., as cited in My Bliss is Mine, 2023). 

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Similar to Dr. Joe Dispenza's emphasis on wholeness, I too echo the same outlook in my new TR definition. If while in an elevator with a stranger who asked about my profession, I would define therapeutic recreation as a holistic, person-centred, and relational practice that advocates for and uses meaningful, strengths-based leisure experiences to help individuals – particularly those experiencing difficult circumstances, illness, disorder, disability, and/or life transitions – in rediscovering their sense of wholeness. Through meaningful and inclusive leisure experiences, individuals find a profound and transformative sense of purpose and joy, along with many other positive emotions, guiding them back toward a flourishing life and recreating “a sense of health, of being well, of being fully alive in the world” (Gerteis et al., 1993, p. 21).

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Imagine feeling so much wholeness, it's impossible to want. - Dr. Joe Dispenza #motivational

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A fundamental passion of mine is compassionate service, where I can help individuals discover their gifts and abilities, learn from meaningful leisure experiences, and integrate these learnings and experiences into their life stories – ultimately fostering a sense of hope during difficult times. Along with this passion comes my gift of empathy. My empathy allows individuals to feel seen, heard, and valued. I deeply understand their perspectives as their truth, remain free of judgement, feel their emotions with them, and offer my presence. I understand that sometimes, the mere presence of one’s comfort – just simply being there – can speak louder than trying to find a silver lining. While I am a hopeful person, I also understand that hope should be explored with care and sensitivity. I am reminded of the words of Arai & Tepylo (n.d.) who state, that it is important to “witness one’s pain before understanding it, and that in witnessing we do not attempt to fix – no solution, no advice, no prescriptions are offered. We do not attempt to help by doing for others” (as cited in Briscoe & Arai, 2015, p. 202). Another talent of mine is my strong inclination toward mindfulness and spiritual awareness. Through this gift, I can carry myself in a calm and grounded manner even in moments of trial and tribulation, creating space for others to feel a sense of stability and safety. This gift also allows me to understand health and well-being holistically, recognizing the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit.

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Food for Thought: "'I see you' - one of the greatest gifts we give each other" ...

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Food for Thought: "'I see you' - one of the greatest gifts we give each other" ...

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(Bell, 2020, p. 234)

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Applying my Strengths to my TR practice:

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Applying my Strengths to my TR practice:

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My virtues and gifts of spirituality, hope, and empathy play a pivotal role in my care as a TR professional. Those we support in therapeutic recreation often come to leisure programs feeling disconnected from their sense of wholeness and overall well-being, marked by feelings such as emotional pain and loss. I can utilize my virtues and gifts in spirituality, hope, and empathy by serving as a hermeneutic guide, facilitating meaning-making for those I support. By embracing vulnerability, I sit with their existential concerns – empathetically “listening to their thoughts, feelings, … lifeworld predicaments, and visions of what it means to live well” (Svenaeus, 2014, p. 557), and then use meaningful leisure experiences to elicit a sense of purpose, helping them make sense of their narrative and incorporating those meanings into their life story (Wise, 2021). This process, in turn, fosters hope by guiding individuals to discover a renewed sense of meaning amid adverse experiences. Moreover, my appreciation of beauty and excellence enables me to recognize and admire the goodness and abilities in all people. This naturally leads me to adopt a strengths-based approach, where I take notice of the subtle, intrinsic strengths, talents and abilities within each individual. Additionally, my empathy plays a key role in helping me gain a deeper understanding of an individual’s lived experience while also allowing me to identify barriers within their ecological context. By addressing these barriers, I remove obstacles that hinder individuals from flourishing in their environments, fostering inclusivity and empowering them to discover and fully harness both their internal and external strengths. This ultimately guides them toward a place where they can achieve their vision of living well – enabling a sense of autonomy and empowerment. Speaking from personal experience, I once supported a lady with dementia and learned that it was not so much the act of participating in the programs that brought her meaning but rather the environment I created for her that enabled her to tap into her internal strength, which was being of service to others. This, I saw as something that brought her purpose and joy. As I prepared for program activities, I often offered her the opportunity to help clean and prepare the space for programming – whether by sweeping the floors or wiping the tables – knowing these tasks provided her with a sense of autonomy and fulfillment. Fundamentally, “the greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches but reveal to him his own” (Disraeli, n.d., as cited in Anderson & Heyne, 2013, p. 105).

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As learned in REC 455, external strengths and resources are those beyond our innate abilities, extending to our ecological layers. These include aspects such as family support and involvement, home resources, social support and friendship, community and environmental resources, opportunities for participation and contribution, and high expectations and positive attitudes (Anderson & Heyne, 2021). As a future TR professional it is significant that I practice what I preach. As I promote leisure experiences for others’ health and well-being, I too, need to prioritize my health by utilizing my external strengths and resources. I remember during our TR practitioner panel; Katarina mentioned the importance of taking time to process and reflect on experiences, as the work that TR professionals do can be morally distressing and emotionally draining. If I do not take the time to process and practice self-care, I am more likely to experience compassionate fatigue (Vanwyck, 2025a). To support my health and well-being as a TR professional, I must lean into my external resources, such as social support and home resources. Having a trusting support system at work is important for engaging in the relational reflective process – “a safe space to reflect upon TR challenges and engage in dialogical processes" (Briscoe & Arai, 2015, pp. 198-199). I was fortunate to witness this process during my internship, where my TR team’s safe space was their office, There, we could listen to each other, share knowledge, cry, and laugh together, navigating the challenges that come with working in the field of TR. This space encouraged collective knowledge and new learnings, deepening our understanding of our practices of care. A safe and supportive work environment is something I deeply value for my future practice. Other external resources I can draw upon include my journal and listening to meditative music while driving – two outlets I use to reflect on my emotions, make sense of my experiences, clear my state of mind, and elicit positive emotions like clarity, calmness, and joy.

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TR involves creating the right conditions for individuals to grow where they have been planted, promoting flourishing within their unique circumstances, and living well in their existence (Frankl, 1992).

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Another strength in my top five VIA character strengths is fairness – treating all people the same according to notions of fairness and justice, and not letting feelings bias decisions about others. Along with my gift of empathy, fairness significantly supports cultural humility, which involves “acknowledging one’s privilege, engaging in self-critique, challenging power differentials, and developing an attitude of not knowing and learning from those we support (Fisher-Borne et al., 2014). I empathetically understand that individuals’ “lived experiences are deeply relational – comprised of one’s self and body, thoughts and memories, connections with others, historical, social, environmental, and political contexts, along with power complexities that shape their realities” (Vanwyck, 2025b, slide 19). I also recognize how the complexity of an individual’s story is often overlooked by a healthcare system caught in hegemonic ideologies and dominant discourses that reinforce power imbalances and binary constructs. Despite my privilege putting me in a position where I can never fully understand another’s lived experience, my commitment to fairness allows me to practice reflexivity – the ability to critically examine my own biases – and “create learning contexts in which the lines between binary constructs become blurred, and each individual becomes a knowledge-knower and producer” (Briscoe & Arai, 2015, p. 197). While I embody fairness and empathy, I would love to further develop these strengths through advocacy and leadership. Advocacy, in particular, is closely tied to fairness, as both involve standing up for those whose voices are marginalized. Although I demonstrate fairness and advocacy at the individual level – within my interactions with those I support – I sometimes hesitate to speak up and challenge dominant viewpoints in larger group settings. This tension presents an opportunity for growth, as I work toward becoming more confident in using my voice to advocate for inclusive and ethical care. I can develop these strengths by engaging in team dynamics with other healthcare professionals, attending TR conferences, or participating in TR education and training opportunities that provide me the opportunity to share my body of knowledge with others.

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In reflecting on planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation approaches, I believe the RVRE model – a concept coined by O’Keefe (2005) strongly aligns with my values and approach to TR. Prior to REC 455, I had never heard of the RVRE model, but now I recognize its embodiment of person-centred and relational care – two foundational tenets of my TR philosophy.

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First, the RVRE’s model on vision is very meaningful to me. The concept of vision encourages a TR professional to challenge their taken-for-granted ways of practice, moving away from the assumption that the professional knows what is best, and instead allowing individuals to set goals that align with their vision of well-being. O’Keefe (2005) illustrates that “a vision is an image, more complex than a goal, of how the patient sees the future. It encompasses hope, a value that is hardly measurable” (pp. 79-80). In other words, one’s vision underscores the richness and depth of the human experience – qualities that cannot be easily quantified or captured through traditional goal-setting methods. This step allows individuals to direct their care, ultimately grounding the therapeutic process in their unique hopes and dreams. To grasp one’s vision, I circle back to my value of utilizing open-ended questions during assessments. Asking open-ended questions during assessments can provide insight into one’s vision through questions such as, “what does your ideal future look like?" and "what about this future vision brings joy and meaning to your life”? These are questions I look to incorporate into my future TR practice as they allow individuals to exercise autonomy over their care, authentically reflecting their intrinsic motivations and unique vision of well-being.

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O’Keefe (2005) redefines implementation as re-creation – highlighting the importance of promoting meaningful experiences through leisure. In contrast to traditional interventions, which often involve those on the receiving end of care engaging in activities that may lack personal significance (O’Keefe, 2005), O’Keefe encourages TR professionals to deeply consider “how the intervention looks to the individual”, understanding that “what TR professionals see as an intervention is an experience to those on the receiving end” (O’Keefe, 2005, p. 80). Leisure, when facilitated with careful attention to individuals’ unique visions and intrinsic motivations, has a profound capacity for meaning-making – the process through which individuals make sense of their lives (Wise, 2021). Reflecting on the re-creation approach, I recognize the significant role that facilitation techniques play in the meaning-making process, particularly the debriefing strategy. Debriefing involves “using reflective questioning and actively guiding discussions to help individuals bring order and meaning to their experiences” (Hutchinson & Dattilo, 2001, p. 46) – helping individuals generalize what they have learned to real-life contexts. While meaningful leisure experiences should stem from an individual’s needs, interests, and desires, the meaning-making process is further cultivated through the thoughtful guidance of the TR professional. This concept reminds me of parentalism – offering appropriate nurturance and protection while understanding “a time to let go and a time to offer a hand” (Agich, 1993, as cited in Sylvester et al., 2005, p. 12). In my own TR practice, I will adopt the re-creation approach by utilizing suitable facilitation techniques and embracing parentalism as appropriate – serving as a liaison in individuals’ meaning-making processes.

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Replacing Evaluation (and Documentation) with Efficacy:

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Replacing Evaluation (and Documentation) with Efficacy:

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Lastly, O’Keefe refers to evaluation as efficacy – the act of reflecting upon the effectiveness of the care provided (2005). While standard evaluation and documentation measures are quantitative, objective, and rigid – often removing the nuance of authentic human experiences – efficacy embodies a person-centred approach. This approach emphasizes the significance of incorporating the subjective perspectives of individuals into the evaluation and documentation process. In previous experiences working in the field, I always ended my programs with questions like, “what did you enjoy about today’s program?”, followed by “what thoughts, feelings and emotions did you experience”? These sorts of questions create an opportunity for individuals to share their perceptions, which in turn form my judgement about the effectiveness of the program in meeting their needs and desires. By giving priority to the perspectives of those I support, I ensure the evaluation and documentation process remains person-centred. This is a purposeful action I will continue to incorporate within my TR practice. Additionally, a reading from this term shared findings from a case study that revealed how using a positive psychological approach to evaluation – one that underpins strengths within programs – can elicit meaningful and positive change in social justice interventions (Warren et al., 2022). This approach brings attention to strengths that are often otherwise considered peripheral, non-essential, or taken for granted. While the reading focuses on the evaluation of a program, I believe the same approach can be applied to evaluating and documenting individuals' experiences. That is, by evaluating and documenting the strengths of individuals, I shift the paradigm from a deficits-based perspective to a strengths-based perspective, helping to challenge dominant discourses.

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(Klowak, 2020) *Content Warning: this article discusses the sensitive topic of suicide. 

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I am deeply saddened by a medicalized healthcare system that not only fails to consider one’s internal and external strengths but also the social determinants of health – non-medical conditions – that shape their well-being and ability to flourish. In healthcare, individualism is the dominant discourse where “self” descriptors (e.g., self-actualization) are upheld as paramount goals (Fish, 1996). Ironically, the structures that encourage these benchmarks fail to acknowledge one “as part of their larger environments – one’s home, community, and other contextual factors” (Anderson & Heyne, 2021, p. 96) – nor provide equitable and inclusive opportunities for marginalized individuals to achieve these health standards. For instance, homelessness is medicalized as a personal deficiency rather than a systemic failure. In this perspective, social determinants of health and ecological factors, such as community and family connections, are disregarded (Dieser et al., 2005, p. 62). Unfortunately, I lost my dear friend Taylor to this insensitive, medicalized system, where “she was not treated as a person, she was treated as an illness (Pryor, n.d., as cited in Klowak, 2020, para. 13). She walked through hospital doors countless times looking for help – looking to restore her sense of wholeness – but all she received were labels and prescriptions. She was treated as an object, shuffled through an impersonal medical system, and at the core, all she needed someone to say was, “I see you” – to be acknowledged as human. Her family also “almost felt like the enemy in some cases” – they wanted to help, but they were never invited by the medical team into her circle of care (Pryor, n.d., as cited in Klowak, 2020, para. 56), and her medical team – who they had to trust - lacked coordination and structure regarding Taylor's continuity of care. While her story breaks my heart, it also serves as an invitation to advocate for inclusive healthcare. Dattilo (2021) stresses the responsibility of healthcare professionals to advocate for people experiencing marginalization by listening to their stories, educating themselves, and working to change policies, opportunities, and attitudes to promote justice (p. 189). Therefore, I share Taylor’s story not to dwell on sadness but to spread awareness of the need for an attitudinal shift in healthcare settings, where care is approached more relationally, inclusively, and through a transdisciplinary team approach. As I work alongside individuals in my TR practice, I am committed to listening to their stories - acknowledging the social determinants of health and ecological factors that shape their well-being, and recognizing the significance these factors have in shaping their sense of wholeness. A principle that further reinforces this commitment is considering “family: accommodating and including regardless…” (Dattilo, 2021, p. 193). In my TR practice, I prioritize a relational approach to care by recognizing relational layers and social support systems as integral to one's care and well-being. I believe had Taylor’s healthcare team incorporated assessment tools such as the strengths discovery assessment, home and community social behaviour scales, the circle of support tool, or spiritual resources inventory (Anderson & Heyne, 2021), they would have learned about her internal and external strengths, needs, and desires - that of which involved in her relationships. In my TR practice, I want to ensure that I understand the spirit of those I support through using non-standard, strengths-based assessments and offering family-centred leisure opportunities, understanding the significance interconnectedness has in reducing feelings of isolation and nurturing human flourishing (Sylvester, 2005). Lastly, Taylor experienced insensitive, degrading terminology throughout her experiences, with one psychiatrist implying, “Taylor needed a place to deregulate, and that place would be jail” (Klowak, 2020, para. 45), in addition to other healthcare professionals who labelled her by her diagnoses, and restrained, sedated, or isolated her when she experienced aggressive behaviour (Klowak, 2020). In my TR practice, I adopt the inclusive principle of “using sensitive terms” (Dattilo, 2021, p. 189). This involves grounding care in a person-centred approach that considers individuals’ strengths and abilities, considers the person and their identity first, and primarily, communicates compassion and respect in and throughout the entire care process (McLean & Yoder, 2005). By integrating these fundamental principles into my TR practice, I aim to promote inclusive and supportive leisure experiences for all individuals, working to amend the prevailing gaps of a broken healthcare system.

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Broken, fragmented health-care system failed daughter who died by suicide, family of Taylor Pryor says | CBC News

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Doug and Darseen Pryor are trying to piece together why their daughter Taylor was discharged from hospital last October, after she was admitted to hospital 14 times for trying to kill herself.

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From the movie Awakenings (Marshall, 1990, as cited in KeepItInMind, 2023)

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“… work, play, friendship, family – these are things that matter, this is what we have forgotten …” 

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“… work, play, friendship, family – these are things that matter, this is what we have forgotten …” 

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Never Forget ❤️ |  #movieclip #awakenings #robinwilliams

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Ethical & Cultural Considerations: The Danger of a Single Story:

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Ethical & Cultural Considerations: The Danger of a Single Story:

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As explored throughout this e-portfolio, individualism is the dominant discourse in healthcare. However, understanding individualism as paramount to health and well-being – and using it as a blanket, outcome-oriented approach to all individuals – ignores other cultural discourses that influence health. This approach is naïve and insensitive to those whose perceptions of what it means to live well differ from the dominant, Western ideology (Dieser et al., 2005). This discrepancy arises from the danger of a single story – the singular narrative of individualism, upheld by power structures, where cross-cultural perspectives are often neglected or seen as inferior (Dieser et al., 2005). Adichie (2009) emphasizes the issue of the singular narrative, stating that “power has the ability to not just tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person" (10:12). When there is only a single story, “it creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete; they make one story become the only story” (Adichie, 2009, 13:11), ultimately “robbing people of dignity” (Adichie, 2009, 13:57).

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story | TED

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Over the last five years, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in academics and diverse healthcare settings, working with a range of populations, needs, and contexts – each of which provided its challenges and opportunities for growth. From supporting those with intellectual and developmental disabilities through L’Arche to providing residential care in nursing homes, to working in acute settings with those experiencing physical injuries, neurobehavioural disorders, and chronic diseases, and later supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction in transitional housing, I have witnessed the complexities of care, as well as the injustices that exist within healthcare. These diverse experiences have pushed me beyond my comfort zone, tested my assumptions, and most importantly, deepened my passion for TR. As I travelled through these experiences, my TR philosophy has evolved. There have been moments of reflection that led me to question and re-question my approach. Through REC 455, I have come to understand that this ongoing cycle of learning, unlearning, and re-learning, is not only completely normal but necessary. As I move forward, I carry with me the understanding that “no single way of doing TR should be privileged over another” (Arai et al., 2015, p. 317), but if I continue to engage in lifelong learning – embracing diversity and difference, challenging existing paradigms, embracing ambiguity, engaging in compassionate critique, approaching practice with humility, embracing vulnerability, and looking into the paradox (Arai et al., 2015) – then I contribute my voice to the call for a more inclusive and just healthcare system. I am sure that if I go against the grain, standing tall in what sets my role apart from dominant discourses and hegemonic ideologies, “until a time when the environment supports my philosophy, the therapeutic process will indeed be better, not measured by external standards, but by the interior moral compass that matters most” (O’Keefe, 2005, p. 82). Through this e-portfolio, I hope to offer a glimpse into what I aim to bring to my practice – a future that is bright for TR, one rooted in the courage to challenge what is and build a healthcare system that is person-centred, strengths-based, relational, inclusive, and just.

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Ethical and Cultural Considerations During the TR Process: 

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Ethical and Cultural Considerations During the TR Process: 

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Recognizing this dynamic, it is important that as a TR professional, I engage in reflexivity, acknowledging my privilege, biases, and the power inherent in my role (Vanwyck, 2025c). I strive to use my position of power in a way that embodies cultural humility. To practice cultural humility, I aim to “develop environments that are free from bias and support the diverse needs and interests of all individuals” (Maxwell & Fennel, n.d., as cited in TRPR Journal of TRO, 2023, p. 79). This involves embracing the replacement of standardized assessments with re-storying, allowing the opportunity for one to share their identity, cultural perceptions, and vision of health. As Adichie (2009) says, “it is impossible to engage properly with a place or person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and person” (13:45). Furthermore, I will develop universal programs that bring diverse populations together, allowing individuals to achieve equal status and share common goals. These programs create environments where the barriers that set individuals apart are dismantled, fostering unity and connection, regardless of backgrounds and abilities. This can be achieved through universal programs like laughter yoga and drum circles (Maxwell & Fennel, n.d., as cited in TRPR Journal of TRO, 2023). However, that does not suggest that I ignore cultural differences. I must avoid becoming culturally blind – seeing all individuals as the same. Therefore, I will honour each individual’s unique needs, cultural contexts, and beliefs. For instance, I once supported an individual in a nursing home who refused to eat the Westernized food offered at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I created an opportunity for her family to bring in their traditional ethnic food, allowing her to not only share a dinner with her loved ones but also feel supported in her ethnicity. Fundamentally, creating environments where individuals can flourish within their cultural contexts is central to my TR philosophy and is something I will continue to strive for in my practice.

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Encouraging Individuals to be Self-Advocates Through Autonomy:

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Encouraging Individuals to be Self-Advocates Through Autonomy:

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To support those, I work alongside and encourage them to be self-advocates, I will ensure my care remains person-centred. It is my role as a TR professional to work with individuals, not for them, ensuring leisure-related decisions remain their own. By upholding an individual’s autonomy and considering them as an active participant in their care, I empower them to make informed decisions, honouring their right to autonomy – a fundamental ethic in TR (Genoe et al., 2021). Furthermore, I will respect all leisure-related choices, including one's decision to not participate in leisure activities, – that “’ just because an individual has dementia, just because they have a disability, does not mean they do not have the right to still make decisions about their life’. (Participant 9, Interview)” (Genoe et al., 2021, para. 44). Fundamentally, while autonomy can be deeply affected by impairing conditions, it can also be adapted with the right supports (Sylvester, 2005). In my practice, I aim to transcend the traditional professional/patient binary, recognizing those I support as equals – human beings in their essence, regardless of any impairment that may set us apart. This approach, in turn, encourages individuals to be self-advocates in their care as it reinforces their right to autonomy and empowers them to take an active role in shaping their own lives.

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I possess a variety of advocacy skills and strengths that enable me to advocate for strengths-based practices in my care. A prominent strength of mine is having an undergraduate degree in TR, particularly, the abundance of knowledge that I have attained over the last five years. For instance, my education taught me universal design – a concept that I did not know before my degree. I further developed my knowledge and skills in universal design in REC 252 where I had the opportunity to assess the accessibility of a local public library and consider ways the environment could be adapted to reflect principles of universal design. Moreover, knowledge of the ATRA and TRO code of ethics provides a foundational moral framework for my advocacy efforts. These principles guide my actions and affirm my ability to challenge unethical care or injustices in healthcare settings when they arise. Lastly, we live in a time that is highly reliant on technology, and although technology can have detrimental consequences, I also see it as a strength in disguise – one that, when used thoughtfully, can foster learning, provide opportunity, and drive justice interventions. Overall, through education and experiences, my strengths in knowledge and understanding of TR have developed immensely – what a shame it would be to not go out into the world and do something with all of this TR information!

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Anderson & Heyne define advocacy as speaking out on behalf of others to bring about positive change (2021). Throughout my e-portfolio, I have explored advocacy through a critical theory lens, reflecting on the need to examine, challenge, and undo the power structures and systems that perpetuate inequity in healthcare. In TR, my role involves actively working toward dismantling the oppressive systems that dehumanize individuals and limit their access to inclusive leisure experiences. Innovation is an integral component of the advocacy process as it involves creating new learnings, approaches, and practices that help address gaps in healthcare. In TR, implementing innovation requires not only introducing new ideas but also the ability to re-imagine existing practices to promote inclusivity and justice. Dieser et al. (2005) emphasize the importance of the relational reflective process, which “brings moments of impasse and disconnection within a team and creates opportunities to be worked through into reconnection…” (p. 204). This process allows interdisciplinary teams to share experiences, challenge prevailing norms, and explore the layers of complexity within care. In turn, this process leads to theoretical reflection – “a critical practice where healthcare professionals consider different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of their experiences” (Dieser et al., 2005, p. 205). By engaging in relational reflective practice, I can take part in the innovation of a paradigm shift – one that brings the healthcare system closer to inclusivity and justice. Lastly, a paradigm shift calls for deliberate action – the steps taken to achieve a re-imagined praxis. Park et al. (2022) reveal in their findings the lack of deliberate action at the public policy level. As such, I can contribute to this shortcoming by engaging with healthcare policymakers to raise awareness about the benefits of TR in promoting health and well-being. I believe that advocating for TR at the societal level can help shift healthcare policies to better reflect holistic care – care that focuses not on dominant discourses, diagnoses, and labels but on the significance of inclusive, meaningful leisure experiences in helping individuals rediscover their wholeness. By illustrating advocacy, innovation, and action, I can contribute to a transformative change in how healthcare is conceptualized and delivered.

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(Brown, 2018)

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1. Increased awareness and advocacy

2. Further research & evidence-based practice

3. Professional licensure

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Addressing TR Needs at the Individual Level:

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Addressing TR Needs at the Individual Level:

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There is a strong lack of recognition for the TR field (Park et al., 2022). I was out for dinner with a friend the other night, and as I was explaining how my goal post-graduation is to work in the field of TR, she stopped me mid-sentence to ask, “what even is therapeutic recreation”?! This lack of awareness is something that many TR professionals face. Therefore, there is a strong need for increased awareness and advocacy – and this can only truly happen through the voices of those who have relatedness with or work directly within the field. Park et al. (2022) find that marketing is rarely an occurrence in TR – suggesting the need for community engagement through sitting on committees, attending special events, or engaging with social media platforms. As a TR professional working in the field, I can increase recognition by engaging with social media platforms to spread awareness. For example, while the Instagram video that I share above (Grand River Hospital, 2024) focuses on the role of an OTA & PTA, it also provides a visual of the TR team supporting an individual in engagement with meaningful leisure experiences. In a similar effort, I can showcase TR benefits and success stories on social media platforms to acknowledge the benefits of TR in promoting health, well-being, and quality of life, ultimately spreading awareness to the greater community. Moreover, during the TR practitioner panel, Katarina shared how she brings her leisure interests, such as playing the guitar, into her practice. By playing the guitar, people start to gather around – allowing space for open discussion about the field to occur. I have had similar experiences where I have invited family members to leisure programming – creating the opportunity for discussions about the field to happen naturally.  I will continue to further TR through this advocacy effort of creating opportunities for discussion. To promote further research and evidence-based practice, I can take the initiative to engage in research endeavours, such as conducting program evaluation findings. This not only advances research and evidence-based practice but also contributes to increased recognition of the field. Lastly, I believe that advocacy efforts, in turn, bring TR closer to legitimization. Before the TR practitioner panel, I assumed that obtaining my TRO registration would be determined by whether or not the organizations I apply to, require it. However, Jonathan provided an alternative perspective that changed this view for me. He framed acquiring the TRO membership as a form of advocacy, helping contribute toward establishing the profession and the TR title. After hearing his perspective, I am more inspired to acquire my membership – regardless of the requirement status. This is something I will do to contribute to advancing the profession as a whole.

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Grand River Hospital on Instagram: "September is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and we’re shining a light on the incredible care provided by Grand River Hospital’s Geriatric Assessment and Neurobehavioural Units. Our 32-bed inpatient unit at Freeport Campus offers personalized care for those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
 
From engaging daily activities to creating dementia-friendly spaces, our team is dedicated to making a positive difference for patients and their families. 🙌💕 Socialization, recreation therapy, and even music therapy play a huge role in promoting well-being and reducing symptoms.
 
We’re here for both patients (like Aiden) and caregivers, offering the support and resources needed through this journey. 🌿💜
 
To learn more, please visit the link in our bio."

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71 likes, 0 comments - grhospitalkw on September 30, 2024: "September is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and we’re shining a light on the incredible care provided by Grand River Hospital’s Geriatric Assessment and Neurobehavioural Units. Our 32-bed inpatient unit at Freeport Campus offers personalized care for those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
 
From engaging daily activities to creating dementia-friendly spaces, our team is dedicated to making a positive difference for patients and their families. 🙌💕 Socialization, recreation therapy, and even music therapy play a huge role in promoting well-being and reducing symptoms.
 
We’re here for both patients (like Aiden) and caregivers, offering the support and resources needed through this journey. 🌿💜
 
To learn more, please visit the link in our bio.". 

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grand River Hospital (@grhospitalkw)

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Submitted to the Learn Dropbox as a pdf :)

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(The recreation therapy brochure I created for my internship at the Grand River Hospital - Freeport site)

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In my future TR endeavours, I aim to advocate for TR and bridge the gap for underserved individuals by leveraging my knowledge to promote inclusive leisure experiences. For instance, my understanding that individuals are not inherently disabled, but rather disabled by environments that create hindrances, allows me to adopt Dattilo’s principle of providing “economic resources: bringing people to programs and programs to people” (2021, p. 192). During my work in transitional housing with individuals experiencing low income, I identified the financial and environmental barriers they faced in accessing recreation and leisure services. To address this, I supported individuals in applying for grants and collaborated with volunteer organizations, shelters, and local transportation services to provide subsidized passes or free rides, helping individuals access recreation and leisure services. Advocating for inclusive leisure experiences by removing transportation and financial barriers allowed the individuals I supported to engage in leisure more freely, experiencing a sense of liberation. Principally, I will continue to advocate for TR by using my knowledge to create inclusive leisure experiences for underserved individuals. Park et al. (2022) suggest further advocacy efforts, such as encouraging TR professionals to “post information about TR around the workplace, deliver a presentation about TR, and invite individuals to learn about TR who might otherwise not know the benefits” (p. 526). During my internship, I had the opportunity to create a brochure for the hospital's transitional care unit that informed stakeholders (e.g., family members, nursing staff, and other allied healthcare professionals) about recreation therapy! In this context, I used my skills with technology to advocate for the profession, sharing knowledge and building recognition. Fundamentally, I will continue to advocate for the field of TR by illustrating my knowledge and understanding that “advocating is more than just speaking up about the benefits…”, it also involves “showing others the value of TR through visual images, media, and inviting others to experience TR programming…” (Park et al., 2022, p. 527).

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In my TR philosophy, I highlight the significance of meaningful leisure experiences in cultivating joy. I purposefully avoid the term happiness because happiness is fleeting. Happiness is tied to temporary successes or external validation (Embark Behavioural Health, 2021), which reflects a task-oriented nuance and neglects internal motivation – a fundamental contribution to meaningful leisure experiences. Joy, on the other hand, arises from within – rooted in meaningful and purposeful experiences (Embark Behavioural Health, 2021). Joy is sustainable. It is the joy that persists through hardships, and that nourishes well-being and leads a flourishing life.

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At the heart of my passion for TR is the vision of improving social justice in healthcare – a call for a paradigm shift away from traditional regimes that often marginalize individuals and perpetuate inequity. Although I may not be able to eradicate traditional regimes on a societal scale, I can use my power as a TR professional to reject them within my practice. This vision is rooted in a critical theory lens, where in my TR practice, “I work with people to create more socially just worlds” (Arai et al., 2015, p. 310). One way to achieve this vision is by grounding my practice in an ecological approach, such as the flourishing through leisure model. By using this model as a guide, I emphasize that “individuals be viewed as part of their larger environments” (Anderson & Heyne, 2013, p. 96). This means that, as I work alongside individuals – I not only get to know them but also their home, school, work, community, and other contexts of their life. Unfortunately, traditional regimes in existing healthcare systems often neglect an individual’s broader life context – particularly the impact of social determinants on their well-being. Considering ecological factors as integral to an individual's care not only identifies their external strengths that foster health and well-being but also dismantles barriers within their environments that prevent them from engaging in leisure. Moreover, an empathetic understanding of one’s broader life contexts reinforces the practice of relational, person-centred, and strengths-based care – approaches that form the foundation of my practice, too.

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To ensure that my philosophy aligns with my TR practice, I have to critically and continuously reflect upon my practice and evaluate whether my beliefs shape how I interact with the individuals I support. For instance, I value a person-centred approach to care, therefore, I need to ensure that I take the steps necessary to uphold this value and the principles associated with it, such as empathetic understanding, congruence, and unconditional positive regard. In this context, I would ask myself questions like, “am I practicing reflexivity?” or “am I preparing for therapeutic presence”? If the answer is no, then I need to re-evaluate my current perceptions, values, and approaches, adjusting my TR philosophy as needed, but primarily, always ensuring that I remain true to my philosophy in my practice. I also need to critically reflect upon whether my values are practical and applicable to the given context in which I work. Values and principles can be fluid as their application often pertains to specific contexts in which TR professionals work. For instance, if I worked in a rehabilitation setting, I would practice out of the social model of disability, where the focus would be supporting individuals in overcoming their physical and environmental barriers, such as providing adaptive equipment. However, in a community-based context, the emphasis may shift toward reducing societal barriers – such as stigma or lack of access to leisure opportunities – to foster inclusive environments for individuals to thrive. In both contexts, I still uphold my core value of social justice, but the practical application of this principle changes. Through lifelong critical reflection in my TR practice, I not only "grow as an individual, subjecting my systems of thought to scrutiny" (Dieser et al., 2005, p. 66), but I also ensure that my philosophy aligns with my actions, practicing with true authenticity, conviction and passion.

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Defining Qualities of my Work as a TR Professional:

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Defining Qualities of my Work as a TR Professional:

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My work will be defined by the following qualities:

Holistic approach to care

Relational approach to care

Strengths-based approach to care

Person-centred approach to care

Empathetic understanding

Meaningful leisure experiences

Meaning-making processes

Cultivating positive emotions

Equality / Equity

Diversity

Inclusive leisure experiences

Integrity

Cultural competence

Cultural humility

Vulnerability

Advocacy

Leadership

Change Agent

Team collaboration; transdisciplinary approach to care

Commitment to social justice

Continuous learning and self-growth

Critical reflection

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My Aspiration Working as a TR Professional:

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My Aspiration Working as a TR Professional:

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Through my experiences working in the TR field, I have practiced within an interdisciplinary approach to care, however, I would love to get to a point in time where care moves from being interdisciplinary to being transdisciplinary. In a transdisciplinary approach to care, team members share knowledge, learn from one another, and transcend disciplinary boundaries to create and provide integrated services (Anderson & Heyne, 2021). During my internship, I caught a small glimpse of what this could be like in practice. As a Recreation Therapist Student, I worked alongside an Occupational Therapist and Music Therapist to support an individual who sustained multiple injuries from a motor vehicle collision. Together, we combined our competencies. The four of us – including the participant as an equal team member – co-created a care plan that addressed the participant’s leisure and functional goals. While the OT focused on improving the participant’s sitting tolerance, the Music Therapist and I promoted engagement in the client’s leisure interest in playing musical instruments. We incorporated rhythmic breathing and musical instruments into the OT sessions. This not only encouraged the participant to engage in meaningful, person-centred and strengths-based care but also simultaneously helped with their functional rehabilitation. What I love about this aspiration is that it is attainable – I have experienced it first-hand! In my role as a change agent, I will continue to be a voice for a transdisciplinary approach, advocating within my healthcare teams for opportunities that let traditional professional boundaries fall away and promote a more relational model of care.

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How Practicing my TR Philosophy Will Feel:

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How Practicing my TR Philosophy Will Feel:

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Therapeutic recreation is more than a career – it is a calling to live what one believes (O’Keefe, 1997). While practicing my TR philosophy will feel empowering, I also recognize that it will, at times, feel uncomfortable. Beliefs require courage – the courage to step away from comfort and dare to be vulnerable. Since my practice is grounded in a critical theory lens that deeply values social justice in healthcare, I am committed to challenging existing paradigms and hegemonic ideologies, even if that means positioning myself as an outcast. O’Keefe (2005) warns, “a person-centred, relational philosophy of care may put a TR professional at odds with people who accept the status quo…” and that TR professionals “will struggle politically and socially because many interpret social justice as extreme liberalism” (p. 82). However, to not care is to not care at all – and I would rather advocate and care for all than conform to systems and models that continue to perpetuate cycles of marginalization and oppression.

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I have learned that there is a deep need for a more relational approach to care within a healthcare system caught in its historical roots – caught in the medical model, caught in binary constructs, caught in hegemonic ideologies and dominant discourses. Being stuck and tangled within these roots does not allow for growth and flourishing. As a TR professional, my power grants me the privilege to reflect on my taken-for-granted practices, reflect on the dominant discourses that reinforce a broken and unjust healthcare system, and transcend beyond these paradigms. I have the privilege to confront the “silencing hegemonic education” that perpetuates the medicalization of TR (Briscoe & Arai, 2015, p. 197), the privilege to question the dominant discourse of individualism rooted in the medical model (Dieser et al., 2015), and the privilege to walk away from top-down, rigid processes that strip humans from their humanness. With this awareness, my TR philosophy sits within a critical theory paradigm –one that calls for a radical shift toward social justice. In this paradigm, I embrace a holistic, relational, person-centred, and strengths-based approach to care. In this paradigm, I support individuals in advocating for and creating leisure experiences that cultivate meaning, purpose, and joy – foundational elements of leisure that help restore an individual’s sense of wholeness. In this paradigm, I listen deeply to the lived experiences of those I support – acknowledging the complex web of influences and social determinants that shape their health and well-being – and strive to ensure that inclusive leisure experiences are created within their ecological layers. Working toward social justice in my TR practice is an endless journey – one that requires constant learning and unlearning, listening, reflecting, re-imagining, and advocating. TR as I have learned, is not a fixed practice – there is movement within it all the time. What a beautiful invitation it is to be part of an ever-evolving process – where my small acts of resistance within an unjust healthcare system may one day transpire into the building blocks of a new foundation of care – one deeply rooted in social justice.

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"I feel like I'm just getting started"… 

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"I feel like I'm just getting started"… 