Tennessee Valley Healthcare System

Recreation Therapy

Here's what you'll find on this page:

• Recreational Therapy Overview & Benefits
• Music Therapy Overview and Benefits
• How to get a consult for Recreational Therapy and Music Therapy
• Specialized Programs -- Murfreesboro
• Specialized Programs -- Nashville
• National VA Sponsored Events
• Outpatient Calendar (external link)

Recreation Therapy Overview & Benefits

According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association:

“Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being.”

RT is a treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness, and to reduce or eliminate the activity limitations/restrictions caused by an illness or disabling condition.

RT is an evidence-based, goal oriented therapy that focuses on the enhancement of physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills, as well as, leisure development, adaptation to real or perceived barriers and reintegration back into the community with chosen life pursuits.

Benefits of RT

• Decreased anxiety
• Decreased depression
• Increased socialization
• Increased sense of purpose
• Increased sense of confidence
• Improved quality of life
• Improved physical fitness
• Improved overall health
• Sensory Stimulation
• Pain Management
• Life-skills Development
• Family Inclusion

Music Therapy Overview & Benefits

According to American Music Therapy Association:

“Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.”

Mission

To use music in a focused and concentrated way to promote wellness, alleviate pain, stress, and anxiety, assist with expression of feelings, facilitate physical rehabilitation, positively affect moods and emotional states, enhance memory recall and provide unique opportunities for enhancement.

Benefits of MT

• Increased knowledge of positive recreation outlets
• Adjustment to disability, illness, injury
• Non-pharmaceutical methods
• Time, money, stress management
• Adaptation to barriers
• Behavior management

How to get a consult for Recreational Therapy and Music Therapy 

Recreational Therapy is currently providing services to outpatient Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Substance Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Referrals through Recreation Therapy Consult: Please indicate Nashville and Murfreesboro. Contact your Primary Care, PC-MHI provider, social workers, psychologist, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant if interested.

1. Complete an assessment
2. Develop a Veteran-centered treatment plan
3. Provide implementation of programs
4. Complete evaluation of goals and objectives

Specialized Programs - Murfreesboro

Recreational Therapy - York Outpatient Campus

• Operation Song & Alumni (songwriting)
• Health Rhythms Drumming
• SOAR (group guitar)
• Vibroacoustic Therapy (cellular massage/pain management)
• Adaptive Tai Chi
• 1:1 Music Therapy
• Walking 2 Wellness (with psychology)
• CERV (equine therapy)
• Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
• Woodworking

Music Therapy - York Outpatient Campus

• Operation Song (therapeutic songwriting group)
  • Must commit to 12-16 week series—Friday mornings
• Health Rhythms Drumming
  • Wednesday mornings
• Individual piano lessons and individual guitar lessons
  • To build upon existing musical skills
  • Veteran must already have the instrument
• SOAR (Sounds of Acoustic Recovery) therapeutic guitar class
  • Must commit to 8 week series of group classes

Specialized Programs - Nashville

Recreational Therapy Outpatient - Nashville

• Adaptive Sports/ Adaptive Blind/Impaired Vision Sports
• First Tee Golf (Seasonal)
• Archery (Seasonal)
• Bowling (seasonal)
• Horseshoes (Seasonal)
• Bocce Ball (Seasonal)
• Nine Ball (Seasonal)
• Creative Arts
• Tandy Leatherwork (Seasonal)
• Wood working (Seasonal)
• Aquatics
• Group Classes
• Individuals
• Team Training for National Adaptive Sports
• Guitar for Vets (1:1 guitar lesson)
• Stretch Group

National VA Sponsored Events

Each year, the VA sponsors National Rehabilitation Special Events to improve awareness of the therapeutic value of recreation, sports and the creative arts for Veterans treated in the VA healthcare system.

• Creative Arts Festival
  • The celebration and grand finale stage and art show, which are the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for Veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national healthcare system.
• Golden Age Games
  • The only national multi-event sports and recreational seniors’ competition program designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans 55 and above, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.
• Summer Sports Clinic
  • Adventure sports and recreational activities such as sailing, surfing, track and field events, kayaking and cycling to those who were recently injured.
• National Training Exposure Experience (TEE)
  • Provides legally blind and eligible disabled Veterans an opportunity to develop new skills and strengthen their self-esteem through adaptive golf and bowling events.
• The Valor Games
  • Three days of Paralympic sport competition celebrating sport as a means of empowering individuals and strengthening community
• Wheelchair Games
  • Sports and rehabilitation program for Veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, amputations or certain neurological problems.
• Winter Sports Clinic
  • Skiing, rock climbing, snowmobiling, kayaking and scuba diving for veterans with traumatic Brain Injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions and other disabilities.
• What is the process?
  • Recreational Therapy is currently providing services to outpatient Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Substance Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Referrals through Recreation Therapy Consult please indicate Nashville and Murfreesboro. Contact your Primary Care, PC-MHI provider, social workers, psychologist, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant if interested