Facilitating change through leisure: The leisure and well-being model of therapeutic recreation practice

Abstract

Research on the relationship between leisure and well-being has been underrepresented in the positive science literature (Caldwell L, Br J Guid Couns 33:7-26, 2005). And yet, what domain of life has the potential to contribute more to well-being? Leisure is vast. In leisure, a person can climb a mountain, sail a sea, write a poem, volunteer at a soup kitchen, read to a child, or watch a sunset. Leisure, wisely chosen, has the potential to enrich a life beyond measure. Yet oftentimes, people do not appreciate the value of leisure in creating a life of meaning; nor do they have the knowledge or skills necessary to reap the greatest benefit from leisure. The primary purpose of therapeutic recreation (TR), a profession within the broader discipline of leisure studies, is to help individuals, especially those with disabilities or illnesses, cultivate well-being through leisure. Specifically, therapeutic recreation professionals facilitate individuals' ability to engage in leisure to address the challenges associated with having a disability or illness, while simultaneously supporting the development of capacities needed to increase positive emotion and to build a life of personal growth and meaning.