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Greetings,

In my Professional Issues in Therapeutic Recreation course today, we were
going over a chapter regarding the history of Recreation Therapy and
Therapeutic Recreation, and the ever-recurring battle over TR vs. RT. This
triggered some thoughts regarding the use of a role-playing game (RPG) as a
therapeutic intervention modality, namely "Role-playing game Therapy" versus
"Therapeutic Role-playing gaming"...

http://www.rpgresearch.com/blog/rt-tr-rpg-therapy-vs-therapeutic-rpg
(URL version includes links to relevant references not included in this email
version)...

The Recreation Therapy / Therapeutic Recreation profession has been (and
continues to be) riddled for decades with debate over philosophical,
professional, and even such basics as terminological issues as this relatively
fledgling profession continues to grow and develop. The TR/RT debate could
arguably be considered in key circles to be shelved for now, but it flares up
in many conversations.

One (of many) current distinctions between TR and RT, is whether the
focus/background is more from a recreation background versus more of a
clinical background. From one perspective, the distinction between RT
(Recreation Therapy), and TR (Therapeutic Recreation) can be (overly)
simplified as an ends to a means or means to an end.

Those from a more National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA) and the the
now (around 2010/2011) defunct National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS)
background would be considered more on the Recreation Therapy side, noting
that participation in recreation inherently has therapeutic benefits, and a
recreation therapist knows how to optimize those activities for different
populations to achieve various needs of the client toward a holistically
improved outcome, using recreational activities as the tool. Holistic in this
context refers to the approach of to the whole of the client, rather than a
diseased-based approach to care.

Those from a more clinical background, more in the American Therapeutic
Recreation Association (ATRA) camp (rather than the unrealized ARTA camp),
take more of a clinical-goals-oriented approach, assessing functionality, and
finding the best recreation interventions adapted to those specific goals.

Both approaches have merit, and those recreation therapist wishing to comply
with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)
standards for recreation therapists, Certified Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist (CTRS) requirements (or even un-certified recreation therapy
professionals), are trained on many different approaches to using recreation
for specific targeted interventions.

As I continue my research to find out the effects that participation in role-
playing games (RPG) has upon participants, and progress toward the development
of potential program plans looking at the potential uses of RPG for targeted
therapeutic interventions, this distinction between inherent effects of
participation, versus structured adaptation, is also applicable to RPG,
especially since I am approaching it from an interdisciplinary, but mostly TR-
focused, approach.

As researches have debated for decades, and as the main premise for the
existence of RpgResearch.com, the noted research results about regular
participation in RPG is mostly correlative and unfortunately does not
establish causality in most of the research I have found (between 50-100
projects depending on how formally defining the information as appropriate
"research).

Do role-playing gamers have the distinctive traits noted in the research?

Among many results, these often include indicators of better problem solving
skills, better cooperative social skills, better communication skills, lower
rates of "meaninglessness", lower rates of suicide, etc.). Is this because the
inherent nature of RPG develops these skills?

Or are these correlations found because people with these skills are drawn to
the game because appeals to them to use their strengths in this distinctive
activity?

If the latter, then developing Therapeutic RPG might not be very effective, and
more of a focus on RPG Therapy would be appropriate.

If the former, then development of Therapeutic Recreation from a TR approach
is an excellent match in using RPG as an intervention modality to achieve
specific client goals for various populations.

In this discussion I am mostly focusing on the tabletop form of RPG, but there
is much applicability in Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP), and to some degree
in computer-based RPG.

I am mostly just musing out loud here, but would welcome comments from others
regarding your thoughts when reading this posting.

Whether you are Recreation Therapist / CTRS, someone from the RPG background,
or some other relevant profession, your insights are appreciated.

Meanwhile, Happy Gaming!


--
-Hawke Robinson
AS/CS, SANS GIAC GCIH, MCSE, MCP+I, SCSAp1, CNA.
MHFAC.
The RPG Research Project
http://www.rpgresearch.com
Office: (509) 252-0800 (voicemail)
Cell: (509) 481-5437 (text okay)
Office and Postal Address
1312 N. Monroe Suite #114
Spokane, WA, USA
99218

American Therapeutic Recreation Association Member (ATRA) atra-online.com
Washington State Therapeutic Recreation Association Member (WSTRA) wstra.org

Working on interdisciplinary degrees in recreation therapy, music therapy,
neuroscience, and clinical & experimental psychology, at Eastern Washington
University.
Retired computer scientist.
Role-playing gamer since 1979

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MISSION

To clearly establish, through rigorous scientific testing, the therapeutic and
educational effects of role-playing gaming on participants. To determine the
potential relevance of correlated factors, significant focus will be
contributing to the body of causal research information.


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