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Recreation Therapist Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Recreation Therapist Intern

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$14.50 - $18.75/hr

Under the supervision of the Recreation Therapy Director and Recreation Therapist Internship Coordinator, the Recreation Therapist Intern responsible for planning and implementing therapeutic ...

Recreation Therapist Intern

Phoenix, AZ

$14.50 - $18.75/hr

Under the supervision of the Recreation Therapy Director and Recreation Therapist Internship Coordinator, the Recreation Therapist Intern responsible for planning and implementing therapeutic ...

Recreation Therapy Intern - Spring 2026

Savannah, GA · On-site

$14 - $18.25/hr

Website: coastalharbor.com The Recreation Therapy Intern assists the Recreation ... Therapist with direct client care by helping to plan, organize, and lead recreation programs, as ...

Recreation Therapy Intern

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$16.75 - $21.75/hr

Recreational Therapy Intern The San Ramon Parks and Community Services Department is certified through the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification, Inc. as a site qualified to accept ...

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Recreation Therapist Intern information

What is a recreation therapist intern?

A Recreation Therapist Intern is a student or recent graduate who is gaining hands-on experience in recreational therapy under the supervision of licensed professionals. This role typically involves assisting with the planning and facilitation of therapeutic activities designed to improve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of clients. Interns may work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, or community centers. The internship provides valuable exposure to the profession and helps interns develop the skills needed for a career in recreational therapy.

What types of clients and therapeutic activities does a recreation therapist intern work with?

As a Recreation Therapist Intern, you will typically work with a diverse range of clients, such as individuals with physical disabilities, mental health challenges, or developmental disorders. Interns often help plan, implement, and evaluate therapeutic activities like arts and crafts, group games, outdoor excursions, or adapted sports. You'll collaborate closely with licensed recreation therapists and interdisciplinary teams to tailor interventions that promote clients’ physical, emotional, and social well-being. This hands-on experience provides valuable insight into client needs and helps develop your skills in assessment, documentation, and program facilitation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recreation therapist intern?

To thrive as a Recreation Therapist Intern, you need foundational knowledge in therapeutic recreation, human development, and behavioral health, often supported by coursework in recreation therapy or a related field. Familiarity with assessment tools, adaptive equipment, and documentation systems is typically required. Strong interpersonal skills, creativity, and empathy help you engage and motivate diverse clients effectively. These abilities are crucial for delivering impactful therapy programs that enhance clients’ well-being and support their rehabilitation goals.

What is the difference between Recreation Therapist Intern vs Recreation Therapist?

AspectRecreation Therapist InternRecreation Therapist
CredentialsTypically pursuing or holding a relevant degree; may require certification eligibilityLicensed or certified recreation therapist with full credentials
Work EnvironmentInternship settings such as hospitals, rehab centers, or community programsFull professional settings including healthcare facilities, senior centers, or mental health clinics
Employer & Industry UsageEducational institutions, internship programs, healthcare facilitiesHospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, senior living communities

The main difference is that Recreation Therapist Interns are in training or completing their education, gaining practical experience, while Recreation Therapists are fully credentialed professionals providing ongoing therapy services. Interns work under supervision, whereas licensed therapists independently develop and implement treatment plans.

What cities are hiring for Recreation Therapist Intern jobs?

Cities with the most Recreation Therapist Intern job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Recreation Therapist jobs?

The most popular types of Recreation Therapist jobs are:

What states have the most Recreation Therapist Intern jobs?

States with the most job openings for Recreation Therapist Intern jobs include:

Recreation Therapist Intern

UHS

Phoenix, AZ • On-site

$14.50 - $18.75/hr

Internship

Re-posted 29 days ago


Universal Health Services rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 255 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

495th of 898 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Responsibilities
Quail Run Hospital is a 115-bed, acute care psychiatric hospital located in Phoenix, Arizona. Quail Run features individual units for adolescents, adults, and seniors, and offers inpatient acute care, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. On average, over 10,000 patients receive care from our compassionate health care team each year at Quail Run Behavioral Health. Website: https://jobs.uhsinc.com/quail-run-behavioral-health
Job Description
Under the supervision of the Recreation Therapy Director and Recreation Therapist Internship Coordinator, the Recreation Therapist Intern responsible for planning and implementing therapeutic recreation groups for assigned program, which involves program planning, documentation, assessments, defining and implementing treatment goals as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and providing continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling to patients.
Job Duties/Responsibilities
  • Assist in effectively plan and implement recreation therapy groups for assigned units. Participate in Holiday Programming planning and facilitation all treatment programs.
  • Utilize advanced knowledge of counseling and therapeutic concepts and methods for determining therapeutic services for psychiatric and chemically dependent patients. Demonstrate knowledge of group dynamics as well as therapy and practice of group processing.
  • Assist and maintain current documentation in daily progress notes, including name of therapeutic group/intervention, and patient's progress towards goal.
About Universal Health Services
Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) is one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services. Since our founding in 1979, UHS has grown steadily into a premier Fortune 500® corporation perennially recognized by multiple esteemed national rating entities. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates inpatient acute care facilities, inpatient behavioral health facilities, outpatient and other facilities, nationwide virtual behavioral health services, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services with physical locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Ireland and United Kingdom. www.uhs.com .
Qualifications
Job Requirements
  • Internship in Recreation related bachelor's program.
  • Must complete full week of hospital orientation.
  • Handle With Care and Basic Life Support (BLS) for Providers required. Training provided at the facility.
  • Level 1 Arizona Fingerprint Clearance card or be able to obtain within 30 days of hire.

EEO Statement
All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams
We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.
At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.
If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

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About Universal Health Services

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Universal Health Services (UHS) is a major player in the healthcare industry, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Founded in 1978, UHS offers hospital and healthcare services. Their diverse services range from acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers nationwide. The company's mission of enhancing the health and well-being of their patients is reflected in their commitment to 'Helping Individuals Live Longer, Healthier and Happier Lives'. Universal Health Services' consistent growth and success in their industry have been recognized on numerous occasions, including being ranked amongst the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

King of Prussia, PA, US