What many people may not know is that fun and interactive hobbies can be far more beneficial than previously thought, especially for those who are struggling with addictions or those who are in rehab centers in Utah.

1. The Benefits of Recreation Therapy
Many people enjoy outdoor recreation and sports. From mountain climbing and hiking to swimming
and playing tennis, the number of activities and recreational opportunities that are available to
individuals is near limitless.
But what many people may not know is that
these same fun and interactive hobbies can
be far more beneficial than previously
thought, especially for those who are
struggling with addictions or those who are
in rehab centers in Utah. As Plato famously
said, “you can learn more about a man in an
hour of play than in a lifetime of
conversation” and the same holds true for
individuals; a person can learn much more
about themselves as they are performing
activities than when they are simply talking
through their issues.
Because of this power that recreation and activity has to give fresh perspectives to individuals, many of
the top rehab centers and addiction recovery centers in Utah are now turning to the highly effective
therapy of recreation. The power of recreational therapy lies in its ability to get people up and moving.
Why Recreation?
Being stressed or, conversely, being bored are triggers for many people to act on their addiction. The
action of recreation, far beyond simply being pleasurable, gets recovering individuals into the habit of
turning to activity rather than their addiction when feeling stressed or bored.
In this way, recreational therapy professionals are able to steer the stress or boredom of people who are
recovering from addictions into productive and fun channels of action. The goal of most recreational
therapy programs is to promote fun and sober activities, instill hope into those who have lost it through
providing an improved quality of life, and offer outlets for additive behavior into areas of recreational
activity.
What it does
Recreational activity focuses on building lasting and healthy relationships between individuals as well as
developing trust in oneself and the will power to accomplish difficult tasks. Recreational therapy
likewise enables a person to develop skills in an activity or sports that simultaneously create a sense of
reliability and independence in the life of the recovering individual.

2. The Benefits
There are many other benefits available for those who are treated with recreational therapy. Some
benefits of recreational therapy are aimed at curbing the need for the abused substance or action while
other are able to support and build up the individual who is struggling to overcome their addiction.
Those benefits that empower an individual to
limit their need for the addictive substance or
action include the ability of recreational therapy
to reduce boredom, maintain a fun environment
without the use of substances and while sober,
increase feelings of self-control and discipline,
and improves problem solving skills that can help
the individual think through their actions before
taking them. The benefits of recreational
therapy that help develop the individual as a
whole include the benefits of improved social
skills, learning how to interact with people who
are drug free, decrease loneliness, and improve self-esteem.
While many people see playing their favorite sport as simply a fun activity, those who are struggling with
overcoming addiction can find relief from their burdens by enrolling themselves in a recreational
therapy program and start down the path to recovery.
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