Western Washington Area Health Education Center
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
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WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Health
Professionals/
Student Placement
Health Career
Information
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
HOPE
Preceptor & Site Resources
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Volunteer/Retired
Providers Program
K-12 Learning Resources
aka Science
Allied Health
Health Career
Information
HOPE
Health Career Ambassadors
Health Career
Job Descriptions
Scholarship Info
Distance Learning
Statewide Office
of Rural Health
Community Health
Assessment, Planning
& Development
Primary Care
Provider Recruitment
Shop
Health Career Information
Health Therapist
Job description
Health Therapists plan and teach activities designed to encourage socialization; promote cognitive growth and emotional health or to increase physical activity. They typically work with other professionals, including physicians, nurses and teachers. Depending on their place of employment, Health Therapists may be responsible for planning group or individual activities. They work both indoors and outdoors. Many work in long-term care units in hospitals or nursing homes. Patients range from the very young to the elderly.
Specialties
Art Therapists and Music Therapists use communication and expression through arts and music to help rehabilitate individuals with disabilities. Manual Art Therapists work with people to develop, maintain or improve manual work skills.
Therapeutic Recreational Therapists assess the need for treatment and, if needed, plan and implement recreational programs. They work with patients in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or other institutions. Many work with the elderly. Activities such as sports, games, arts and crafts and exercise are used to treat patients.
Orientation and Mobility Therapists help newly blind individuals relearn daily living skills.
Horticultural Therapists organize and direct gardening activities.
Salaries and benefits*
Therapists may be paid hourly or monthly. A Manual Arts Therapist employed by Washington State earns $2,539 to $3,240 per month. State Orientation and Mobility Specialists for the blind earn $2,794 to $3,575 per month. Art Therapists start at $1,127 to $2,083 per month, while those with experience earn $2,500 per month or more. A Therapeutic Recreator I working for a state institution of higher education earns $2,311 to $2,934 per month. The average wage for Recreation Therapists in Washington State is $2,200 to $3,383 per month. Working for healthcare facilities in the Pacific Northwest, certified Recreation Therapists with a bachelor's degree average $2,957 to $3,413 per month. Workers usually receive paid medical, insurance and retirement benefits.
Training and requirements
A Master's degree is usually the minimum requirement for Art Therapists. Music Therapists must complete a four-year bachelor's degree in music therapy. A Master's degree is needed for supervising, teaching or advanced clinical work. Therapeutic Recreation Therapists must have a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation, complete a clinical internship and pass a national exam for professional certification. Therapists who teach and do research often must complete a doctorate degree.
Necessary skills
●
ability to catch on to things and make judgments
●
understand the meanings of words and present information clearly
●
picture forms in space
●
coordinate eyes and hands
●
use fingers to move small objects accurately
●
skillful use of hands in assembling and repairing things
●
good interpersonal skills
●
knowledge of treatment field, behavioral psychology, therapeutic techniques and medical terminology
Helpful high school courses
English, algebra, art, speech, foreign language, math, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, sociology, chemistry, biology, physics, physiology, computer science, psychology, humanities, keyboarding, music, shop, health, physical education, first aid. Take other courses specific to the type of therapy you want to go into.
Outlook*
In Washington, this occupation is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Employment is projected to increase 20 percent by 2006. Job prospects should be better for Therapists with a strong clinical background. Currently about 1,002 Health Therapists are employed in Washington.
Professional Associations
●
American Art Therapy Association
1202 Allanson Rd.
Mundelein, IL 60060-3808
(847) 949-6064
http://www.arttherapy.org
●
American Dance Therapy Association
2000 Century Plaza, Suite 108
Columbia, MD 21044-3383
(410) 997-4040
http://www.adta.org
●
American Horticultural Therapy Association
909 York Street
Denver, CO 80206-3751
(800) 634-1603
http://www.ahta.org
●
American Music Therapy Association
8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 1000
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319
(301) 589-3300
http://www.musictherapy.org
●
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
1414 Prince Street, Suite 204
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-9420
http://www.atra-tr.org
* Note: General career descriptions are updated as necessary, however salary expectations and projected outlooks have not been updated since 2000. Go to Workforce Explorer Washington and search your career for the most up-to-date salary and job growth expectations. Washington Healthcare Careers and Workforce College are also good resources for job information.
For additional information, contact your school's career counselor or
WWAHEC
2033 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 310
Seattle, WA 98121
Ph: 206.441.7137
Fax: 206.441.7158
Page updated 9/15/04