Recreation Therapy Services
According to the American Recreation Therapy Association, Recreational Therapy (RT) is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses, disabling conditions, and/or adverse circumstances to promote psychological and physical health, recovery, and well-being.
Recreational Therapy aims to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate the client’s level of functioning and independence in life activities. Recreational Therapists work in a variety of clinical and community settings and utilize their unique expertise to help individuals overcome barriers to well-being and/or participation in meaningful leisure activities.
At Cruz Outdoors we offer Recreation Therapy services to individuals and families experiencing any sort of situational, behavioral or mental health related challenges. We emphasize and teach Mindfulness, Outdoor Recreation and Leisure Education as a way for clients to develop knowledge and skills for maintaining life long wellness.
About Brandon Cruz
Brandon Cruz is a Nationally Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (C.T.R.S.) with a Masters Degree in Recreation Therapy from the State University of New York in Cortland. He has worked as a Recreation Therapist for 14 years with 5 years spent working in Residential Treatment with youth with severe psychiatric and emotional difficulties. His specializes in mindfulness training, balance training and having fun! Favorite activities include hiking, biking, skateboarding, snowboarding, paddleboarding, slacklining, pickleball, ultimate frisbee, nature observation, making music, gardening and just chilling out.
Testimonials
"My son has been participating in recreation therapy with Brandon Cruz for several months now. The mindfulness skills Brandon is teaching my son are impactful now and will be part of my son’s coping skills “toolbox” for his entire life. While the skills Brandon helps children cultivate are extremely valuable, his approach is equally important and is what allows his coaching to be effective. Brandon has an extraordinary ability to connect with children. My son has autism, and Brandon’s patience, warmth, kindness, encouragement, and willingness to stick it out in the hard moments have helped build trust and a true relationship."
"Brandon is so creative in the way he helps kids develop mindfulness skills. He has helped my son practice the skills on a slackline, a paddle board, a skateboard; by playing a card game (my new favorite!) and Barrel of Monkeys; and through harvesting and planting vegetables in his family’s garden plot. My son has a physical disability in addition to autism, so Brandon’s ability and willingness to give him the opportunity to participate in these experiences is life changing and life giving. Brandon is one of my son’s favorite people, and the one-on-one time my son has with Brandon is very precious to him. As a mother, I appreciate not only Brandon’s expert ability to teach mindfulness to children and the myriad of opportunities for new experiences he provides, but also his positive presence in my son’s life. I hope that other children and families find Brandon and have the opportunity to learn and grow as our child and our family have."
"Brandon is one of Clemson’s top assets! It would be impossible to overestimate what a positive impact he has had on our family."
Clemson, South Carolina 29631, United States
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification in the U.S.A., Recreation Therapy also known as Therapeutic Recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illness and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and wellbeing.
The purpose of the RT process is to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full participation in life and services are provided or directly supervised by a “Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist” (CTRS).
Individual session: $65
Family session (2-4 people): $100
Standard sessions are 50 minutes.
Sessions usually take place outdoors at a local park, plublic space or at our shop in Clemson. House visits are also available.
Sessions usually take place once per week but can be schedule at whatever frequency you wish.
We accept cash, credit and Venmo.
Most insurance companies do not cover private practice recreation therapy services.