The 10 Best Types of Recreational Therapy for Individuals (And Why It Works)
Therapy doesn’t always take place on a couch or inside a clinic. Sometimes, the most powerful healing happens while painting a picture, hiking a trail, or playing music with others. That’s the beauty of recreational therapy—a dynamic, strengths-based approach that uses enjoyable activities to support physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.
Recreational therapy (also known as therapeutic recreation) is often used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and senior living communities. But its benefits extend to anyone looking to boost their mental health, build resilience, or find joy during difficult times. Whether you're recovering from trauma, dealing with stress, or just trying to stay mentally sharp, recreational therapy can be a powerful tool for wellness.
In this post, we’ll explore the most effective types of recreational therapy and explain how they support healing, growth, and personal empowerment.
1. Art Therapy
Art therapy allows individuals to express feelings that might be hard to put into words. Through painting, drawing, sculpting, or even collage-making, people can explore inner experiences, reduce anxiety, and discover new insights about themselves. For art therapy, you don’t have to be an art major or sketching aficionado. Sometimes, drawing basic shapes, basic scenes or the room around you is all you need. This also includes painting on canvas or even paint-by-numbers!
Benefits:
- Encourages emotional expression and processing
- Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
- Improves self-esteem and identity development
- Helps with trauma recovery and grief
Who it’s great for:
People dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, chronic illness, or emotional trauma.
2. Music Therapy
Music therapy uses rhythm, melody, and sound to improve cognitive function, emotional regulation, and social connection. Activities can include listening to music, songwriting, playing instruments, or guided music relaxation sessions. If you’re a musician already, I bet you’ve tried this! If you’re not, that’s okay. On your next car ride, belt out a song you’ve been holding in for a while. Hold a private concert in your shower or just relax on the couch with some of your favorite tunes.
Benefits:
- Improves mood and reduces anxiety
- Supports memory and brain function (especially in dementia care)
- Provides nonverbal emotional release
- Enhances motivation and energy
Who it’s great for:
People with developmental disabilities, neurological conditions, depression, or substance use challenges.
3. Animal-Assisted Therapy
There’s a reason therapy animals are so beloved. Interacting with trained animals—especially dogs, horses, and sometimes cats or rabbits—can lower blood pressure, improve mood, and ease loneliness. I don’t know if I'd ever be able to get into this because my wife is so allergic to so many animals. I’ve heard of many people doing dog or cat therapy and there’s the newfound love for goat yoga as well! For the average day, going to a dog park could relieve some stress while for some, a more formal visit would be necessary.
Benefits:
- Reduces stress and improves heart rate variability
- Increases social interaction and communication
- Encourages responsibility and emotional bonding
- Builds trust and empathy
Who it’s great for:
Children with autism, individuals with PTSD, veterans, seniors, and people experiencing grief or anxiety.
4. Outdoor and Nature-Based Therapy
Sometimes, the best therapy is simply being outside. Activities like hiking, gardening, nature walks, birdwatching, or forest bathing (a mindful immersion in nature) offer profound mental and physical benefits. I’ve been to therapy twice, for two unrelated instances, but I've always found nature to be my therapy. I spend a lot of time here in the mountains of Utah hiking, paddleboarding, skiing, trail running, and biking. I love getting to the tops of mountains or ending at a lake and enjoying lunch or a snack I brought on my hike. I also bring a camera, so I take photos of my journey and the end destination! It's been awesome for me, and I always feel so refreshed after even a short hike in the mountains.
Benefits:
- Boosts mood and reduces symptoms of depression
- Increases vitamin D and physical activity
- Decreases rumination and mental fatigue
- Promotes mindfulness and a grounded lifestyle
Who it’s great for:
Anyone experiencing stress, burnout, depression, or emotional overwhelm.
5. Movement and Exercise Therapy
Physical activity is strongly linked to mental well-being—and when movement is intentional and enjoyable, it becomes a powerful therapeutic tool. This includes yoga, dance therapy, martial arts, swimming, or group fitness. For me, working out near-daily is a must. If I don’t have a proper workout routine, basic things like my mood during the day and even my sleep during the night are affected. If you tire your body out with a hard workout, you’re more likely to sleep better during the night, be more alert earlier in the morning, have better digestion, and develop better habits about drinking water throughout the day.
Benefits:
- Releases endorphins and improves mood
- Enhances body awareness and confidence
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and PTSD
- Improves sleep, energy, and physical health
Who it’s great for:
Individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, or chronic stress.
6. Drama and Role-Playing Therapy
Drama therapy involves acting, improvisation, storytelling, and role-playing to help individuals explore emotions, develop empathy, and rehearse real-life scenarios. I’ve never personally done this type of therapy but I have heard about it before from people I know. Apparently, it can help you escape the world, if only for a minute, and put yourself on the outside. And, it works!
Benefits:
- Encourages creative expression
- Builds self-confidence and communication skills
- Helps process unresolved trauma or relational patterns
- Allows safe exploration of identity and emotions
Who it’s great for:
Teens, trauma survivors, or anyone struggling with social anxiety or identity issues.
7. Recreational Games and Social Activities
Structured play isn’t just for kids. Board games, team sports, group challenges, or cooperative puzzles can support social connection and mental stimulation—especially in group therapy settings. Having a group that gets together to share good times is necessary for nearly everyone! I was involved with a church group that had a monthly meeting at a brewery around the city and the whole point of it was to get together, enjoy a couple of beers together and build fellowship. It was structured in the way that it was relatively unstructured; there was a place and a time. That’s it! Oftentimes, these would coincide with bingo nights, trivia nights, cornhole games, and more. It was awesome!
Benefits:
- Enhances cognitive function and decision-making
- Builds cooperation, trust, and communication
- Reduces isolation and improves mood
- Offers structure, purpose, and accomplishment
Who it’s great for:
Older adults, individuals in rehabilitation, people with developmental disabilities, or anyone seeking community.
8. Creative Writing and Journaling
Writing as a therapeutic tool can help individuals process their experiences, explore inner conflicts, and build a narrative of resilience. Techniques include journaling, poetry, storytelling, and expressive writing prompts. One of the ways I get out of my head is by doing the very thing I’m doing now – blogging! Earlier, I mentioned I loved hiking and taking photos with my camera. Well, what good is a camera if you’re unable to share your photos? I created a blog in 2015 that serves that exact purpose: I write about my blogs, offering beta of the trip, the hike, what I brought, and any “need-to-know" details about the area or the hike. I also include a “suggestion” or “story” near the end that is sometimes a fun creative outlet!
Benefits:
- Increases self-awareness and emotional processing
- Helps organize thoughts and identify patterns
- Reduces anxiety and intrusive thoughts
- Builds a sense of agency and reflection
Who it’s great for:
People navigating grief, trauma, chronic illness, or those on a personal growth journey.
9. Meditation and Mindfulness-Based Recreation
Mindfulness is often incorporated into recreational therapy, especially through guided relaxation, breathing exercises, walking meditation, or gentle yoga. I think this is a good one for many people to get into. Feeling overwhelmed or anxious is common in today’s society, and it’s likely due to the amount of media we consume on a daily basis. Social media doesn’t do us any favors in this arena; in fact, it’s the major player! Detaching ourselves, or unplugging, is a common phrase used nowadays to signal us disconnecting from the internet of things.
Benefits:
- Reduces stress hormones and improves immune function
- Enhances focus and emotional regulation
- Builds resilience against anxiety and burnout
- Fosters a sense of peace and presence
Who it’s great for:
Students, caregivers, professionals, or anyone feeling overwhelmed or disconnected.
10. Cultural and Spiritual Recreation
Engaging in meaningful spiritual or cultural practices—such as drumming circles, traditional crafts, or heritage storytelling—can be deeply therapeutic and identity-affirming. Being a part of something that’s bigger than ourselves is a great way to help ourselves heal over time and experience a new phenomenon. It’s also a way to find the deeper meaning of life and to live for something that’s for the greater good, whether in a religious sense or spiritual sense. Finding the reason to keep going might be just what we need!
Benefits:
- Builds cultural pride and self-identity
- Strengthens community bonds and belonging
- Offers emotional grounding and spiritual peace
- Helps process intergenerational trauma
Who it’s great for:
Individuals from marginalized communities, those exploring heritage, or anyone seeking deeper meaning in life.
The Holistic Benefits of Recreational Therapy
What makes recreational therapy so powerful is its holistic approach. It doesn’t just target symptoms—it engages the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.
Core Benefits of Recreational Therapy:
- Mental health support: Reduces anxiety, depression, and emotional distress
- Physical health benefits: Encourages movement and bodily wellness
- Social connection: Builds trust, communication, and a sense of belonging
- Cognitive stimulation: Supports memory, learning, and focus
- Identity and purpose: Helps individuals rediscover joy, meaning, and self-worth
And because recreational therapy is enjoyable, people are often more motivated to participate—making healing feel less like a task and more like a journey of discovery.
Healing Through Joy, Creativity, and Connection
Recreational therapy reminds us that healing doesn’t always happen in silence—it can happen in movement, music, laughter, and shared experiences. Whether through a nature hike, an art project, or a group drum circle, the path to wellness can be colorful, empowering, and deeply human.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected, consider exploring a form of recreational therapy that speaks to you. It could be the first step toward rediscovering your joy—and reconnecting with yourself and others.
Related Resources
Human Development and Family Studies Major
Justin Fague reviewed this article. To reach out, please email healthyrelationships@usu.edu.