RT Institute: Servant Leadership and the Recreational Therapist: Exploring Connections

Session Description: Servant leadership is an often overlooked style of leadership because it is so contrary to many cultural influences that affect our society today. In reality, there are many concepts of servant leadership that are directly relatable to the practice of recreational therapy. This session will explore the concept of servant leadership by defining several key terms and wrestling with the overarching concepts behind this leadership style. In addition to defining the key terms, ten characteristics, as identified by Larry Spears, will be explored and compared to facilitation techniques employed by recreational therapists. The session will close by examining how the characteristics of servant leadership can be utilized by recreational therapists in a wide variety of practice settings with a wide variety of client types.

Job Task Domains:

• 1. Job Task Area 1.02 Maintain professional competency (apply concepts of cultural competence/intelligence).


• 2. Job Task Area 2.01 Conduct the assessment process (establish a therapeutic relationship with clients.

This session is part of the Recreation Therapy "RT" Institute which is a ticketed event.