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Lurie Children’s Home Patients & VisitorsMeet Your Care Team Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists

What Is Recreation Therapy? 

Recreation Therapy is a goals focused therapy using leisure/recreation activities in an individual and group setting to help your child with the following: 

  • To identify and express feelings in a healthy manner. 
  • To build frustration tolerance  
  • To learn problem solving and coping skills. 
  • To learn healthy ways to have fun. 
  • To work on social skills while interacting with peers. 

During a child’s admission, they will attend Recreation Therapy and participate in a variety of activities including: 

  • Leisure Education 
  • Feelings Identification and expression  
  • Games and Socialization activities 
  • Problem solving : learning and use of coping skills/tools 
  • Mindfulness and relaxation group/techniques 
  • Bibliotherapy  
  • Arts and Crafts 
  • Wellness groups  
  • Animal Assisted Therapy  
  • Physical fitness/education and nutrition 
  • Along with other unit specific legalities and interventionsdeemed therapeutic to meet the needs of the patients 

Recreational Therapy has been a recognized healthcare profession since the mid-20th century, emerging from early hospital-based activity programs developed after World War II to support physical and emotional recovery. Today, recreational therapists practice in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, behavioral health programs, schools, and community agencies, using evidence-based interventions to improve patients’ physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being. 

The profession is supported by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), which advances practice, education, and research in the field. The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential is the recognized professional standard, demonstrating competency and commitment to quality care. Certification is awarded through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), ensuring that practitioners meet rigorous national standards. 

Recreation Therapy at Lurie Children’s

Recreation Therapy (RT) programming takes place within The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit (IPU), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Recreation Therapists at Lurie Children’s assess and provide treatment to improve socialization, leisure functioning, and community reintegration. 

IPU –A 

Recreation Therapist facilitates groups daily, Monday through Sunday on the IPU-A. RT goals are met through using expressive art, leisure activities, games, relaxation and other interventions deemed therapeutic to meet the needs of patient(s).  

A IPU- A Favorite Modality

IPU -B 

Recreation Therapist facilitates groups/individual sessions on two weekdays, and on the weekend on IPU-B. The purpose of RT on IPU-B is to help patients diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder with behavior management, leisure skills, & socialization. RT goals are met primarily through the use of arts & crafts, sensory stimulation, and games. 

A IPU- B Favorite Modality

 

Recreational Therapy (RT) groups are facilitated twice daily Monday through Friday within PHP. The RT programs are structured to fit the Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents to coach and model appropriate behaviors for successful recreation participation. RT’s focus is to help teach patients to express their feelings and excess energy appropriately through leisure activities and mastering skills. 

A PHP Favorite Modality

Recreation Therapy (RT) is facilitated once nightly Monday through Thursday within the Virtual IOP. RT programs are structured to fit the evidence-based approaches such as Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents.  Activities implemented include creative writing, drawing, seated workouts, music related activities, virtual and interactive games.

A IOP Favorite Modality

Community Resources

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Museums

General Recreation

Sports & Fitness

Arts 

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Find a park near you below: 

Museums

General Recreation

Sports & Fitness

Arts

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Find a park near you:

General Recreation

Museums

Sports & Fitness

Arts

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Find a park near you:

General Recreation

Museums

Sports & Fitness

Arts

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Find a park near you below:

General Recreation

Museums

Sports & Fitness

Resources coming soon

Arts

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Find a park near you below:

General Recreation

Resources coming soon

Museums

Sports & Fitness

Arts

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

General Recreation

Museums

Sports & Fitness

Arts

Respite Care

Special Recreation Associations (SRAs)

Park Districts

Find a park near you:

General Recreation

Museums

Sports & Fitness

Resources coming soon

Arts

Resources coming soon

Respite Care

Recreation & Leisure At Home

Our patients are encouraged to engage in safe leisure outlets upon discharge from our programs.  

“The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter, and the spirit heals with joy”  

-Proverb  

  • Nee-Doe
  • Model Magic
  • Play-doh  
  • Sensory Sock Body sock  
  • Weighted Blanket  
  • Slow-rise foam fidgets  
  • The Purple Squishy
  • Fidget rings, bracelets, necklaces  
  • Fidget Cubes  
  • Sensory Brush Therapressure Therapy Brush
  • Pop-Its
  • Stretchy Sensory Fidget Strings
  • Wacky Tracks
  • Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty 

  • Jenga   
  • Scattergories   
  • Apples to Apples  
  • Chutes and Ladders   
  • Whoonu   
  • Hedbanz  
  • Blokus   
  • A to Z  
  • Uno   
  • Sorry  
  • Trouble  
  • Taboo   
  • Farkle   
  • Outburst Junior   
  • Pass the Pig  
  • Catch Phrase   
  • 20 questions   
  • Bananagrams   
  • Pictureka!   
  • Imaginiff  
  • Celebrity   
  • Anomia   
  • Yahtzee  

  • Iron Beads   
  • Sticker Books   
  • Model Magic   
  • Paint   
  • Coffee Filter Art  
  • Tissue Paper Art  
  • Scratch Off Door Hanger  
  • Paint by Number  
  • Diamond Painting  
  • Diamond Art  
  • Blackout Poetry 
  • Suncatcher  
  • Bubble Art  
  • Sidewalk Chalk  
  • Slime

  • Rainbow Fish  
  • Big Red Lollipop  
  • My Mouth is a Volcano  
  • Elmer  
  • No David! 
  • Hair Love  
  • Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag 
  • The Giving Tree  
  • Little Golden Book – Inside Out  
  • Rainbow FIsh  
  • Feet Are Not For Kicking  
  • The Crayons Book of Feelings  
  • The Way I Feel  
  • Diary of A Wimpy Kid  
  • Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day  
  • The Anti-Test Anxiety Society  
  • Have You Filled A Bucket Today?  
  • What If Everybody Did That?  
  • Lying Up A Storm  
  • I Just Want to Do It My Way  
  • I Just Don’t Like the Sound of No!  

  • Smiling Mind  
  • Pettson’s Inventions  
  • Freddi Fish and The Stolen Shell  
  • Bugs and Buttons  
  • Habit Tracker  
  • Lotus Bud  
  • Mindfulness Bell  
  • MyStrength  
  • The Mindfulness App  
  • Avokiddo Emotions  
  • GoNoodle 
  • Clear Fear  
  • EQuoo  
  • Manatee  
  • Calm  
  • HappierMe 
  • Sanvello  
  • Headspace   
  • I am- Daily Affirmations  
  • Insight Timer  
  • Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame 

  • Walmart/Target 
  • Amazon 
  • Dollar Tree 
  • Dollar General 
  • Five Below 
  • Michaels 
  • Hobby Lobby 
  • BLICK 
  • The WasteShed (reusable art/school materials) 
  • Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (redistributes donated materials/supplies) 
  • The Craft Cubby (free supplies located at Second Shift Chicago) 
  • Greener Good (creative reuse shop for art/craft supplies at a low cost)   
  • Oriental Trading 
  • S&S Worldwide  
  • Ollie's Bargain Outlet 

Support the Psychiatry Department

If you are interested in supporting our psychiatry programs through our Amazon Wishlist, please visit our list. 

View Amazon Wishlist

Meet Our Recreational Therapists

Morgan Retzer, Sr. CTRS

Part-time Sr. Recreational Specialist, Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, LCPC; Recreation Therapy Internship Supervisor and Volunteer Coordinator and Supervisor 

Mretzer@luriechildrens.org 

Morgan is the Part-time Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit- Unit-A. Morgan attended Eastern Illinois University studying Therapeutic Recreation and completed her internship at Lurie Children's in Summer 2018. Morgan attended National Lewis University and completed her master's program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2024. Morgan has worked as a full-time Milieu Therapist in the past. 

Morgan's favorite things about working at Lurie Children's include adapting therapeutic programs to meet the individualized needs of each patient and observing patients to express themselves creatively throughout their admission. Her favorite recreational activities are walking her dog, traveling, reading, coloring, and watching tv shows.  

 

Nicole Taylor, Sr. CTRS

Full-time Sr. Recreational Therapist, Partial Hospitalization Program, Recreation Therapy Internship Coordinator and Supervisor and Donations and Volunteer Coordinator and Supervisor

nataylor@luriechildrens.org 

Nicole is the full-time Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist on PHP. She studied Therapeutic Recreation and Public Health at Southern Illinois University. During her college years, she gained diverse experience working in community-based recreation and rehabilitation settings before completing her internship at Lurie's in Fall 2018. Nicole worked as a Milieu Therapist on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit and Partial Hospitalization Program before stepping into the Recreation Therapy role in 2022.  

Nicole loves working at Lurie Children's because she values learning from her colleagues each day and is dedicated to building meaningful rapport with patients, while providing a safe, creative space for self-expression through art. Her favorite recreation activities include spending time with her support system, being outside, reading, painting, working out, scrolling through Pinterest, and watching shows. 

Alexis Bell, MS, CTRS

Full- Time Recreational Therapist, Inpatient Psychiatry Unit and Recreation Therapy, Recreation Therapy Internship Supervisor

alexisbell@luriechildrens.org

Alexis is the full-time Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit- Unit A. Alexis received her Master of Science in Recreation Therapy from Temple University in Fall 2017.

Alexis enjoys working at Lurie Children's because she helps youth from various backgrounds learn and experience meaningful leisure activities. Her favorite recreational activities include volunteering, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working out at the gym.  

Michelle Mitchell, CTRS

Part- time Recreational Therapist, Intensive Outpatient Program  

Michelle is the Part-time Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for the Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Michelle attended Eastern Illinois University studying Therapeutic Recreation and completed her internship at Bend Oregon Park and Recreation District. Michelle gained most of her experience working at a residential treatment center and working in adapted sports in Utah.  

Her favorite recreation activities are photography, snorkeling, kayaking and rock climbing and is passionate about all things outdoors and animals. 

Amber Tinney, CTRS

Part-time Recreational Specialist, Inpatient Psychiatry Unit  

Amtinney@luriechildrens.org  

Amber is the Part-time Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit- Unit B. Amber attended Aurora University studying Therapeutic Recreation and completed her internship at Lurie Children’s in Spring 2025. Amber discovered her passion for recreation therapy after several years of working in the special recreation setting learning to engage children with disabilities in art, gross motor, socialization, and sensory activities.

Amber’s favorite part of working at Lurie Children's is helping patients discover meaningful forms of leisure and recreation that work for them, and using those to further their treatment and equip them with skills they can continue to build on outside the hospital. Her favorite recreation activities include traveling, reading, art, and spending time with family and friends.  

Recreation Therapy Internship

Here at Lurie Children’s, we offer and require our interns to complete a 16 week internship, totaling over 560 hours, while supervised directly by a CTRS. The experience meets all standards set by the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). 

Learn More About our Internship

For any question regarding the internship opportunity please email Nicole Taylor at nataylor@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.3454.