RECREATION THERAPIST-PRN

West Oaks Hospital; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Challenging environment

Competitive compensation

Career development opportunities

Job summary

West Oaks Hospital in Houston seeks a dynamic Recreation Therapist for a full-time role. The therapist will design and initiate therapeutic services to improve patients’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being through recreational activities including music, art, exercise, relaxation, and more within a psychiatric care setting.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, CTRS certification (or equivalent) and CPR/hospital de-escalation certifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation (Recreation Administration or Therapeutic Recreation).
• CTRS certification through National Certified Therapeutic Recreation Council, Certified Music Therapist or Certified Art Therapist; CPR and hospital de-escalation certifications.
• Experience: None required; preferred: one year in program development and implementation of therapeutic recreation activities in an inpatient psychiatric hospital.

Responsibilities

• Provides and implements a recreational assessment on each patient.
• Provides an assortment of leisure activities.
• Assists patients in understanding benefits of ongoing health and fitness; improves social interaction, coping skills, problem solving, anger management, and related functioning to enhance quality of life.
• Works with treatment team to develop and implement therapeutic recreation programs.
• Maintains recreational areas and equipment; keeps gym clean, sanitary and safe; orients patient and staff to gym equipment.
• Completes documentation accurately and timely.
• Maintains observation of patients and shares information with manager; performs other duties as assigned.

Job description

Responsibilities

Recreation Therapist -PRN Opportunity

West Oaks Hospital has provided psychiatric care to the Houston area and surrounding communities for over four decades. Our 176-bed acute care facility is fully accredited and included a 16-bed residential treatment center for adult chemical dependency.

We offer a broad range of behavioral health programs for children, adolescents and adults. Treatment is offered at multiple levels of care including inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient.

We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you and answer your questions about treatment options and insurance coverage. The hospital is easily accessible off the Southwest Freeway near the Galleria.

Visit us online at: https://westoakshospital.com/

West Oaks Hospital is seeking a dynamic and talented full-time Recreation Therapist to join our team of compassionate, dedicated professionals. The Recreation Therapist will design and initiate appropriate therapeutic services in order to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the patients. Therapeutic services include, but are not limited to: entertainment, exercise, relaxation, expression, music, art, pet and other recreational programs.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides and implements a recreational assessment on each patient.
• Provides an assortment of leisure activities.
• Assists patients in developing an understanding of benefits of ongoing health and fitness. Assists patients to improve social interaction, coping skills, problem solving skills, anger management skills, and any skills that relates to address the functioning of the human domains to increase overall quality of life.
• Works with treatment team to develop and implement therapeutic recreation programs.
• Maintains recreational areas and equipment. Maintains a clean, sanitary, safe environment. Orients patient and staff to gym equipment.
• Completes documentation accurately and timely.
• Maintains observation of patients and shares appropriate information with manager. Other duties as assigned.

Benefit Highlights

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Competitive Compensation
• Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries

About Universal Health Services

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion. In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies™ and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies.

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 101,500 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 40 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. For additional information visit www.uhs.com.

From Fortune, ©2025, 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation: Recreation Administration or Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation.
• Licensure and certification Required: CTRS certification through National Certified Therapeutic Recreation Council, Certified Music Therapist or Certified Art Therapist. CPR and hospital de-escalation certifications.
• Experience Required: None. Preferred: One year if experience in program development and implementation of therapeutic recreation activities in an inpatient psychiatric hospital.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.