Our Mission: Restoring Lives Through Therapeutic Recreation
As a fellow Navy Veteran and former Law Enforcement Officer in the State of Arizona, my mission is rooted in the belief that purposeful leisure and recreation are essential, non-negotiable components of holistic health and recovery. This work is dedicated to bridging the critical gap between clinical therapeutic care and successful community reintegration.
Our primary focus is on serving my fellow veterans, first responders, and individuals in Arizona managing challenges like PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and chronic stress. We aim to move beyond simply defining Recreational Therapy (RT) to actively making it accessible, understandable, and actionable across the state.
The core objective is three-fold:
- Provide identity and understanding to some of the tools that Recreational Therapy may help with different types of Mental Health such as painting, music, other artistic forms, adaptive sports and community recreation that support their personalized healing journey;
- Provide an avenue for those that seek out to discover what some of the methods (in down to earth terms) involve, where to get lessons and how to obtain materials free or low cost (especially if on a fixed income);
- Provide an avenue for those in the community that are in a position to help our Veterans and others. This goes beyond any financial donations, such as:
- Managers of Museums, Zoos, Botanical Gardens, etc.: that can provide free or low cost admission for one day a month. (Note: if you already provide this service, please let us know);
- Artists or Painting Facilitators: Provide free classes or donate materials to help people who struggle that need a mental diversion.
Our Vision: Expanding the Landscape of Healing in Arizona
We envision an Arizona where the value of Therapeutic Recreation is universally recognized and seamlessly integrated into every community. Our goal is to significantly expand the network of PTSD/TBI-friendly public venues and programs, ensuring that financial, physical, or emotional barriers never prevent access to therapeutic leisure.
This requires robust, collaborative partnerships with community organizations, continuous public education about the science of RT, and a steadfast commitment to evidence-based practice to ensure measurable, positive change in the lives of those we serve.
Core Therapeutic Values
- Client-Centered Practice: Ensuring all resources and recommendations prioritize the individual’s personal goals and therapeutic needs above all else.
- Community Reintegration: Facilitating the safe, sustainable, and meaningful return to satisfying leisure activities within local Arizona communities.
- Evidence-Based Activity: Promoting interventions and activities that are grounded in research and proven to produce measurable clinical and emotional outcomes.
- Accessibility & Advocacy: Actively working to lower the barriers (physical, emotional, or financial) to high-quality therapeutic recreation opportunities across Arizona.