Brieanne Hamilton

RCPT 340

Philosophy Statement

When asked to create a philosophy statement my first thought was how much I truly enjoy helping
other people, as well as helping people achieve goals that are important to their well being. One of my
top priorities as a Recreational Therapist is to assess each individuals’ needs to create a treatment plan
that will truly help them succeed. I want all people to leave each day with a smile on their face and
feeling as if they are achieving what they set out to do. I promise no matter long how it takes and how
many different techniques, we will eventually achieve that goal. In my experience working with adults
with disabilities, nothing is greater then seeing how proud a person can be because they completed a
task on their own after so much time spent practicing and working on that skill.

I have also spent time working with children with serious illness at Flying Horse Farms. This was a truly
magical camp for both campers and counselors. This camp was a place for these kids to forget they had
cancer and blood disorders. This was also a place for me to forget about all my troubles and just have a
great time. That is one of my goals as a Recreational Therapist. I want to be able to make my patients
forget that they are any different then anyone else and feel like they are at home. I will do this by
making my space feel as comfortable as possible, a place that people will feel open to share whatever
they have on their mind, whatever worries they are having at the time, and a place they will continue to
grow. At the end of the day, have a place, that if nowhere else, they can feel themselves and at home.

In working with the elderly, I know there are great stories to be told that often times get forgotten. As a
Recreational Therapist, I want to make sure those stories are not forgotten. I will be a listening ear and I
will make sure to capture these moments. I will also be a hand to hold when family cannot be there. I
hope to be a comforting person walking thru the doors and a family away from family, much like I feel
working at a retirement home. There is no greater feeling then having 300 grandparents!

I hope that by being a Recreational Therapist, I can make a lasting impression on my patients, as all of
my campers and individuals I have worked with, have done for me. I hope that my work can make an
individual or patient feel they are a part of something bigger and can pass on what I have helped them
with onto many other people. Through doing this and helping people to come for many years, I feel I will
have lived a successful and meaningful life and had a great Recreational Therapist career.