Dear Innovative Rec Therapist — 

We’re thrilled to welcome you to the August 2025 edition of Rec Therapy Today! As summer winds down, we hope you’re finding time to recharge, reflect, and continue making a positive impact in the lives of those you serve.

We have exciting news to share!
You’re invited to our FREE One-Day Live CEU Teleconference on Saturday, August 30th! This special event features five engaging sessions, led by experienced recreational therapists and professionals from the field. It’s our way of saying thank you for being part of this incredible community and for your commitment to lifelong learning.

This month’s newsletter is packed with inspiring content, helpful tools, and opportunities to grow. Whether you’re a seasoned therapist or just starting out, we hope you find something that speaks to your heart and supports your mission.

Thank you for all you do to bring healing, hope, and joy through recreational therapy. Stay playful, stay passionate, and don’t forget to mark your calendar for August 30th!

With gratitude,

Your friend and partner in Rec Therapy,

Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., M.S., LPC, NCC, CTRS-BHS

P.S. — Monthly giveaway is at bottom of this page, so you’ll have to scroll to the bottom. 

P.S.S. — Need CEUs? Go here: Click here for online self-study CEUs

Rec Therapy Today — TRUSTED by Rec Therapists Everywhere

Why Rec Therapy Today? 

Looking for self-study CEUs that actually work for you?
At Rec Therapy Today, we make continuing education:

✅ Flexible – Learn anytime, anywhere
✅ Affordable – No subscriptions or hidden fees
✅ Relevant – Real-world courses written by a certified rec therapist
✅ Recognized – You’ll earn instant certificates that you can use for recertification.

We’re not just another CEU provider — we’re a community built by recreational therapists for recreational therapists.

Start earning your CEUs the easy way — with Rec Therapy Today.

FREE CEU Teleconference 

🧠 FREE CEU Teleconference – Saturday, August 30th

Recharge your passion and sharpen your skills with a full day of engaging CEU sessions led by professionals in recreational therapy and mental health.

📅 Date: Saturday, August 30th
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time)
💵 Cost: FREE
🎓 CEUs: Earn up to 5 clock hours
📍 Location: Live Online Teleconference (Link provided upon registration)

✅ Event Schedule & Speakers

• 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
  Topic: The Use of Guided Imagery as a Recreational Therapy Intervention
  Presenter: Vincent Bonadies

• 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  Topic: How to Overcome Stress and Burnout Working in the Psychiatric Field
  Presenter: Samantha Black

• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Topic: Laughing Our Way to Wellness
  Presenter: Heather Muncie

• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
  Topic: Recreation Therapists Help Individuals with Dementia Feel Seen, Heard, and Valued
  Presenter: Savannah Petersen

• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  Topic: Expressive Healing: Creative Expression for Emotional Processing in Rec Therapy
  Presenter: Tayler Winstead

July CEU Catalog 

Still Available: July CEU Bundle – 7.5 Clock Hours!

Missed last month’s CEU bundle? Good news — you can still purchase the July 2025 CEU Package, which includes five 90-minute self-study courses (a total of 7.5 clock hours / 0.75 CEUs). Total Continuing Education: 7.5 Clock Hours (0.75 CEUs)
Each course is 90 minutes in length.

Requirements:

• Read the PDF file for each course.

• Pass the 15-question quiz with a score of 70% or higher.

✅ Included Courses:

Complex PTSD in Recreational Therapy
Learn how to recognize symptoms of complex trauma and apply trauma-informed care strategies in your RT practice.
⏱️ Duration: 90 minutes

Attachment Styles in Recreational Therapy
Understand attachment theory and how different styles affect client relationships and therapeutic outcomes.
⏱️ Duration: 90 minutes

Confidentiality and Ethical Boundaries
Explore ethical decision-making, confidentiality laws, and practical boundaries for professional RTs.
⏱️ Duration: 90 minutes

Cultural Competence in Recreational Therapy
Enhance your ability to provide inclusive, respectful care to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
⏱️ Duration: 90 minutes

Advocating for Clients and the Profession: A Rec Therapist’s Role
Build skills to effectively promote client needs and raise awareness of the value of recreational therapy.
⏱️ Duration: 90 minutes

Inspiration for the Month

Download and share these graphics on your social media to promote Rec Therapy! 

Humor for the Month

Infographics for the Month

Holidays and Observations

Monthly Observances

• National Wellness Month

• Happiness Happens Month

• Family Fun Month

• National Back to School Month

• National Immunization Awareness Month

• Romance Awareness Month

Weekly Observances

• National Smile Week – Second week of August

• Be Kind to Humankind Week – August 25–31

Daily Observances

• August 1: National Girlfriends Day

• August 2: National Coloring Book Day

• August 6: National Friendship Day (1st Sunday of August)

• August 8: International Cat Day 🐱

• August 9: Book Lovers Day

• August 10: National Lazy Day

• August 11: National Sons and Daughters Day

• August 12: International Youth Day

• August 13: Left-Handers Day

• August 15: National Relaxation Day

• August 16: National Tell a Joke Day

• August 19: World Humanitarian Day

• August 21: Senior Citizens Day

• August 26: National Dog Day 🐶

• August 30: National Grief Awareness Day

• August 31: National Eat Outside Day

Rec Therapy Today — CEU Reminders:

Email: Danny(at)DannyPettry.com to learn more about our group/ coporate CEU disocunts. 

Activity Ideas for the Month

🎨 1. Color Me Calm

Holiday: National Coloring Book Day – August 2
Supplies Needed:

• Adult coloring books or printable mandala pages

• Colored pencils, crayons, or markers

Instructions:
Provide participants with a selection of calming images to color (e.g., mandalas, nature scenes). Play soft background music and encourage quiet reflection during the session.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Emotional: Reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation

• Cognitive: Enhances focus and mindfulness

• Sensory: Visual and tactile stimulation

😄 2. Compliment Chain

Holiday: National Smile Week – 2nd week of August
Supplies Needed:

• Slips of paper or note cards

• Pens or markers

• String and clothespins or a bulletin board

Instructions:
Each participant writes a kind compliment to another participant. Hang compliments in a chain or display them in a communal space. Read a few aloud during the group.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Social: Encourages positive social interaction

• Emotional: Boosts self-esteem and mood

• Spiritual: Promotes kindness and connection

📖 3. Book Talk Café

Holiday: Book Lovers Day – August 9
Supplies Needed:

• A few short storybooks or poems

• Coffee/tea setup (optional)

• Chairs in a circle or casual café-style seating

Instructions:
Read aloud or have participants read a favorite short passage or poem. Facilitate a casual group discussion afterward—what they liked, what it reminded them of, etc.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Cognitive: Enhances memory, comprehension, and verbal skills

• Social: Encourages communication and sharing

• Emotional: Promotes self-expression

🧘 4. Relaxation Station

Holiday: National Relaxation Day – August 15
Supplies Needed:

• Yoga mats or comfortable chairs

• Guided meditation script or audio

• Aromatherapy (lavender oil or scented diffusers)

Instructions:
Lead participants through a 10-15 minute guided meditation or breathing exercise. Encourage mindfulness and body awareness during the session.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Emotional: Reduces stress and promotes calm

• Physical: Encourages deep breathing and muscle relaxation

• Spiritual: Enhances mindfulness and inner peace

🎭 5. Tell Me a Joke!

Holiday: National Tell a Joke Day – August 16
Supplies Needed:

• Joke books or printed jokes

• Microphone or “talking stick” for turns

Instructions:
Each participant shares a joke or funny story. Use a lighthearted tone to build group laughter. Consider having a “joke contest” with fun awards.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Social: Builds group cohesion and trust

• Emotional: Promotes laughter and joy

• Cognitive: Enhances speech and memory recall

👵 6. Life Stories with Seniors

Holiday: Senior Citizens Day – August 21
Supplies Needed:

• Story prompts or memory books

• Paper and pens

• Optional: Audio recorder or phone for voice memos

Instructions:
Invite participants to share meaningful life memories, milestones, or “words of wisdom.” You may structure it like an interview or open storytelling circle.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Cognitive: Stimulates memory and reflection

• Social: Encourages intergenerational connection

• Emotional: Enhances sense of identity and legacy

🐕 7. Pet Appreciation Collage

Holiday: National Dog Day – August 26
Supplies Needed:

• Magazines, photos, scissors, glue

• Poster board

• Markers and stickers

Instructions:
Create a collage of favorite pets—past or present. Participants can write names, memories, or messages. Optional: Bring in a therapy dog for the group.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Emotional: Provides comfort and nostalgia

• Social: Encourages group storytelling

• Cognitive: Stimulates memory recall

🥗 8. Picnic & Gratitude Circle

Holiday: National Eat Outside Day – August 31
Supplies Needed:

• Picnic blankets or chairs

• Healthy snacks

• Gratitude cards or journal pages

Instructions:
Host a picnic outdoors (or indoors if needed). During the picnic, invite participants to write down something they’re grateful for and share if comfortable.

TR Domain Benefits:

• Spiritual: Fosters gratitude and connection to nature

• Physical: Promotes fresh air and movement

• Social: Builds group cohesion

Featured Article of the Month

Understanding Complex PTSD — And How RTs Can Help
By Danny W. Pettry II, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CTRS-BHS

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a condition that can develop after long-term or repeated trauma—especially during childhood. While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with a single traumatic event, complex PTSD comes from prolonged exposure to situations where a person feels powerless—such as abuse, neglect, or chronic instability.

🚨 The Four Survival Stress Responses

When someone is in danger—physically or emotionally—their nervous system activates one of four survival modes:

Fight – Standing up to danger, becoming aggressive, irritable, or explosive.

Flight – Running away or avoiding danger. This may look like restlessness, perfectionism, or overworking.

Freeze – Becoming numb, shut down, or unable to act. A person may appear quiet, withdrawn, or zoned out.

Fawn – Trying to keep peace by pleasing others, often at the cost of personal needs. This may involve people-pleasing or lacking boundaries.

These responses are natural and protective in dangerous situations. But for those with C-PTSD, the nervous system gets stuck in these patterns—long after the danger is over.

🌪 What Happens When Someone Lives in Survival Mode

Living in a chronic stress state can have deep and lasting effects. Some common challenges of C-PTSD include:

• Trouble trusting others or forming relationships

• Low self-worth or identity confusion

• Emotional outbursts or numbness

• Hypervigilance or constant worry

• Difficulty with focus, memory, or decision-making

• Shame, guilt, or feeling like they’re “too much” or “not enough”

These patterns can interfere with everyday life—and healing often takes time, safety, and support.

💚 How Recreational Therapists Can Help

Recreational therapists (RTs) are in a powerful position to support individuals with C-PTSD. While we don’t provide trauma therapy, we create safe, structured, and empowering environments for growth. Here are a few ways we can help:

1. Build Safety Through Structure

Predictable routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement help clients feel safe. This reduces anxiety and allows them to relax and engage.

2. Use Strengths-Based Approaches

Highlight what clients can do. Activities that promote success, self-expression, and creativity can help rebuild confidence.

3. Incorporate Regulation Techniques

Movement, breathing exercises, guided imagery, yoga, art, and music can support nervous system regulation and help shift out of stress states.

4. Encourage Healthy Relationships

Group activities can provide a space to practice trust, boundaries, and communication skills—key areas of healing for those with relational trauma.

5. Foster a Sense of Choice and Control

Give clients voice and choice whenever possible. Feeling empowered—even in small ways—helps undo the helplessness that trauma creates.

🧩 Final Thought

Complex PTSD is, at its core, an injury to the nervous system and the sense of self. As recreational therapists, we offer tools for healing—not through pressure or perfection, but through play, connection, and compassion.

By understanding the survival responses and responding with trauma-informed care, we help clients rediscover joy, rebuild trust, and reclaim their stories.

Book of the Month

August 2025 Book of the Month
Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder
By Reshma Saujani (New Edition 2024)

Are you tired of trying to be perfect?

This month, we’re featuring a bold and empowering read that encourages all of us—especially women—to choose courage over perfection.

In Brave, Not Perfect, Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, shares her powerful journey from lifelong perfectionist to brave leader. Her message is clear: we weren’t born to be perfect—we were born to be brave.

💡 Why Recreational Therapists Should Read This Book

For Yourself:

• Let go of unrealistic expectations and professional burnout

• Build confidence to take creative risks in your work

• Embrace authenticity in leadership and client interactions

• Cultivate more joy and less pressure in your daily life

For Your Clients:

• Use lessons from the book to teach resilience and risk-taking

• Help clients overcome fear of failure and self-doubt

• Support self-acceptance and identity development, especially for youth and women

• Promote meaningful engagement without the pressure of “getting it right”

Game of the Month

🎲 August 2025 Game of the Month
Conversation Cards for Teens
Communication Cards to Build Confidence & Emotional Intelligence

Looking for a simple, effective tool to spark real conversations?
This month, we’re featuring Conversation Cards for Teens—a fun and therapeutic game designed to help youth open up, build social-emotional skills, and develop authentic confidence.

Whether you’re working with individuals or facilitating groups, this versatile deck is a must-have in your recreational therapy toolkit.

💬 Why Recreational Therapists Love This Game

• 🧠 Boosts Emotional Intelligence: Helps teens recognize and express their feelings

• 🎙️ Improves Communication Skills: Encourages thoughtful dialogue and active listening

• 🌱 Builds Self-Esteem: Fosters confidence through safe self-expression

• 🤝 Enhances Group Dynamics: Creates a sense of belonging and understanding

• 📚 Classroom & Clinical Ready: Great for therapy sessions, school groups, and family counseling

From silly icebreakers to deeper reflections, each card invites teens to be brave, not perfect—making it a perfect companion to our August book of the month.

💡 Therapist Tip:
Use a few cards to start or end your RT sessions. Let teens pick randomly, or tailor prompts to group goals like trust, self-acceptance, or leadership.

Get the game here:

Rec Therapist of the Month

Meet Jessie Tonjes, CTRS, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director, Autism Center | Ithaca, New York

Danny Pettry’s Corner

Hello Rec Therapist Friend — 

I’m excited to share something new I’ve been working on—Strive for Success, a fresh initiative where I’ll be offering resources, education, and training to help people reach their full potential.

While Rec Therapy Today will always remain focused on advancing the field of recreational therapy, Strive for Success will expand into broader success education—offering tools to build confidence, set meaningful goals, overcome limiting beliefs, and live with greater purpose.

Why this new venture?
Because after years of working with teens, therapists, and helpers like you, I’ve seen the power of mindset, motivation, and small daily actions. Whether you’re a professional, student, parent, or simply someone striving to grow—success is a skill set that can be learned and practiced.

In the months ahead, I’ll be releasing:

• 📚 Books and guides for personal growth

• 🎓 Online trainings and success workshops

• 💡 Free resources to help you stay inspired and focused

If you’re passionate about helping others succeed—or striving for your own next level—then I invite you to join me on this journey.

Let’s rise, grow, and strive—together.

Stay tuned for more,
– Danny Pettry

Recent Blogposts 

Recent Posts

• Burnt Out or Just Underappreciated? Here’s How to Reignite Your Passion for Rec Therapy
• You Know You’re a Rec Therapist When… (Top 20 Hilariously Relatable Moments)
• 25 Things Clients Have Said That Remind Us Why We Love This Work
• 10 Creative Rec Therapy Activities That Don’t Feel Like Therapy—But Totally Are
• An Open Letter to Every Recreational Therapist: Thank You for What You Do
• Rec Therapists’ Manifesto
• Why Rec Therapy Today Is the #1 Choice for Recreational Therapists Earning CEUs
• How Rec Therapists Can Earn All Their CEUs Online Without the Stress
• 10 Reasons Why AI Won’t Replace Recreational Therapists
• The Benefits of Earning CEUs Online (And Why Rec Therapists Love It)

Recent Rec Therapy YouTube Videos 

Fun Pages for All Ages

(Print for your Clients) 

Enter the July Giveaway

🎁 August 2025 Giveaway: Win a Copy of Danny Pettry’s New Book!

To celebrate the release of Lighthouse for Souls—a heartwarming collection of short inspirational stories for therapists, caregivers, and helpers—we’re giving away 10 paperback copies to our amazing Rec Therapy Today community!

💡 Lighthouse for Souls will be officially released this August, and you could be one of the first to receive a free copy!

📚 How to Enter

Click the link below to enter your name and email for a chance to win:

📌 Giveaway Rules

• No purchase required to enter.

• Open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

• One entry per person.

• Winners will be selected randomly.

• Entry deadline: Before midnight, August 20, 2025

• Winners will be notified by email on or after August 21.

✨ Enter today and let Lighthouse for Souls brighten your spirit.

Good luck! 🌟
—Danny Pettry & the Rec Therapy Today Team

P.S. Rec Therapy Today — CEU Opportunities