The Intersection of Social Prescribing and Recreational Therapy in Modern Healthcare

Alexis McKenney Ed.D., CTRS, FDRT

In recent years, healthcare professionals have increasingly recognized the importance of addressing social health alongside physical health. This shift has given rise to social prescribing, a health initiative in which healthcare providers refer patients to non-clinical services that address social determinants of health, such as isolation and lack of community support.?

Although social prescribing is a relatively new term, its principles closely mirror the longstanding practices of Recreational Therapy, making it a profession ideally positioned to lead and enhance these efforts. The focus on social engagement, community support, and personalized interventions common to social prescribing is something Recreational Therapists already address in community and non-community-based settings.

This blog explores how Recreational Therapy has long been tackling the same social issues that social prescribing aims to solve. By highlighting real-world examples and examining the intersection between these two practices, we make the case for why Recreational Therapists should be central to any social prescribing initiative, helping to shape a more holistic approach to healthcare.

Social Prescribing: A Shift Toward Holistic Healthcare

The growing use of social prescribing is helping reshape how healthcare providers think about patient care. Rather than focusing solely on physical illnesses and limitations, social prescribing empowers healthcare professionals to connect patients with community-based resources that address their social and emotional needs.?

Resources like exercise groups, arts programs, and mental health support programs are part of a broader, more holistic approach to health. The underlying idea is that social needs—such as loneliness, lack of support, or community integration—are as impactful on health as physical conditions. Addressing these needs can help reduce reliance on medical interventions.

Over time, social prescribing has become increasingly recognized as a way to integrate medical care and community well-being. Nowak & Mulligan (2025) emphasize its integration into primary care to better address the social determinants of health. Family physicians often understand their patients' social contexts, making them well-positioned to refer them to community resources, like recreation programs, that provide critical social support.?

The UK-based National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) strongly advocates for this approach, showcasing evidence that social prescribing can reduce pressure on health services by decreasing physician appointments and hospital admissions. They boast reductions in health service, particularly among frequent healthcare users, in areas where social prescribing occurs. This support also yields positive economic impacts, such as reduced healthcare costs in certain regions.

Social Prescribing USA similarly advocates for integrating arts, nature, and community organizations into healthcare to address the social determinants of health in the United States. The initiative aims to improve overall well-being and reduce health disparities, promoting a more holistic approach to care.

Recreational Therapy: Addressing Social Needs Before It Had a Separate Title

While social prescribing may be a recent development in healthcare, the underlying principles have long been central to Recreational Therapy. Recreational Therapists are experts in using structured recreational activities to promote social, physical, and emotional well-being. Their focus on reducing isolation, facilitating community engagement, and building social skills has always aligned with the goals of social prescribing.

Recreational Therapists have historically used a variety of community and non-community-based programs to address social needs. These activities aim to decrease barriers to social engagement, increase social participation, improve social skills, and promote inclusion—all?essential for maintaining mental and emotional health.?

In this regard, Recreational Therapy has long been a key approach to improving social health, even though not?alwaysrecognized within the modern framework of social prescribing.

This unique ability to address both the social and emotional dimensions of health makes Recreational Therapy a natural complement to social prescribing; both offer a focus on engaging individuals in meaningful, community-based activities that promote social integration.

Why Physicians and Healthcare Providers Should Partner with Recreational Therapists

Recreational Therapy inherently supports the goals of social prescribing because both practices share a core focus on improving social participation and overall well-being. While social prescribing supports connecting individuals with social activities resources, Recreational Therapists provide specialized interventions to ensure that patients access these services and meaningfully engage with them.?

Personalized care provided by Recreational Therapists is particularly valuable in social prescribing initiatives. Recreational Therapists tailor interventions to the needs and preferences of each individual.?By doing?so, they ensure?that patients feel more confident and motivated to continue participating in community-based programs.?This individualized approach helps people overcome barriers to social engagement, such as social anxiety and lack of confidence, that many patients face.

Moreover, while it is common for individuals to attend a community event once, the true benefit of social prescribing is?in helping individuals maintain their participation over time. Recreational Therapists work in and communicate between hospital-based and community settings. With this, they bring a long-term perspective to social prescribing by advancing sustained engagement with community activities.

Real-World Impact of Recreational Therapy in Social Prescribing?

The effectiveness of Recreational Therapy in promoting social outcomes?is highlighted?below using two real-world examples.?

One case involves Jane, a woman recovering from a stroke. Struggling with isolation due to mobility issues and low self-confidence, her physician referred her to a Recreational Therapist, who introduced her to an adaptive yoga class. This program helped Jane regain some physical function and allowed her to meet others facing similar challenges. The Recreational Therapist also facilitated a support group that helped Jane rebuild her social connections and confidence. Over time, Jane reentered her community, attended local events, and regained a sense of purpose.

In another example, Martin, a young man suffering from severe social anxiety, was referred to a Recreational Therapist by his physician. The Recreational Therapist introduced Martin to a therapeutic arts program, which allowed him to express his emotions in a non-threatening environment. As Martin became more comfortable with the program, the Recreational Therapist encouraged him to participate in group workshops, which helped him develop social skills and reduce his anxiety. Eventually, Martin joined a local art club, where he found a new sense of community and belonging.

These case studies demonstrate how Recreational Therapy can enhance social prescribing. By providing structured and supportive interventions, Recreational Therapists help individuals engage with their communities, develop connections, and achieve long-lasting improvements in social well-being.

Conclusion: The Future of Healthcare Collaboration

Integrating social prescribing into Recreational Therapy, and vice versa, presents a powerful, holistic solution to addressing the social determinants of health. While Recreational Therapy has long focused on improving social well-being through community engagement and personalized interventions, social prescribing enhances these efforts by connecting patients with the right resources.?

By working together, physicians, other healthcare providers, and Recreational Therapists can ensure that social prescriptions lead to meaningful, sustainable improvements. This collaboration ultimately leads to a more comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare system that values?social and physical aspects?of health.

Select References

Social Prescribing USA: https://socialprescribingusa.com

The National Academy of Social Prescribing, United Kingdom: https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/read-the-evidence/the-impact-of-social-prescribing-on-health-service-use-and-costs/

Social Prescribing: A Call to Action. Nowack & Mulligan: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8324130/ Social Prescribing and Therapeutic Recreation. Mahut and Fortune https://bctra.org/wp-content/uploads/tr_journals/10694-40090-1-PB.pdf

Social prescription in the US: A pilot evaluation of Mass Cultural Council's “CultureRx": https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1016136/full

Social Prescribing and Therapeutic Recreation. Mahut & Fortune: https://bctra.org/wp-content/uploads/tr_journals/10694-40090-1-PB.pdf