Recreational therapists are health care providers using recreational therapy interventions for improved functioning of individuals with illness or disabling conditions.

The parent organization, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, ATRA, was incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1984 as a non-profit, grassroots organization in response to growing concern about the dramatic changes in the health care industry. As a result of this response, ATRA has grown from a membership of 60 individuals in June 1984 to 4,500 in 1999.

ILRTA supports ATRA definition of therapeutic recreation as "the provision of Treatment Services and the provision of Recreation Services to persons with illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes of treatment services, which are often referred to as Recreational Therapy, are to restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. The primary purposes of Recreational Services are to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well being. Therapeutic recreation is provided by professionals who are trained and certified, registered and/or licensed to provide therapeutic recreation (1987)."