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Abstract
This article describes a model for strengths-based therapeutic recreation practice called Flourishing Through Leisure: An Ecological Extension of the Leisure and Well-Being Model (Anderson & Heyne, 2012), which is founded on the theories presented in the companion article in this issue, "Theories That Support StrengthsBased Practice in Therapeutic Recreation." The new model is an extension of the Leisure and Well-Being Model developed by Carruthers and Hood (2007) and Hood and Carruthers (2007), broadened to embrace the ways in which environmental or contextual factors contribute to well-being and to include the domain of spirituality as an area of focus for therapeutic recreation. Grounded strongly in the ecological approach and the social model of disability, the flourishing Through Leisure Model situates the person in the environment and outlines the scope of therapeutic recreation practice to include services directed not only toward helping the person but also toward changing social and physical environments.
Keywords: Well-being, leisure, strengths approach, social model of disability, ecological approach, therapeutic recreation practice models
In 2007, the Leisure Well-Being Model (LWM) was introduced to therapeutic recreation, providing a conceptually sound service model rooted in both the strengths approach and leisure behavior (Carruthers & Hood, 2007; Hood & Carruthers, 2007). The LWM provided a refreshing approach to therapeutic recreation, refocusing the field to its roots in recreation and building on new theories and research that solidify the critical role of quality leisure experiences in well-being. The LWM was primarily based on theories in positive psychology (Carruthers & Hood, 2007). Contextual, or environmental factors, though important in the LWM, were not explicitly addressed as a practice arena for therapeutic recreation.
Flourishing Through Leisure: An Ecological Extension of the Leisure and Well-Being Model solidifies the role of the environment or context in wellbeing and explicitly outlines areas of practice in therapeutic recreation that focus on environmental interventions. Environment or context is inclusive of the physical, social, and political contexts in which people live their lives. The Flourishing Through Leisure Model grounds therapeutic recreation practice more solidly in an ecological perspective by extending therapeutic recreation practice to more intentionally include environmental approaches as well as approaches that focus on the individual participant. Embedding the individual in the environment is a hallmark of the positive science movement,...